Damilola, Our Loved Boy is a British television film about the events surrounding the 27 November 2000 death of Damilola Taylor.^[2] The film aired on BBC One on 7 November 2016, and was written by Levi David Addai, directed by Euros Lyn, and starred Babou Ceesay and Wunmi Mosaku.^[1] The film received three nominations at the 2017 British Academy Television Awards, winning Best Single Drama and Best Supporting Actress for Mosaku.^[3]

Cast

• Babou Ceesay as Richard Taylor^[1]
• Wunmi Mosaku as Gloria Taylor
• Juwon Adedokun as Tunde Taylor
• Sammy Kamara as Damilola Taylor
• Juma Sharkah as Gbemi Taylor
• Robert Pugh as DCI Nick Ephgrave
• Raphel Famotibe as Dapo
• McKell David as Nathan
• Shola Adewusi as Auntie Dorcas
• Megan Parkinson as Leanne
• John Hollingworth as Detective Wallace
• Gamba Cole as Junior
• Eugene Wanangwa Khumbanyiwa as Pastor Peter
• Alfie Browne-Sykes as Will
• Muna Otaru as Tayo
• Naomi Ackie as Council Worker
• Doc Brown as Cab Driver
• Jud Charlton as Prosecution Barrister
• Richard Pepple as Defence Barrister
• Mario Demetriou as Male Witness
• Wanda Opalinska as Pathologist
• Imogen Byron as Witness Bromley
• Anthony Adjekum as Chris
• Ian Bonar as Damilola's Teacher
• Shanice Sewell as Passionate Youth

Reception

Critical reception

The Telegraph's Michael Hogan gave the film four stars out of five, calling it a "terrific piece of TV" and a "fitting tribute". Hogan also praised the "superb" performances from Babou Ceesay and Wunmi Mosaku, and noted that Sammy Kamara as Damilola was "luminous and full of life".^[4]

The Guardian's Sam Wollaston called the film a "quietly powerful, affecting drama" and praised the performances from Mosaku, Juwon Adedokun, and in particular, Ceesay.^[5]

Accolades