Boarders is a BBC Three comedy-drama created and written by Daniel Lawrence Taylor, following five underprivileged Black students from inner-city London who win scholarships to the elite St. Gilbert’s boarding school. Series 1 (6 episodes) premiered on February 20, 2024, Series 2 followed on February 3, 2025, and the third and final series aired March 15–29, 2026, bringing the show to a planned conclusion (not a cancellation) after 18 episodes across three series. This article covers the Series 1 soundtrack – the songs featured episode by episode – along with the show’s original score.
Quick Facts
| Title | Boarders |
| Genre/Type | Comedy-drama |
| Creator/Writer | Daniel Lawrence Taylor (co-writers: Emma Dennis-Edwards, Yemi Oyefuwa, Ryan Calais Camero) |
| Director(s) | Ethosheia Hylton, Sarmad Masud |
| Music | Original soundtrack written & produced by University of Westminster music students, under the musical direction of Professor Mykaell Riley |
| Release Date | February 20, 2024 (Series 1); final Series 3 aired March 15–29, 2026 |
| Platform/Where to Watch | BBC Three / BBC iPlayer (UK); Tubi (US) |
| Status | Completed – 3 series, 18 episodes total |
According to IMDb, the official synopsis reads: “Comedy drama following five underprivileged black students from inner-city London who win scholarships to an elite boarding school, stepping out of the urban metropolis and into a world they can only describe as something out of Harry Potter.”
Who Composed the Boarders Soundtrack?
Professor Mykaell S. Riley — a founding member of the Grammy-winning reggae band Steel Pulse and Director of the Black Music Research Unit at the University of Westminster — led the original soundtrack for Boarders. Rather than composing it solo, Riley oversaw a unique industry-education partnership: University of Westminster music students wrote and produced the show’s entire original soundtrack across all three series (18 original tracks), mastered by Grammy-nominated producer Ikon and distributed by Warner Music. Riley has said the collaboration gave students professional BBC-network credits and payment while working directly with the show’s production company, Studio Lambert. Writer Daniel Lawrence Taylor worked closely with Riley on how the music was positioned against dialogue in each episode.
Boarders Soundtrack: Every Song by Episode (Series 1)
Episode 1 Songs
- “Amplify” by Guvna B & DarkoVibes – from The Village Is On Fire (2023); genre: Christian/hip-hop
- “Never Gonna Stop” (feat. DEVMO) by Two Hidden Labs
- “In a Bag” by Leon Riley & Jamie Shield
- “Let Me See the Energy” by Ben Sumner, Glenn Herweijer & Konstantinos Papalexopoulos – from Raise the Game (2021)
- “Fantasy for Orchestra: Night on Bald Mountain” by Franz Bauer-Theussl & Vienna Volksoper Orchestra
Episode 2 Songs
- “Amplify” by Guvna B & DarkoVibes – from The Village Is On Fire (2023); genre: Christian
- “Never Gonna Stop” (feat. DEVMO) by Two Hidden Labs
- “In a Bag” by Leon Riley & Jamie Shield
- “Let Me See the Energy” by Ben Sumner, Glenn Herweijer & Konstantinos Papalexopoulos – from Raise the Game (2021)
- “Fantasy for Orchestra: Night on Bald Mountain” by Franz Bauer-Theussl & Vienna Volksoper Orchestra
Episode 3 Songs
- “Boom” by Nadia Rose – from Boom (2016)
- “Spiral” by Fur Coat – released 2016
- “Dark Side” by Harlin James & Clav – from Urban World (2013)
- “Champion Sound” by Juvanne Miller & Zachary Scipio – from Bounce (2018)
- “Boss B*tch” by Doja Cat
- “How Many Times” by Lamour White, David Boafo & Jamie Shield – from Manor Beats (2021)
Episode 4 Songs
- “New Orleans (After The City)” by Hot 8 Brass Band – from Treme: Music From the HBO Original Series, Season 2 (2012)
- “Hold Your Head” by Luthernist – from A Blind Eye Beneath the Golden Sun (2023)
- “The Sooner The Better” by Tom Hillock, Nicolas Boscovic & Ellen June – from Prism, Vol. 2 by David Krutten (2023)
- “Tighten the Noose” by Wayne Murray & Timothy Fleet – from Death Metal (2018)
- “Never Gonna Stop” (feat. DEVMO) by Two Hidden Labs
- “Feeling Supernatural” by Simon Brown – from Stripped-Back Pop (2020)
- “No Mercy” by Andrew Kingslow & Philip Kirby – from Funk Soul Ska (2009)
- “Get Freaky” by Krissie Karlsson, Karl Karlsson & Nicki Karlsson – from Halloween Jukebox (2018)
Episode 5 Songs
- “How Many Times” by Lamour White, David Boafo & Jamie Shield – from Manor Beats (2021)
- “Stepping” by Fabian Johnson, Andrew Souter & Lee White – from Radio Playlist: Street Beats (2021)
- “Mosquito” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
- “You Could Be” (feat. George Riley) by Anz
Episode 6 Songs
- “Rotate” by K More
- “Sink Or Swim” by Young Fathers – from Heavy Heavy (2023); genre: Alternative/Indie
- “Set Fazers” by Skindred – from Smile (2023)
- “Black British” by V V Brown – from Am I British Yet? (2023); genres: Reggae, R&B/Soul
Where to Stream
Boarders streams on BBC iPlayer in the UK and on Tubi in the US. The licensed songs can be found on Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Spotify, while the original student-produced Boarders soundtrack album is distributed by Warner Music and available on all major platforms.
Official Trailer:
Cast
- Josh Tedeku as Jaheim Marsham
- Jodie Campbell as Leah Dulverton
- Myles Kamwendo as Omar Palmer-Grace
- Aruna Jalloh as Femi Adebayo
- Sekou Diaby as Toby Staithes
- Daniel Lawrence Taylor as Gus
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed the Boarders soundtrack?
The original soundtrack was written and produced by University of Westminster music students under the direction of Professor Mykaell S. Riley, a founding member of Steel Pulse, and distributed by Warner Music.
Who directs Boarders?
Boarders is directed by Ethosheia Hylton and Sarmad Masud, and created and written by Daniel Lawrence Taylor.
Is Boarders ending?
Yes. Series 3, which aired March 15–29, 2026, is the final series of Boarders, concluding the show as planned after three series and 18 episodes.
Where can I watch Boarders?
Boarders streams on BBC iPlayer in the UK and on Tubi in the US.
How many episodes does Boarders have?
Boarders has 18 episodes total across three series: Series 1 (2024), Series 2 (2025), and Series 3 (2026).
Related reading: TV Soundtracks | Streaming Hub