Idris Elba's Fight School - Season 1

Idris has scoured all four nations for his recruits, whittling down hundreds of applications before selecting his chosen team. Now it's time for Idris and the Fight School coaches to meet their first ever intake – eight young people determined to throw themselves into Idris's life-changing experiment for the next five months.

Former national boxing champion Rachel Bower and fitness coach Greg White support his ambition but have immediate doubts about one of Idris's selections. At over 100kg, 24-year-old Jess's weight would make her heavyweight, and there are only a handful of women in the UK competing in this class. Rachel and Greg are concerned that even if they can get her fitness up to the level needed, it's going to be almost impossible to find her a fair match. And as the group are put through a rigorous fitness assessment, it's soon clear that it's not only Jess who will struggle with the pace.

18-year-old Naeem has joined Fight School because he struggles with self-discipline, but within days he is also struggling with punctuality, to the training team's frustration. And 29-year-old latecomer Chanika reveals she's been delayed in joining the team after being admitted to intensive care with Covid-19 and pneumonia.

But just when it might seem that their mentor might have bitten off more than he can chew, an early morning run transforms one student's view of what they might be able to achieve.

Idris's squad face their first test: sparring three rounds against an opponent who won't pull their punches.

It's only a taste of what's to come, but as lack of fitness and focus become apparent, Idris begins to realise the extent of the life changes all eight will have to make if they're to stand any chance in their big final fight.

Unused to routine, roofer Ash struggles with Fight School's rules and strict training regime. Meanwhile, Londoner Zeb is battling exhaustion but is reluctant to explain what's keeping him awake at night. And 18 year-old Naeem's lack of punctuality continues to frustrate his coaches.

When all three miss the start of an early morning session, Idris decides to visit them at home to find out what's going wrong.

Determined to improve morale, Idris organises the ultimate wake-up call: an open water swimming challenge, designed to show his squad how to overcome the demons that keep holding them back.

Four weeks in and the next trial fight is looming. Idris needs to see a massive improvement across his entire squad, but first he's faced with a difficult decision as 29-year-old Sophie's injury takes a turn for the worst.

The stress of training and living together is also taking a toll. Tensions brew in the house and Rachel's training session is disrupted by arguments as 29-year-old Chanika and 25-year-old Kerryn refuse to spar in the same ring. With Chanika threatening to leave, Idris tries to understand what's making her unhappy. But just as he makes progress with one student, he's forced to tackle 18-year-old Naeem, who, already on a final warning, has turned up late to class again.

Idris raises the mood in the house with VIP tickets to his movie premiere, but then it's back to hard graft as the students square up to a new rival boxing club, determined to test their mettle at their second fight night.

There's a shock when Idris finally reveals to his team who they'll be facing in their official amateur fights. As the big night draws closer, he arranges a training session with ex-convict turned world-record-breaking rower, John McAvoy, who inspires with his own heroic story, before challenging them to an epic race on the Thames.

After three months of non-stop training, the students return home to see friends and family. For some, it's a chance for them to reflect on how far they've come and what they're trying to leave behind, but for others, keeping on the straight and narrow proves tough.

Back at Fight School, coach Greg discovers there's been a massive drop in student fitness. Newest recruit 23-year-old Katie, who joined the group six weeks into the process, impresses in her first spar – but the intensity of the training puts a serious toll on some of the group, putting a number of the team's places in serious jeopardy.

The episode culminates with a third and final spar night – one last opportunity to prove to Idris and Head Coach Rachel that they're good enough to fight at York Hall. To add to the pressure, the bouts are at Earlsfield – one of London's most famous amateur boxing clubs. Determined to get the best out of his squad, Idris decides he's going into the ring to fight too.

Idris's team have their most intensive training session to date when they are put through their paces by the formidable British Army's elite boxing team, but 29-year-old Chanika struggles with the imposing opposition.

On the eve of their big night, Idris's squad are dealt a devastating blow which puts the entire experiment in jeopardy. With the government announcing new measures as the Omicron variant spreads across the country, Fight School is forced to close, and their fight is cancelled. As the students go back home, Idris is determined to keep up momentum. Fight School goes local, as he enlists the help of amateur clubs from across the country. Faced with the challenge of helping his recruits refocus and readjust, there's some welcome good news for Idris when 20-year-old Fin and 26-year-old Jess return to Fight School.

In order to remotivate his team, Idris sets them their biggest challenge yet – the UK's highest freefall abseil, but it's far from plain sailing as the students face their fears and the unrelenting elements.

The students get to grips with the new normal at Fight School, balancing their intensive training alongside work and family commitments, but this adjustment proves easier for some than others.

Their big night at the prestigious York Hall finally arrives and Idris's full team reunite to get behind their fellow Fight School boxers. It's the moment of truth for Idris's fighters as they enter the ring for their first ever amateur bouts.