ITV Commissions Fashanu Brothers Drama

ITV has ordered Fash, a drama series from playwright, writer and director Kwame Kwei-Armah (Elmina’s Kitchen, Breaking) about footballers Justin and John Fashanu.

John Fashanu is closely involved in the drama, serving as a consultant on the series alongside Peter Tatchell and a number of other contributors. Fash will premiere on ITV1 and will be available as a box set on ITVX once the first episode has aired.

In 1981, at 20 years old, Justin Fashanu signs to Nottingham Forest, becoming the first black British footballer to be sold for £1 million. In 1990, he is the first professional footballer to publicly come out as gay. In 1998, with his football career in tatters and ostracized by his family, Justin commits suicide.

In 1981, Justin’s younger brother John signs to Norwich City, the same club at which his brother made his name. Over the next few years, as his younger brother’s star fades and life becomes mired by pitch-side rumor and front-page tabloid exposés, John supersedes Justin as the famous Fashanu. In 1998, when Justin dies, the two are wholly estranged.

Fash tells a story of two young men, each trapped in their own damaging and dangerous notions of masculinity, that traverses back and forth across their eventful lives.

The series will be produced by Happy Prince (part of ITV Studios). International distribution is handled by ITV Studios.

John Fashanu said: “I’m so pleased to be working with Kwame and Happy Prince on this project. Much has been said and written about the relationship Justin, and I shared over the years, but drama of this type has an ability to delve right to the beating heart and truth of events in a way other media can’t. I feel privileged to play a part in bringing it to the screen.”

Kwei-Armah said: “I grew up watching the Fashanu brothers. I was fascinated by them. Inspired by them. As an adult, my heart breaks for them. ‘The past is a foreign land’, the saying goes, ‘they do things differently there.’ In Fash, I wanted to dive into that past, particularly one that has so many resonances with today.”

Tatchell added: “This is a powerful, moving life story that needs to be told. I am very honored to act as a consultant to the production team, based on my friendship with Justin Fashanu in the 1980s.”

Polly Hill, ITV’s head of drama, said: “Kwame’s scripts are brilliant and tell a story that is heart-breaking and sadly still relevant today. It is always a huge responsibility telling a true story, and Kwame and the team at Happy Prince tell Justin and John’s story with all the truth, passion and sensitivity it deserves. I’m delighted it’s found a home on ITV.”

Alexander Lamb, executive producer at Happy Prince, added: “Fash is a truly important story that myself, Dominic and the Happy Prince team are desperate to tell, and its significance and timeliness rings even truer as football and sexuality currently dominate the news. It’s an honor to work with the brilliant Kwame Kwei-Armah as he brings Justin and John’s incredibly tough, beautifully moving and often heart-breaking tragedy alive.”