Idris Elba is back on our TV screens with a new show on BBC 2 and iPlayer.
Idris Elba's Fight School invites a group of teenagers to to an intensive boxing training course to help arm them with discipline, ambition and mental resilience, enabling them to acquire new life skills and, ultimately, change their lives.
Including 19-year-old Finlay from Hamilton, they’ll train twice a day, six days a week, whilst having access to a life coach and inspirational mentors with the aim of them being ready to compete in an official amateur fight in five months times.
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The first episode aired on BBC 2 on Sunday April 17, with the whole series available to stream in iPlayer. Young Finlay 'Fin' was introduced to viewers where he admitted he had spent time in prison after getting into fights.
He revealed his anger 'probably' came from losing his mum at just seven years old.
Speaking to the BBC about why he wanted to take part in the fight school, he said: "I wanted to change my life. I had just come out of jail. I was 17 when I went in and when I came out, I was doing nothing with my life, I heard about this opportunity and I wanted to go for it.
"My mum died when I was seven. It was hard growing up, and I probably acted in the way I did because I felt angry. This was 100 per cent a chance to have a new focus in my life and change my direction."
Finlay added: "It made me realise I can change my life. It has opened my eyes to what I can do. Being a part of Fight School gave me a confidence boost. I learnt a lot about myself and I want to go on to study sport."
From day one the contestants are put into a house to live in over the course of the training - completely changing up their usual daily routine.
They are expected to train twice a day, six days a week, with morning runs and gym sessions increasing their fitness levels before they stepped into the ring with some of the country's top boxing coaches.
All eight contestants, like Finlay have experienced hardship such as spending spells in prison or getting back on track after facing traumatic experiences.
For anyone who has gone through what Finlay has, he encourages them to change their social circle after realising that boxing changed his life.
He said: "Change your circle and get into boxing training at a gym as a discipline. I got stuck in that circle and I ended up going to jail when everyone else was still at school studying. Boxing and the training has made me want to go back again and again. It has been a great experience and it can change your life."
Speaking about why he wanted to make the TV series, the Luther actor Idris Elba told the BBC: "When I was young I joined a boxing club, and my trainer Joe took me under his wing. It was a real turning point in my life, teaching me discipline and control moving forward.
"During my own experience of fighting there was a level of peace I was able to achieve. Boxing requires you to switch off all the noise and focus on the moment, a skill that I believe all people need, especially younger people who need direction.
"Looking back at my own experiences, I’m reminded of how powerful boxing can be on disadvantaged young people, giving them a sense of purpose. This was the inspiration behind Fight School."
Idris Elba's Fight School is on BBC 2 at 9pm on Sunday and all episodes are on BBC iPlayer.
