Boarders: 'We all have to code switch to survive in life'

“It was predominantly white, predominantly middle class and it was like a proper culture shock to me,” the actor and writer says frankly.

Daniel, who attended Royal Holloway, University of London, says this experience, in part, helped to shape the narrative in Boarders, his new series about five talented, black teenagers who have just won scholarships to the fictional, elite boarding school St Gilbert’s.

While researching and writing Boarders, Daniel also spoke to his friends who had attended private schools.

“It was the kind of thing that you'd imagine - the kind of microaggressions and incidents - but the main one was code switching and learning how to survive in that environment,” he says.

“I think there'll be a universal appeal to the show because we all have to code switch in some way, shape or form, to survive in life.”

Code switching is a term widely used to describe when somebody changes their accent, tone of voice and mannerisms depending on what space they’re in. Many black people feel that they have to code-switch when entering white majority spaces.

Meanwhile, Boarders actor Josh Tedeku, who plays Jaheim, says he related to his character quite a bit because in real life he had attended schools where he “was the minority and the majority was white”.

“I feel like the first half of my school years I was trying to fit in,” he adds to BBC Newsbeat. “Finding yourself in general is [tough]. But doing it in a place where you're a minority is even worse. So I just drew from that experience and brought it to Jaheim.”

Strong male black role models

While at Royal Holloway, Daniel remembers seeing the main university building for the first time and thinking it was “magical”.

And this was a feeling shared by the cast of Boarders when they saw the grand setting of the series.

“It [felt] like stepping into a different world,” says Josh. “It felt a bit like Hogwarts.”

Alongside Josh in Boarders are Jodie Campbell (who plays Leah), Myles Kamwendo (Omar), Sekou Diaby (Toby) and Aruna Jalloh (Femi).

And Daniel decided to not only write Boarders but star in it, with the role of mentor Gus.

“Gus is quite a complex character because he knows what these institutions are like, and he knows that it comes at cost,” Daniel says.

Playing the role allowed Daniel to tap into a more serious side to his acting and he hopes that it highlights the importance of having black male role models.

Growing up, Daniel says he “didn’t necessarily have strong male black role models, it was mostly strong black women”.

As a result, he says he wrote and played Gus as a blueprint for the sort of role model he wanted to become, especially while raising his daughter.

“The role model that I lacked is probably the role model that I want to become.”

'We never shied away from difficult topics'

Daniel says he wanted to show viewers that while there is a benefit to attending academic institutions like St Gilbert’s, it can also be quite challenging - adding that the writers’ room made sure to “never shy away” from difficult moments.

The cast have thoughts on elite education and opportunity, too.

Actor Sekou says: “Giving people from different backgrounds an opportunity is always a positive thing for both sides.” In giving people from all backgrounds a chance to get to know one another, more opportunities can be created for everyone, he says.

Jodie, meanwhile, adds: “I think [Boarders] does open up that conversation about giving more children of different backgrounds opportunities, and I think [that] is important.

“But as with the show, it's all well and good getting that opportunity. But are you creating a safe environment for them to really take advantage and use that opportunity to be better off?”

Watch Boarders on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer from Tuesday 20 February.