BBC Reups 'Boarders' For Season 2

One of the best sleeper hits you're not watching just got a second season, as the BBC reups Boarders for a fresh set of episodes commissioned as Season 2. The series, which was picked up by the FAST (Free Ad Supported Television) app Tubi here in the U.S., is a clever take on the fish-out-of-water teen dramedy, as five Black students from the inner cities of London get scooped up and sent to one of the country's most prestigious public prep schools, and discover the streets never prepared them for this kind of battle.

The series was part of the BBC's commissioned after the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement highlighted how much the public broadcaster failed to provide diverse content, and hails from Daniel Lawrence Taylor, who serves as the series writer, creator, and executive producer. Not only has the series become a hit in the U.K., but it has also been part of Tubi's quiet success here in the States in a market that's dominated by much more high-profile services that tend to overlook the dearth of content by Black artists for Black audiences.

Boarders is one of Tubi's major successes alongside British imports Big Mood and Dead Hot. The former has also received a major boost of late, as it stars Bridgerton's Nicola Coughlan, who has been using her high-profile turn in the romance series to help promote her other show. With Boarders getting a return engagement, hopefully, this will continue to get these series in front of the eyeballs they so desperately deserve.

Here's the synopsis for the show's second season:

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 reputation of the school. 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.

Boarders will see the return of the fab five, Josh Tedeku as Jaheim, Jodie Campbell as Leah, Sekou Diaby as Toby, Myles Kamwendo as Omar, and Aruna Jalloh as Femi, along with the show's supporting cast of Harry Gilby as Rupert, Tallulah Greive as Beatrix, Rosie Graham as Florence, and Assa Kanouté as Abby. Daniel Lawrence Taylor returns as their mentor Gus, as do Niky Wardley as Carol Watlington-Geese and Derek Riddell as former Headmaster Bernard.

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

Boarders Season 2 is expected to premiere in 2025.