Top Boy star Jasmine Jobson reveals Jaq faces ‘complete change’ in Netflix sequel series

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Top Boy star Jasmine Jobson is ready to step back into her fan-favourite role as Jaq, but fans will need to brace for change. Earlier this year, Netflix confirmed that a sequel to the original show was in the works, with the Bafta-winning actress taking the lead, as well as becoming an executive producer behind the scenes. Although Netflix is keeping mum about the show as far as possible, Jobson revealed to Metro what she can tell us so far. Given the sheer popularity of the original show, which scooped up best drama at the Baftas and 26 million views for its final season in 2023, it’s no surprise fans are on the edge of their seat to find out more about what’s to come. Especially with Jaq at the helm, who regularly crops up in discourse about people’s favourite characters. At the end of the show, she is left grieving the death of her sister Lauryn and raising her niece with her girlfriend Becks (Adwoa Aboah). Everything comes to a head after she steals Sully’s drugs; however, in the bloody fallout, she escapes with her life by the skin of her teeth. Now we’ll see exactly what happened after the credits rolled. Jasmine Jobson will return as Jaq in her Bafta-winning role (Picture: Chris Harris/Netflix) ‘It’s not a spin-off, it’s a sequel,’ is the first thing she clarified. ‘All I can say thus far is we’re going to see the same Jaq that we’ve always known. The savvy, the street smart, the intelligent, the very, very slick temper. ‘All of that is very much still there, but she is in a completely different world now. She’s living in a seaside town, and everything has completely changed, and then it kicks off.’ As for Ashley Walters and Kano handing over the baton as series lead, she confirmed she’s planning on setting up a dinner with them as soon as she can. ‘It would be really, really nice to catch up with them both. I miss them so much,’ she added. It may have been three years since the finale, but Jobson has been staying in the mindset with her new role as Ramla Ali, a boxer who made history as the first Somali woman to represent the country in the Olympics in this sport. After her family fled to the UK in her childhood, she faced immense adversity, from cultural taboo to everyday racism as she attempted to make her dreams of professional boxing a reality. The new movie, In The Shadows, was seven years in the making, with Ali and her husband Richard Moore executive producing the project. – determined to bring her story of strife and triumph to life on the big screen. She’s back in the ring for her new film, In The Shadows (Picture: Sleeper Films) For Jobson, the role and all the boxing that it involved came naturally to her, not least because her Top Boy character has a bout or two in her time. ‘My dad actually got me into watching boxing. That’s something that me and him actually still do together till this day. It’s a sport that I’ve always loved, and obviously I’ve done karate and kickboxing and things like that in my younger years when I was in primary school,’ she explained. Still, preparing to become a boxing champion with two weeks’ notice is no mean feat and, even with all the training in the world, accidents can still happen on set. ‘I literally had two weeks to become a champion, so that was very, very intense. Five, six days a week from 9 to 5. You got warm-ups, you got pad work, skipping, everything. ‘I actually accidentally got punched in the nose once when we were shooting. I think we all just got a little bit excited and, naturally, I was probably a little bit closer to her than we rehearsed, so I took a tiny little blow to the nose, but it was completely fine. ‘You just got to keep on going.’ The movie makes sure to showcase this family seeking refuge in the UK with an undercurrent of socio-political commentary that feels more pertinent than ever. The movie also explores Ramla’s life as a British Somali refugee and navigating two cultures (Picture: Sleeper Films) ‘I feel like people need to understand that refugees, specifically ones who are here for a better life, become a value to our country as well. ‘Not every family member of mine was born in this country. When my grandparents or my great-grandparents came over to the UK, they didn’t come over here to seek money or something like that. ‘They came over here for a better life. By God’s grace, here I am. I’m a credit to my family. So, if anything, I’m an inspiration.’ And after working so closely with Ramla, the pair have spent endless hours having deep conversations about the movie, their lives and all the ways Ramla overcame. ‘I consider her a sister, and I’m very, very honoured that she thought of me to share her story.’ Deals of the Day This Hoover vacuum is a game-changer for pet owners and muddy homes The wellbeing brand behind everyone's favourite candles has launched its biggest sale yet See London's Christmas lights from an open-top double-decker bus this winter My skin always suffers when the heating goes on but this serum changed that The skincare formula that finally took the guesswork out of my routine In The Shadows is out in UK cinemas now. 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