One of the most consistent questions I get asked is: “how do you write this newsletter each week?” The truth was I was never sure until it came to this newsletter. To write each week, and some weeks to let thousands of people read my personal thoughts, there has to be an element of detachment. I have to write and not obsess over every word, and I have to learn what my boundaries are and how to let go of the sentences I send to your inbox every week. Yet for the first time writing this newsletter, I can’t detach myself from every word.

Many of you won’t be surprised what or rather who I am writing about this week. I know Black Ballad should talk about the absolute titan Danielle Dash has been in the television industry. I know I should speak about how she gave us a trailblazing YouTube series with Dear Jesus and fought her way to be an executive producer at the biggest media outlet in the country. That Danielle is a key reason in why we had Champion, that she was a decision-maker in EastEnders, Death in Paradise and so many BBC dramas we know. I know I should go into detail into why she is one of the key architects of modern Black British culture, but I can’t because I just want to tell you about my friend.