'Boarders' First Images Introduces the Class of Season 2

The first decade of the streaming wars was predicated on the idea that the only way to succeed without really trying was to create a Netflix clone: monthly charges, no commercials, and all episodes as a binge. However, at this point, despite its unwillingness to admit that the binge model is hampering its success, even Netflix doesn't adhere to that model. That's because viewers are perfectly fine with commercial breaks if the result is free over the digital airwaves entertainment; facts proven by FAST streamers like Tubi, which currently has more viewers than Apple TV+. Tubi's biggest hit so far, Boarders, is heading to the small screen for Season 2, and the first images are here.

Boarders was initially conceived as a school-set teenage series that is a variation on the "Harry Potter-Whisked-to-Hogwarts" trope, except the students are Black British working-class Londoners and the school is St. Gilberts, one of the U.K.'s toniest "public schools." Starring up-and-coming talent Josh Tedeku (A Town Called Malice) as Jaheim, Jodie Campbell (No Return) as Leah, Sekou Diaby (100 Mistakes) as Toby, Myles Kamwendo (The School for Good and Evil) as Omar, and Aruna Jalloh (Much Ado About Nothing) as Femi, the series was an instant hit on BBC Three and one of Tubi's most streamed series ever.

Season 2 will expand the cast with a few new students transferring to St. Gilberts and an expansion of the students' home lives with new parental figures for them to go home to. Check out the new additions.

Here's the series synopsis:

Boarders follows five talented black inner-city teens transported to an alien world – a British boarding school – after gaining scholarships to the prestigious St. Gilbert’s. They set out to make the most out of the opportunity despite their places only being offered as a poorly disguised PR exercise to improve the school's reputation.

Season 2 sees a new era for St Gilbert’s, with headmaster Bernard - who had brought the scholarship students into the school - suspended following a school rebellion. Now acting headmistress Carol Watlington-Geese (who also happens to be the mother of Jaheim’s nemesis, Rupert) is at the helm - and she wants them gone.

Season 1 saw these five outsiders begin to thrive. Season 2 asks how much they’re willing to sacrifice just to survive.

Tedeku, Campbell, Diaby, Kamwendo, and Jalloh as Femi will return for Season 2 alongside their Season 1 co-stars Rosie Graham (Sanditon), Harry Gilby (Tolkien), Niyi Akin (The Diplomat), Tallulah Greive (Cinderella), Llewella Gideon (Rye Lane), Assa Kanouté (Deep Cover), Maxim Ays (The Larkins), Georgina Sadler (The A-List), Niky Wardley (Queen of Oz), Zheng Xi Yong (Barbie), William Andrews (Sweetpea), Archie Fisher (Death By Lighting), Dillon Mitra (Indian Summers), Ruxandra Porojnicu (Glow Up), Yuriri Naka (Curfew), Mohammed Mansaray (The Cut), Al Foran (Deep Fake Neighbour Wars), plus no-longer-newcomers Andrew Harmon-Gray and Kye Malcolm.

Season 2 will add Wunmi Mosaku (Passenger) as Jaheim’s mum, Grace; Cara Theobold (Downtown Abbey) as St Gilbert’s new writer-in-residence, Jude; Michael Salami (Supacell) as Femi’s Uncle Teju; and Kendra Brown in her debut on-screen role as an American exchange student Devon’ye.

Boarders was conceived by Daniel Lawrence Taylor, who also reprises his mentor role of Gus for Season 2: “Bringing the new season of Boarders to life has been an incredible experience, especially with the exciting addition of new faces to the cast. Watching the actors effortlessly return to their roles, as if they had never left, has been an absolute joy. We hope you enjoy this second helping of the series as much as we’ve enjoyed creating it!”

Taylor serves as lead writer with Yemi Oyefuwa, Jeffrey Aidoo, and Racheal Ofori. Directors Joelle Mae David and Sarmad Masud split helming duties; Mykaell Riley returns as Musical Director. Ali MacPhail produces the new season and Carleen Beadle-Larcombe is line producer. Taylor executive produces with Madeleine Sinclair & Susan Hogg for Studio Lambert and Nawfal Faizullah & Katherine Bond for the BBC.

Boarders Season 2 will debut in 2025.