Luther’s Idris Elba stars in a new 2 x 60 minute documentary produced by Shine North and Shine TV for BBC Two.
King of Speed is set to uncover the secret history of the car racing scene from the Scottish Highlands to the racetracks of America and Arctic plains of Finland. During the journey, Elba will examine the social, political and historical connections between the original boy racers from America’s prohibition era right through to our current driving culture.
“From a young age Idris has been obsessed with speed making him the perfect person to tell the fascinating story of how the cars we drive have been shaped by the mysterious world of street racing,” said executive producer Rick Murray.
“Over the last month he’s driven some amazing vehicles and met some incredible people from downtown Detroit to the Arctic Circle. Fast cars, epic locations and Idris Elba promise to make King of Speed a real treat, even for the most reluctant petrolhead.”
Elba will get behind the wheel of a NASCAR on one of America’s most notorious circuits, and recreate a 1930’s police chase with Junior Johnson, a former bootlegger and now stock car driver. He’ll also learn to rally drive in Scandinavia and the Japanese art of drifting.
The series is currently in production and was filming in Liverpool last week. The executive producers are Rick Murray and Tim Whitwell and it’s being produced and directed by Southan Morris.
Shine North has also been working with tennis star, Rafa Nadal on a new series for the PokerStars channel.
The 12 times Grand Slam champion has been set a challenge to take part in his first live poker tournament and the novice player has just 6 months to learn the game.
Cameras will follow Nadal in the build up to the big tournament this December.
