BAFTA Rising Star winner confirmed among new cast in Michaela Coel’s much-anticipated new BBC drama

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Several new actors have joined the cast of First Day on Earth, the upcoming drama series from Michaela Coel, who created and starred in the acclaimed show I May Destroy You.

Joining the cast alongside Thandiwe Newton (Wednesday), Maxine Peake (I Swear), Danny Sapani (Halo), and Ncuti Gatwa (Doctor Who) is Bukky Bakray, known for her role in Rocks and the winner of the 2021 EE BAFTA Rising Star Award. She will be joining Coel in the project.

The cast is growing with the addition of several talented actors, including Rakie Ayola (playing Grace), Ama Serwah Genfi, Adam Lundgren (known for The Quiet Beekeeper), Ray BLK (from The Agency), Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (who appeared in Wonka), Dan Skinner (from Litvinenko), Daniella Arthur-Kennedy (Mary Page Marlowe), Jameel Buari (Forever in A Night), Sam Delich (Territory), and Fisayo Akinade (Heartstopper).

The film will also star Michael Owusu Addo, Joselyn Dumas, Sister Deborah, Adjetey Anang – known from “Things We Do for Love” – Akofa Edjeani (“I Sing of a Well”), Roselyn Ngissah (“Away Bus”), Akrobeto (“Sam Loko”), Godwin Namboe (“Potomanto”), and Lady Jay, who will be playing a version of herself.

This 10-episode series is a collaboration between the BBC and HBO. Michaela Coel is the driving force behind it – she’s the writer, lead actor, director, and an executive producer. Sam Miller will also direct and serve as an executive producer.

Novelist Henri, who is British-Ghanaian, is trying to escape everything – her own issues, her current life, her relationship, and even a strange encounter at a book event. This leads her to Ghana, the country where her family originates, and a completely new and unfamiliar environment.

I’ve been following Henri’s story, and it’s been amazing to see her surrounded by new friends and experience so much happiness. But it hasn’t all been easy. She’s also uncovered some secrets and faced a lot of lies, which has made things really tough for her. It’s forcing her to really look at who she is, where she comes from, and everything she thought she knew about her family. It’s a journey of self-discovery, and it’s been incredibly compelling to watch.

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When the show was first announced, Michaela Coel expressed her excitement about collaborating with VAL, the BBC, and HBO once more, and also partnering with A24. She stated that she felt confident in the show’s success thanks to the combined talent and dedication of everyone involved.

Working on FDOE has been a really personal and rewarding journey so far. I’m thrilled to move into the next stage and eventually share it as a new show – I hope everyone will join Henri on what promises to be a truly epic adventure!

First Day on Earth will be coming to BBC One and iPlayer.

Authors

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs writes about TV dramas for TopMob, covering shows on streaming services and traditional channels. Before becoming a writer, he worked in public relations, first at a business-to-business agency and then at the international production company Fremantle. He has a bachelor’s degree in English and Theatre Studies, as well as a journalism diploma.

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2026-04-01 20:04