Aeysha Carr, co-creator of Government Cheese, has revealed the remarkable true story that inspired the brand new Apple TV+ series. The offbeat period drama, which premieres on the streaming service this Wednesday (16th April), stars David Oyelowo as Hampton Chambers, a small-time crook released from prison in 1967.
After serving three years, Hampton immediately sets out to reinvent himself and reconnect with his family, including his wary wife Astoria (played by Simone Missick) and their two sons, rebellious Harrison (Jahi Di’Allo Winston) and quirky Einstein (Evan Alexander Ellison). Co-created by Paul Hunter, the 10-part series takes Hampton on some strange journeys, but viewers may be surprised to learn that his story as an aspiring inventor is actually based on reality.
“That part was very true to who Paul’s father was,” Carr told Express Online. “What we did take apart was our own history and our own family.”
While Hampton’s bizarre spiritual journey didn’t unfold exactly as depicted in Government Cheese, both Carr and Hunter drew from their own family histories for inspiration.
Carr added: “My grandfather had parts of his life where he was an inventor and Paul and I bonded on that, and even my mum has a bit of it”, reports the Express.
“The qualities of that is somebody who looks at something and always sees a way to improve it or change it. And I think that’s who Hampton is, so we came from our own historical truths.”
Oyelowo not only took on the lead role in the series but also stepped up as an executive producer, delivering what could be his finest performance to date.
He’s widely recognised for his portrayal of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in the critically acclaimed film Selma, but his turn as Hampton in Government Cheese is set to make the show one of Apple TV+’s standout offerings for 2025. Fans are in for a treat as they get to witness a completely different facet of Oyelowo’s acting prowess.
“I can’t imagine anyone else playing that character,” Carr enthused. “He’s such a good actor and he usually plays these holistic, good people. And I think there was some joy of playing this character who might not be good! We don’t really know.
“He makes some of the worst decisions ever and somehow we never dislike him. I think that’s what David brings, a likability to a character doing something that, as a viewer, you don’t want him to do. You think it’s the worst thing in the world. That’s what David is amazing at.”
Bokeem Woodbine, who stars as Bootsy, Hampton’s lifelong friend and partner-in-crime, provides perhaps the most authentic historical connection in the series, as his character draws direct inspiration from a real-life acquaintance of Paul’s father.
“Paul and I had many discussions about who Bootsy was to Paul. Because Bootsy’s based on a real guy, there was a Bootsy, he’s not just out of Paul’s imagination,” Woodbine revealed to the Express.
Apple TV+ has dropped to £2.99 per month, effectively giving members three months’ access for the price of one, until April 24.
This includes bingeable shows including Severance, The Studio, Ted Lasso and Slow Horses.
“There was a cat named Bootsy that was tight with Paul’s dad, so Bootsy’s based on a real guy. So I got his backstory. He was in ‘Nam, he was a combat veteran who ultimately had developed, or maybe it was always in him, this ability to let all the horrors of war and the mental anguish of being marginalised as a human being, and all these kind of things, pass through him.
“And not sit in him, which is a remarkable thing. Most people, they carry some kind of bitterness or angst in them and they don’t know how to shake it.
“Bootsy had this unique ability to not let anything negative sit with him, or sit in him or become bonded to him at any kind of cellular level. He’s actually able to let it just pass right through him.
“So, Paul and I had the opportunity to spend time and delve into that mindset, which is something that I just lean on whenever I’m on set doing my Bootsy thing. I always come back to that as a square one.”
This offbeat new dramedy is guaranteed to be unlike anything else you’ll watch this year, so make sure you tune into Oyelowo’s latest adventurous project this week.
Government Cheese premieres Wednesday, 16th April on Apple TV+.
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