The BBC has released the first official images from its upcoming drama series Open Water, offering an early glimpse of stars Toheeb Jimoh and Dujonna Gift in character. The eight-part adaptation of Caleb Azumah Nelson’s acclaimed debut novel is scheduled to premiere on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in 2027.

The newly shared stills capture intimate, atmospheric moments between the two leads. One image shows Jimoh and Gift locked in a close, charged gaze under red lighting. Another depicts the pair embracing on a lively dance floor bathed in purple hues, with musicians visible in the background.

A third presents them seated outdoors at night in warm golden light, facing each other in quiet conversation. All three photographs carry the BBC logo and the series title, emphasizing the production’s visual intimacy and emotional tone.

Jimoh plays Marcus, a young man working in retail while pursuing a career as a photographer. Gift portrays Effie, a dance student based at university in Dublin. From their first meeting, the characters experience an immediate and powerful connection. Complications arise when Marcus discovers that Effie is already in a relationship with his friend Samuel, a boundary he is determined not to cross. A shared creative project-photographing and documenting Black artists and creatives in London draws them back into each other’s lives, testing the limits of friendship and desire.

About the Series

The series explores themes of longing, belonging, creativity, and the courage needed to open oneself to love. Its synopsis poses a central question: will the pair sink or swim in open water? Nelson, the author of the original novel, serves as lead writer, director, and executive producer, ensuring a close connection between the page and the screen. Composer Cassie Kinoshi is creating an original score for the project.

Filming recently wrapped on locations in Birmingham and London. The production is a collaboration between Mam Tor Productions (a Banijay UK company) and B-Side Productions, with Banijay Rights handling international distribution. Producer Karlvyn Dove oversees the series, which consists of eight half-hour episodes.

Jimoh, best known for his Emmy-nominated performance as Sam Obisanya in Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso, has spoken warmly about the project. “This is a dream project for me,” he said. “I fell in love with Marcus and Caleb’s story immediately. It’s such a sensitive, character-rich love story, delicately told and full of all the details of the south London I grew up in. It’s such an honour to be a part of this team and I can’t wait to share this one with you all.”

Gift, who made her film debut as Maple in Disney’s 2025 live-action Snow White and has appeared in the West End and the BBC series Ludwig, described the role as especially meaningful. “There are certain roles that remind you why you once fell in love with storytelling and for me, this is one of them,” she said. “To be able to step into Effie’s shoes and to bring a South London love story to screen, a story that many people already have been able to fall in love with, that is deeply rooted in the communities that shaped me is such an honour. I cannot wait for everyone to experience this new life of Caleb’s beautiful writing and for us all to swim with Effie and Marcus.”

Caleb Azumah Nelson’s novel Open Water, published in 2021, received widespread critical praise for its lyrical prose and intimate portrayal of young Black British life, love, and creativity in South London. The adaptation marks a significant step in bringing that celebrated literary voice to television audiences.

Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, previously described the project as “a deeply romantic and beautifully observed story that has captivated readers around the world.”

The supporting cast includes Rhianna Dorris, Lamar Waves, Nadine Marshall, Hope Ikpoku Jnr, and others, rounding out a ensemble rooted in contemporary British talent. The first-look images have already generated strong interest online, with viewers noting the chemistry between Jimoh and Gift and the cinematic quality of the photography.

As the series moves into post-production, attention will turn to further promotional material, potential festival appearances, and the eventual 2027 broadcast window. For fans of the novel and of both lead actors, the newly released stills offer the clearest indication yet of how Nelson’s intimate, emotionally resonant story will translate to the screen.

Open Water promises a tender, character-driven drama that places Black creative life and complicated romance at its center, arriving at a time when such stories continue to find growing space on British television.