Chewing Gum (TV series)
Chewing Gum is a British sitcom television series created, written by, and starring Michaela Coel. It is based on Coel's 2012 play, Chewing Gum Dreams, which was originally her graduation project for the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
The series follows the life of Tracey Gordon, a religious, Beyoncé-obsessed 24-year-old living in a public housing estate in London. Tracey is determined to lose her virginity and learn more about the world, much to the amusement and sometimes dismay of her friends and family. The show explores themes of sexuality, religion, class, and the complexities of growing up in a diverse urban environment.
Chewing Gum is known for its bold and unconventional humor, its frank and often explicit portrayal of sexuality, and Coel's sharp and insightful writing. It garnered critical acclaim for its originality and its unflinching exploration of contemporary British life.
The series ran for two seasons, airing on E4 in the UK from 2015 to 2017. It was also available internationally on Netflix.
Cast:
- Michaela Coel as Tracey Gordon
- Robert Lonsdale as Connor Jones
- Susan Wokoma as Raquel
- Danielle Isaie as Candice
- Jonathan Pointing as Aaron
- Tayo Ogunleye as Ebere
- Shola Adewusi as Joy
- Maggie Steed as Esther
Awards:
- BAFTA TV Award for Best Female Performance in a Comedy Programme (Michaela Coel, 2016)
- Royal Television Society Programme Award for Comedy Performance (Michaela Coel, 2016)
- BAFTA TV Award for Breakthrough Talent (Michaela Coel, 2016)
Cancellation:
Despite critical acclaim and award wins, Chewing Gum was not renewed for a third season. Michaela Coel stated that she wanted to focus on other projects.
Legacy:
Chewing Gum is considered a groundbreaking sitcom that helped to pave the way for more diverse and representative voices in British television. It established Michaela Coel as a major creative talent and influenced subsequent shows with its distinctive comedic style.