Star Wars actor John Boyega will appear in a BBC documentary about the death of his childhood friend Damilola Taylor, the broadcaster has announced. The programme, titled Damilola Taylor: The Last 24 Hours, will examine the final hours of the 10-year-old's life before he was fatally stabbed in Peckham, south-east London, on 27 November 2000, just metres from his home.
The killing made national headlines and became a pivotal moment in sparking a conversation about knife crime in the UK. The documentary will explore the impact of Damilola's death on those who knew him, including Boyega, who was one of the last people to see him alive and will provide previously unheard testimony.
Directed by Alex Thomas, the film retraces Damilola's final day and examines the environment and pressures shaping the lives of young people at the time. It will also explore the rise in knife-related crimes over the 25 years since his death.
Thomas said: 'Damilola's story has never been told through the experience of the young people who were living it at the time. This film shows what it meant to grow up in an environment shaped by fear, bullying and the need to protect yourself — and how those pressures influenced the choices people made.'
Damilola Taylor: The Last 24 Hours will air on BBC One and iPlayer, with transmission details to be announced.
