The tragic murder of Stephen Lawrence is the focus of ITV’s new drama Stephen. The three part series is a sequel to ITV's 1999 film and is set 13 years after Stephen’s murder in 2006 when the Lawrence family continued their fight for justice.
Stephen Lawrence was 18-years-old when he was savagely murdered on 22nd April 1993 in a racially motivated attack by a group of white youths in Eltham, Southeast London. The ITV drama will chronicle the forensic breakthrough in the case led by Det Chief Insp Clive Driscoll (played by actor and comedian, Steve Coogan) which ultimately led to the conviction of Gary Dobson and David Norris in 2012.
Watch the trailer below:
Det Driscoll worked closely with Doreen and Neville Lawrence during the investigation, which he called “common sense coppering.” Playing Stephen’s mum and campaigner Doreen Lawrence is actress Sharlene Whyte, who expressed the importance of keeping Stephen’s memory alive especially for audiences who may be unfamiliar with the case.
Advert
“I hope the series can spread the story and the knowledge of Stephen Lawrence because there’s another generation of people who aren’t fully familiar with this story at all - It’s just a vague memory,” Sharlene explained.
The Waterloo Road and The Story of Tracy Beaker star added what she hopes people will take away from the series. “To keep his memory alive and to highlight all the work Doreen has done and just a reminder of how to connect the police with communities again and maybe introduce some common sense coppering in the 21st century would be ideal.”
Neville Lawrence is portrayed by Hugh Quarshie, who also starred as Stephen’s dad in the 1999 ITV drama The Murder of Stephen Lawrence, explained why the series is needed right now. “It reminded me why this job is worth doing. I’ve come close to giving up [acting] at least three times in the course of my career and some of the work I’ve done has paid the bills but it hasn’t always seemed terribly significant. This one mattered, it felt right to do and it felt important to do.”
Advert
Producer Madonna Baptiste added: “I hope that it reaches viewers that aren’t familiar with the story. It just shows that we can see how much we can change. We can change more than we think we can and following Doreen and Neville’s example and what they’ve achieved I think that’s amazing and I can’t wait for a wider audience to see that.”
Both Hugh and Sharlene have teenaged sons who are close in age to Stephen when he was murdered. Taking part in Stephen served as a reminder of the plight many young black men face in Britain even after the findings of the 1999 Macpherson report.
After his murder, the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry was launched which led to the 350-page Macpherson report that labelled the Metropolitan Police “institutionally racist.”
In July 2021, a report by the home affairs committee criticised the progress to stop systematic racism in the police since the Macpherson report was published 22 years ago.
Advert
After referencing the “palpable” scene of Neville by Stephen’s graveside in the 1999 drama, Hugh said this is something he can now relate to because his own son is 18 years old. “It’s a question I’m sure all fathers particularly fathers of colour have to decide what do you teach your son in particular? Do you tell them to be constantly on guard or do you tell them the world is a dangerous place?
"I feel to some extent that Neville is somebody who is constantly asking himself what could he have done differently.”
Sharlene echoed similar thoughts, adding she’s not sure “how much has changed” since Stephen was murdered. “[The show] highlights your life at present. I’ve got a 17 almost 18 year old and the idea that he wouldn’t come back home after seeing his friends terrifies me.
"It makes me realise I’m not sure how much things have moved on today because sadly I remember this happening when I was a bit younger than Stephen, it was part of the community in Nottingham and news travels around the country.
Advert
"It just highlighted that I am so precious about my son at this age.”
Stephen starts 30th August at 9pm on ITV and ITV Hub.
Featured Image Credit: ITVTopics: TV And Film, ITV