'Chewing Gum' is a sitcom set on an estate in east London. Its central character is a girl from a Pentecostal background who decides to embark on a more worldly lifestyle - it's about adolescence 10 years too late. In my dreams, everybody is watching it, finding out about my world and realising it's not what they imagined. That it's not terrifying.

In this quote, Michaela Coel discusses her sitcom, Chewing Gum, which is set in an estate in east London. The central character of the show is a girl from a Pentecostal background who decides to embrace a worldly lifestyle, which reflects a process of adolescence and self-discovery. Coel emphasizes that the show explores themes of growing up, but with a twist—it's about adolescence that comes later in life, highlighting how personal growth and change don't always happen at the "right" time, as society might expect.

Coel also reflects on her dream for the show’s impact, imagining that through watching Chewing Gum, audiences would gain a new understanding of her world, one that goes beyond the usual stereotypes associated with people from working-class backgrounds or those with Pentecostal roots. She hopes that viewers will see her world as more complex and human rather than something to fear or misunderstand. The quote challenges the misconceptions people may have about certain communities and aims to break down prejudices by offering a more relatable and nuanced portrayal of life.

The origin of this quote lies in Coel’s experience creating Chewing Gum, a show she not only starred in but also wrote and produced. As a writer and actress, Coel often uses her work to explore themes of identity, cultural expectations, and personal agency. Chewing Gum was a groundbreaking show that received critical acclaim for its honest and humorous portrayal of complex issues, such as faith, sexuality, and personal growth, all within a relatable setting.

Ultimately, Coel’s quote speaks to the power of representation in media, encouraging viewers to see beyond stereotypes and understand the richness of individual experiences. She hopes to use the show to offer a more humanized portrayal of life in east London and to challenge audiences to reconsider their assumptions about people from different backgrounds.