Time Of His Life

Idris Elba on the return of the nostalgic comedy about his 1980s childhood.

As we walk into the living room of a London flat that’s been created inside London’s Teddington Studios, TV&Satellite Week is transported back to the 1980s. We’re confronted with a red swirly carpet, fitted electric fire, brown patterned wallpaper and a hi-fi in a wooden cabinet.

We’re on set for the second run of Idris Elba’s 1980s-set Sky One comedy In the Long Run, inspired by his own east London childhood.

The nostalgic series, packed full of music from the decade, sees the Luther star play proud Walter Easmon – a version of Elba’s own father – who has started a new life in London after leaving Sierra Leone and who lives in the flat with his no-nonsense wife Agnes (Madeline Appiah) and their young son Kobna (Sammy Kamara).

But changes are afoot in the new series as Walter’s laid-back brother Valentine (Jimmy Akingbola) has moved into his own, rather grotty, home, while Walter and his friend Bagpipes (Bill Bailey) face trouble at the car factory.

During a break in filming, we sat down with Elba, 47, to get the lowdown…

What’s coming up in the new series?

Kobna is older now and growing into himself.