TYRONE RASHAD
Screenwriter
Drawing on his firm roots in Hackney, Tyrone Rashad has used his personal experience to establish himself as one of the hottest contemporary screenwriters of our TV screens, with his critically acclaimed drama Top Boy solidifying his status as global sensation.
Tyrone Rashad moved to Stoke Newington at eight and grew up on Victoria Grove Estate, just behind Stoke Newington Police Station, an environment that echoed Top Boy’s fictional Summerhouse Estate. Drawing on his experiences as a working-class child raised by a single mother, Rashad brought an authentic perspective to the series, earning writing credits across its fourth and fifth seasons. He has since developed independent projects, including a crime drama series and a spy thriller co-created with Skepta.
Why Hackney Matters
For Tyrone Rashad hackney is a vibrant and thriving creative hub, bursting with talent and a major point of inspiration for his work. Hackney is a place of abundant contradictions; its highest highs and lowest lows have not only built his personal resilience but have contributed to his prosperous career.
Did You Know?
Before joining the Top Boy writing team, Tyrone Rashad met the show's creator Ronan Bennett in his own Hackney home, following an introduction by Ian Katz. The meeting brought his journey full circle.