A celebrated author whose books have been adapted into an upcoming BBC series has tragically died, just a week before the show is due to air.

Alex Wheatle, the visionary behind the award-winning Crongton book franchise, passed away aged 62 on Sunday (March 16), after a battle with prostate cancer.

The London-born author’s family shared the devastating news this afternoon (March 20) in a statement which reads: “It is with great sadness we inform you that Alex Wheatle, our ‘Brixton Bard,’ sadly passed away on Sunday 16th March after his fight with prostate cancer.

“Alex has 26 years of legacy for you all to continue and enjoy by reading his novels, watching the self-titled episode ‘Alex Wheatle’ from the ‘Small Axe’ TV series, and the upcoming ‘Crongton’ TV series. We thank you all for your support over the years and ask for privacy during this difficult time.”

Wheatle, fondly known as the ‘Brixton Bard’, enjoyed great sucess as an author and was awarded an MBE for services for literature in 2008. His popular Crongton book series was recently adaptated into a BBC Three show, airing on Monday, March 24.

The forthcoming show chronicles the adventures of his famous character Lemar ‘Liccle Bit’ Jackson as he grows up on a fictional inner-city housing estate, alongside his friends. The drama tackles important themes such as gang violence, poverty, and peer pressure among young people.

Following the tragic news, writer Archie Maddocks, who penned the script for the upcoming drama, shared his tribute. Taking to X, formerly Twitter, he wrote: “Alex Wheatle was a titan. A fighter in [the] realest sense of the word.

“He created a beautiful Wheatle-verse in his writing and his words affected the lives of thousands. I’m so sad he’s gone, but I’m happy that he left a legacy enduring enough to achieve immortality. RIP Alex.”

Before his tragic passing, the author had opened up about what inspired him to write his much-loved young adult novels. He said: “I was a youth worker for several years and from my experience, sometimes young people are going to share with you incidents that they or their peers may face and really open you up to their lives.

“Sometimes it’s quite shocking, and you have a duty as a youth worker to engage yourself and report it and so on. And I just felt that these stories needed to be written about.”

Speaking of his hopes for the new BBC drama, he said: “I hope that this gives young people more confidence to share their experiences, even if sometimes they’re tricky, such as navigating peer pressure or violence.”

Wheatle was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2023 and spent his final years avidly raising awareness about the illness.