Actor, singer, poet and award-winning playwright Michaela Coel will lead the cast of Chewing Gum, a new E4 comedy series.

The six 30-minute episoes will star Coel as Tracey Gordon, a religious Beyoncé-obsessed 22-year-old who is fast finding out that the more she learns about the world, the less she understands.

Rachel Springett, Commissioning Editor for Channel 4 Comedy commented: “Michaela Coel is a force to be reckoned with. Having seen her perform at the National Theatre I was immediately blown away. Immeasurably talented and brimming with energy and ideas, I’m thrilled to work alongside her, and Retort to bring her unique vision to the E4 audience.”

Executive producer Jon Rolph added: “We are delighted to be bringing Michaela’s debut series to E4. Her vivid, heartfelt writing and brilliant, grounded performance capture a world we all recognise and make it fresh, personal and funny. We can’t wait to see it on screen.”

The official synopsis reads: “Tracey and her mates are in their early twenties, living in an estate in Tower Hamlets, east London. Some of them have full time jobs, some are in uni, some are already parents. But really – they are all stuck. Stuck in their youth and still trying to coast through their days with minimum responsibility. Future plans don’t extend much beyond saving up for the latest pair of trainers, a new car, or a Cambodian Weave. They live in the moment.

“Tracey, however, seems capable of more. But growing up in a strict religious environment means she is ‘underdeveloped’ in many areas, and so her path into adulthood has been… interesting. She is wise, but innocent, genuflecting equally to both her idols – Beyoncé and Jesus. Living in a swiftly changing London, we watch as she crashes her way through what she should and shouldn’t be doing.”

Chewing Gum will air on E4 in 2015.

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