In The Long Run
- TV sitcom
- Sky One
- 2018 - 2020
- 19 episodes (3 series)
Semi-autobiographical comedy created by and starring Idris Elba, set in mid-1980s Hackney. Also features Bill Bailey, Madeline Appiah, Jimmy Akingbola, Kellie Shirley, Sammy Kamara and more.
Streaming rank this week: 4,044
Episode menu
Series 1, Episode 1
Further details
Walter receives a letter from his mother telling him his younger brother Valentine is coming from Sierra Leone to live with him. Valentine's imminent arrival causes a stir on the estate, especially with Walter's wife Agnes, who believes he may be a bad influence.
On his first night, Valentine is charged with looking after young Kobna. Walter asks Bagpipes to check in on them, but before long Valentine, Bagpipes, his wife Kirsty and the kids find themselves at the local pub where a little drunken rivalry between the men gets out of hand. Agnes is returning from her rounds when she sees the children sitting outside the pub, and realises her fears about Valentine have been confirmed.
Notes
This episode is dedicated to the memory of Bella Emberg, 1939 - 2018.
Broadcast details
- Date
- Thursday 29th March 2018
- Time
- 2am
- Channel
- Sky One
- Length
- 30 minutes
Repeats
Show past repeats
| Date | Time | Channel |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 29th March 2018 | 10:00pm | Sky1 |
| Friday 30th March 2018 | 9:00pm | Sky1 |
| Sunday 1st April 2018 | 11:00pm | Sky1 |
| Tuesday 5th June 2018 | 3:00am | Sky1 |
| Tuesday 15th October 2019 | 9:00pm | Sky2 |
| Tuesday 9th June 2020 | 9:00pm | Sky2 |
| Tuesday 14th July 2020 | 10:00pm | Sky2 |
| Saturday 18th July 2020 | 10:10pm | Sky2 |
| Wednesday 6th October 2021 | 10:00pm | Sky Comedy |
| Thursday 20th April 2023 | 2:00am | Sky Comedy |
| Friday 21st April 2023 | 2:00am | Sky Comedy |
| Sunday 23rd April 2023 | 11:30pm | Sky Comedy |
| Wednesday 6th September 2023 | 12:15am | Sky Comedy |
| Friday 8th September 2023 | 12:35am | Sky Comedy |
| Friday 26th January 2024 | 8:00am | Sky Comedy |
| Friday 26th January 2024 | 7:00pm | Sky Comedy |
| Friday 2nd February 2024 | 1:25am | Sky Comedy |
| Tuesday 2nd April 2024 | 9:55am | Sky Comedy |
| Saturday 6th April 2024 | 1:25am | Sky Comedy |
Cast & crew
| Idris Elba | Walter |
| Bill Bailey | Bagpipes |
| Madeline Appiah | Agnes |
| Jimmy Akingbola | Valentine |
| Kellie Shirley | Kirsty |
| Sammy Kamara | Kobna |
| Mattie Boys | Dean |
| Quincy | Frank |
| Deno Driz | Singing Boy |
| Ellen Thomas | Mama (Voice) |
| Gus Barry | Lee |
| Sonnyboy Skelton | Martin |
| Doreen Ingleton | Maureen |
| Bella Emberg | Sheila |
| Arthur Nightingale | Vic |
| Divian Ladwa | Hiten |
| Tracy Kearney | Nurse |
| Claire Downes | Writer |
| Ian Jarvis | Writer |
| Stuart Lane | Writer |
| Grace Ofori-Attah | Writer (Additional Material) |
| Emma Brown | Script Editor |
| Declan Lowney | Director |
| Charlie Hanson | Producer |
| Idris Elba | Executive Producer |
| Gina Carter | Executive Producer |
| Jon Mountague | Executive Producer |
| Carleen Beadle (as Carleen Beadle-Larcombe) | Line Producer |
| Ana Garanito | Associate Producer |
| Adam Bokey | Editor |
| Damien Creagh | Production Designer |
| Catherine Willis | Casting Director |
| Amanda Monk | Costume Designer |
| Ray Coates | Director of Photography |
| Sjaan Gillings | Make-up Designer |
| Jay Arthur | 1st Assistant Director |
Press
In the Long Run, debuting on Sky One, is both Idris Elba's first venture into comedy (both writing and starring) and his labour of love for a remembered childhood in 80s Hackney. There is terrific music, and an honestly terrific attempt to translate some of the truths about growing up black, in then and in there, and it's in many, many ways lovely. It's just getting going, so the jury's still out on whether it's actually... funny. Perhaps I don't laugh easily enough.
Euan Ferguson, The Guardian, 1st April 2018In The Long Run television review
Charming comedy-drama with real heart.
David Stephenson, The Daily Express, 1st April 2018Will Gompertz reviews Idris Elba's In The Long Run
That the show makes Only Fools and Horses feel edgy came as a bit of a surprise, given its creator is the actor Idris Elba.
Will Gompertz, BBC, 31st March 2018In the Long Run review
One thing you should be able to guarantee for any programme set in the 1980s is a cracking soundtrack. And so it is with In The Long Run, the new comedy based on Idris Elba's childhood on a South London council estate.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 29th March 2018TV review: In The Long Run, Sky One
Some potentially interesting plotlines are set up in the first of six episodes. It'll be interesting to see how they play out.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 29th March 2018