Crongton has finally landed on our screens – but what inspired the new show?

BBC Three has gripped viewers with a new coming-of-age drama that follows young people growing up in a gritty environment.

Written by comedian and actor Archie Maddocks, Crongton is now streaming as a boxset on iPlayer and airing throughout this week on BBC Three, at 7PM.

It follows Lemar ‘Liccle Bit’ Jackson and his friends as they navigate poverty, peer pressure and hefty social issues on a fictional inner-city housing estate.

The ten-part show is based on a book series by celebrated author Alex Wheatle, who tragically died last Sunday, just a week before the show aired. The 62-year-old had been suffering with prostate cancer.

Ahead of the series premiere, the show’s screenwriter, Maddocks, revealed that he intended to stay true to the late novelist’s beloved story. However, he also shared three iconic TV shows that he drew inspiration from.

He said: “Alex [Wheatle] captured the energy and authenticity of this world so well and that essence is absolutely something I wanted to capture.

“I wanted to put my own spin on it by drawing inspiration from shows that I loved growing up […] In Crongton, existence is vivid, bright, fun, wild and crazy – even amongst times that are hard for our main characters such as parents dying, struggling for money and navigating social politics.”

Here are the series he cited as his inspirations and where you can stream them.

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Maddocks named cult classic comedy The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as one of his muses.

The Will Smith-fronted sitcom originally aired on NBC from 1990 to 1996, releasing 148 episodes across six seasons.

Similar to Crongton’s pre-teens, the comedy’s main character is an inner-city youngster from a working class background.

The plot follows a teenager, aptly named Will Smith, who is temporarily sent to live with his wealthy aunt and uncle at their Bel-Air mansion.

The show quickly grew a cult following for its light-hearted humour. However, it was also known for tackling heavy themes such as class disparity.

During its time on air, the dramedy clinched its share of impressive awards and nominations. Smith notably bagged two Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Actor in a TV Series – Comedy or Musical.

For those looking to revisit the beloved series, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is available to purchase on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.

Clarissa Explains it All

Another nineties gem that inspired the Crongton writer is Nickelodeon’s Clarissa Explains It All.

Starring Melissa Joan Hart in the titular role, the sitcom spotlights a teenager who speaks directly to the audience about relatable events unfolding in her life.

The show explores typical adolescent concerns – shedding light on everything from learning how to drive to the struggles of puberty.

Created by Mitchell Kriegman, the sitcom was nominated for the 1994 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children’s Program.

Over 30 years since its finale, fans are still raving about the unique series.

“Clarissa Explains It All is one of my favourites shows in my entire life and I have seen a LOT of them. I adore every minute of the series and every character,” a recent IMDB reviewer gushed.

All five seasons Clarissa Explains It All is available to stream on Paramount+.

The Simpsons

A staple fixture in children’s TV, The Simpsons was the only ongoing series named by Maddocks.

First aired in 1989, the cartoon follows a working-class family living in a fictional city called Springfield. It is currently in its 36th season and has won 37 Primetime Emmy Awards.

The cartoon has had undeniable cultural influence over the years. In 2001, it inspired the phrase ‘D’oh’ to be included in the Oxford English Dictionary.

The Simpsons is available to stream now on Disney+.

Crongton is streaming now on BBC iPlayer.