Munya Chawawa to ‘race around Britain’ in new youtube original comedy

Today at The Edinburgh TV Festival, Luke Hyams, Head of Originals, EMEA for YouTube, announced a brand new 4-part series Race Around Britain from Expectation and Munya Chawawa’s production company Munz Made It. 

The series is created, executive produced and fronted by Munya Chawawa the British-Zimbabwean satirist and comedian best known for his lightning speed social commentary and viral online sketches and being the creator of viral rap sensation Unknown P. The series was announced during the YouTube Originals Festival panel “The UK’s first generation of creators come of age” hosted by Sunday Times bestselling author, broadcaster and journalist Candice Brathwaite. 

The series will see cultural phenomenon Munya heading off on a very personal mission – to explore the black experience and culture across the farthest flung corners of Britain in the hope to discover that it’s not racism and prejudice that divide us, but in fact a lack of cultural education and exposure that causes the racial divide. How can you understand what you’ve never seen? On each leg of his epic journey across the UK, Munya will use his satirical expertise and quick-witted character comedy to have real conversations with different communities about race in Britain today.  

Munya Chawawa said “I’ve always wanted to create a show that embodies the Black experience and explains our stories and our struggles through the medium of comedy. The last few years have proved it to be the most effective means of tackling the biggest challenges posed by society. Race is one such challenge Britain has tussled with over the last year - and I can’t wait to take it head on.”

Luke Hyams, Head of Originals EMEA said “Race Around Britain is an ambitious and progressive comedy experiment that explores the subject of racism, and the tensions that exist around the changing notion of British identity, in a sensitive yet satirical manner that we hope will push the conversation forward. Munya, is a once in a generation talent and we are incredibly proud to be along for the ride as he tackles this most timely of subjects in his indubitable style". 

Ben Wicks, Expectation’s Creative Director, Entertainment said “We are elated to be making this YouTube Original with Munya - he’s rightly adulated by everyone from his millions of converts on Instagram to the New York Times. He’s the sharpest satirical mind working in Britain today and he’s set his sights on the biggest topic of them all: race. If the writing sessions are any indication the series will be ground-breaking, revelatory and above all, utterly hilarious.”

The Executive Producers are Andy Brown (The Revolution Will Be Televised, Off Their Rockers), Munya Chawawa and Ben Wicks (The Last Leg, The Big Narstie Show). Mira King is Factual Executive Producer, Senior Producer is Trent Williams-Jones and it is directed by Graham Proud. The producer is Kevin Muyolo and the line producer is Claire Cook. The talent executives are Natalie Jupp and Louisa McKay.