What The World Needs Now Is Idris Elba Reading This Poem – WATCH

3 Min Read
Idris Elba at the EE British Academy Film Awards - Alternative View

The BBC has given a message of hope from Idris Elba to the U.K. in a moving new coronavirus PSA, as the world death toll rises.

Elba read the poem โ€œDonโ€™t Quitโ€ from American John Greenleaf Whittier, one of the so-called โ€œFireside Poetsโ€ whose accessible work was meant to be read aloud in homes. Whittierโ€™s work is known for its heartfelt emotion and simplicity.

The video with Elba was released Friday night. Elba himself has recovered from the virus, making him a perfect spokesman for the situation.

Back when he first revealed his diagnosis on social media, The Wire star called for unity and issued a challenge for followers to do their part.

In the 90-second PSA, Elba said, โ€œWhen things go wrong as they sometimes will; when the road youโ€™re trudging seems all uphill; when the funds are low but the debts are high; when you want to smile but you have to sigh; when care is pressing you down a bit, rest if you must but donโ€™t you quit.โ€

Idris Elba at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards - Red Carpet Arrivals
Idris Elba attends the Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2018 at the Theatre Royal on November 18, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

The message continues: โ€œLife is strange with its twists and turns, as every one of us sometimes learns; and main failures turn about, when we might have won had we stuck it out. Donโ€™t give up, though the pace seems slow; you may succeed with another blow.

โ€œSuccess is failure turned inside out, the silver tint of the clouds of doubt. And you can never tell how close you are; it may be near, though it seems so far. So stick to the fight when youโ€™re hardest hit; itโ€™s when things seem worst that you must not quit.โ€

At the end of the message, Elba calls for the public to submit videos to the BBC of how theyโ€™re coping with self-isolation, which will be set to the song โ€œNeed Youโ€ by Emanuel.

The Twitter posting had a simple title, โ€œTogether weโ€™ll get through.โ€

Watch it below.

DISCLAIMER: We only feature things that we love. If you buy something through our posts, we may get a small share of the sale.