Filming has commenced on the 10 x 60-minute series

Thandiwe Newton (Westworld, Wednesday) and Ncuti Gatwa (Doctor Who) have been cast in First Day on Earth, Michaela Coel’s highly-anticipated BBC1/ HBO drama.

Say Nothing actor Maxine Peake and Harlots star Danny Sapani have also joined the cast of the 10 x 60-minute series, which has started filming.

As well as writing and exec producing the show, Coel takes the lead role as Henri, a British-Ghanian novelist who travels to her ancestral homeland Ghana where her estranged father lives, and where secrets and lies make her question everything.

Newton will play a character called Anya, Gatwa will play Darren, Peake will portray Helen and Sapani will be Earnest, although the details of their characters’ storylines are still under wraps.

First Day on Earth is produced by Various Artists Limited (Such Brave Girls) and Coel’s indie Falkna in association with A24. Various Artists Limited and Falkna previously co-produced Coel’s highly acclaimed I May Destroy You in 2020.

Also exec producing are Sam Miller (I May Destroy You), Jesse Armstrong (Succession), Phil Clarke and Roberto Troni for Various Artists Limited and Jo McClellan for the BBC, with Johann Knobel as producer.

The commission was announced in 2024.

Various Artists Limited is also in production with BBC1 drama Two Weeks in August in association with ITV Studios and Jessica Knappett’s BBC1 maternity ward comedy Push.