BritBox to Bring 'Mr. Loverman' to the U.S. After Multi-BAFTA Win

The last decade has been a whiplash between sudden spates of progressive change, creating more equitable conditions for Black and LGBTQ+ artists to produce films and TV series about their lived experience or the lived experience of their culture, pockmarked with sudden extremist backlash from politicians and voters, whether it be Reform or the GOP wining elections. But one positive development is that Black British artists no longer have to come to America to launch their careers, the way those like Idris Elba did back in the day. Since the 2020 Black Lives Matter demonstrations, the BBC has made real strides in commissioning series focused on the U.K.'s diverse populations, like Virdee and Mr. Loverman.

However, both shows have discovered that selling these series to American distributors is not as easy as one might think. When Mr. Loverman was first pitched, based on the novel about a bisexual Caribbean-descended septuagenarian at a crossroads in his life, the idea was deemed "too niche." (One can almost hear the white, straight American streaming service CEOs saying the same.) Notably, of the shows nominated for the 2025 BAFTAs, Mr. Loverman was the only one that lacked American distribution, and it took the series dominating the winners circle to correct that oversight. 

Even so, like The Confessions of Frannie Langton and Three Little Birds before it, Mr. Loverman will debut on BritBox. In the last year or so, BritBox has become the default place for BBC and ITV series, especially the high-profile stuff that no one else seems to want, and thank heavens for that. (Please, BritBox, pick up Virdee while you're at it. Thanks.) 

Check out the trailer for the series.

Here is BritBox's synopsis of the series:

Barrington Jedidiah Walker, Esq. Barry to his mates. Trouble to his wife, his daughters, and his lover. Seventy years old, Antiguan born, exuberant Hackney personality, Barry is renowned for his dapper taste and fondness for retro suits. Carmel, his wife of 50 years, senses that Barry has been cheating on her with other women. Little does she know what’s really going on: a secret, decades-long passionate affair with his best friend and soulmate, Morris. Now entering the next chapter of his life, Barry has big choices to make that will force his whole family to question their own futures.

Lennie James (Line of Duty), Sharon D. Clarke (Inspector Ellis), and Ariyon Bakare (Karen Pirie) lead the series as the three members of the long-term love triangle, James as Barry Walker, Clarke as Carmel Walker, and Bakare as Morris De La Roux. (James and Bakare both took home BAFTAs for their performances, Clarke was nominated, but lost out to Industry's Marisa Abela.)

The series also sports a murderer's row of Black British talent in the supporting roles, including Sharlene Whyte (Sherwood) and Tamara Lawrance (Get Millie Black) as Barry and Carmel's daughters, Donna and Maxine Walker, and Tahj Miles (Death in Paradise) as Donna's son, Daniel Walker. Suzette Llewellyn (Scott & Bailey) plays Morris' wife, Odette De La Roux; and Keenan Munn-Francis (Call the Midwife) and Gabin Kongolo (Inside/Bariau) play Barry and Morris as teenagers.

The rest of the cast includes Llewella Gideon (Boarders), Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (The Veil), Lauren Akosia (Whitstable Pearl), Lochlann Ó Mearáin (Holding), Hopi Grace (Happy Valley), Clint Dyer (Black Mirror), Doreene Blackstock (Sex Education), Jessica Murrain (Stonehouse), and Juliet Garricks (Murder They Hope).

Nathaniel Price (Noughts + Crosses) penned all eight episodes of Mr Loverman, adapted from the best-selling novel of the same name by Bernardine Evaristo. Director Hong Khaou (Baptiste) helmed all eight half-hour installments. James, Price, and Khaou executive produce alongside Faye Ward, Hannah Price & Hannah Farrell for Fable Pictures, and Jo McClellan for the BBC. 

Mr. Loverman debuts with two episodes on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, and will stream two installments a week on Wednesdays through the end of the month on BritBox.