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Episode 1

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Documentary series celebrating Britain's black community. Episode one explores both arriving and growing up in Britain through intimate interviews with prominent black Britons.

Exceptional figures from politics, business, sport, culture, religion and science share their insights into being black and British today, how they got where they are and their thoughts on what the future holds.

The first episode is about arriving and growing up in Britain. A cast of distinguished black Britons including Naomi Campbell, Sir Trevor McDonald, Thandie Newton, Baroness Scotland, musicians Jazzie B of Soul II Soul, Dizzie Rascal, Sir Lenny Henry, writer Gary Younge and many others talk about their parents as pioneers who came to the UK in search of a better life for them and their children.

What they encountered was a whole raft of new experiences from snow to smoking chimneys - as well as prejudice, verbal abuse and physical violence. Actor David Harewood recounts attending his first football match at Leeds United as an eight-year-old, which ended with him leaving before the match had even begun with monkey chants and jeers ringing in his ears.

The programme is a tribute to the dedication of immigrant parents who, with firm discipline, imparted important lessons about being twice as good, working hard and rising above racism. Their struggle was supposed to make it easier for the next generation to come to terms with their dual identity of being both black and British.

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29 minutes

Last on

Tue 30 Jun 2020 23:35
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two

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Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:01

    Izzi Dunn

    Loser (feat. Booty Brown)

  • 00:02

    Leeroy Kesiah

    Buff Nuff (feat. Roots Manuva)

  • 00:03

    Lloyd Brown

    Main Squeeze

  • 00:06

    Flying Lotus

    All In

  • 00:07

    Bonobo

    Gypsy

  • 00:09

    Quantic

    Angels and Albatrosses

  • 00:10

    Roots Manuva

    Stolen Youth

  • 00:12

    Damon Albarn & Malian Musicians

    Niger

  • 00:12

    Soul II Soul

    Jazzie's Groove

  • 00:14

    Freddie McGregor

    Searching

  • 00:18

    Wiley

    Wise Man And His Words

  • 00:18

    Bang On!

    F**K Everybody (Edit)

  • 00:20

    Ty

    Like You Never

  • 00:24

    The Cinematic Orchestra

    Burn Out

  • 00:25

    Kruder & Dorfmeister

    Black Baby

  • 00:26

    Damon Albarn & Malian Musicians

    Le Relax

  • 00:28

    Habib KoitΓ©

    Mansani Cisse

  • 00:29

    Afel Bocoum

    Yarabitala

Credits

Producer Simon Frederick
Executive Producer Anna Smith Tenser
Executive Producer Roy Ackerman
Executive Producer Dermot Caulfield
Interviewed Guest Alesha Dixon
Interviewed Guest John Sentamu
Interviewed Guest Ashley Banjo
Interviewed Guest Patricia Scotland
Interviewed Guest Beverley Knight
Interviewed Guest Bill Morris
Interviewed Guest Charlene White
Interviewed Guest Charlie Casley-Hayford
Interviewed Guest Christopher B-Lynch
Interviewed Guest Chuka Umunna
Interviewed Guest David Adjaye
Interviewed Guest Denise Lewis
Interviewed Guest David Harewood
Interviewed Guest Dizzee Rascal
Interviewed Guest Edward Enninful
Interviewed Guest Ekow Eshun
Interviewed Guest Gary Younge
Interviewed Guest Gina Yashere
Interviewed Guest Goldie
Interviewed Guest Jamal Edwards
Interviewed Guest Jazzie B
Interviewed Guest Laura Mvula
Interviewed Guest Lenny Henry
Interviewed Guest Les Ferdinand
Interviewed Guest Maggie Aderin-Pocock
Interviewed Guest Malorie Blackman
Interviewed Guest Naomi Campbell
Interviewed Guest Noel Clarke
Interviewed Guest Ozwald Boateng
Interviewed Guest Reggie Yates
Interviewed Guest Sharon White
Interviewed Guest Shevelle Dynott
Interviewed Guest Terry Jervis
Interviewed Guest Thandiwe Newton
Interviewed Guest Tinie Tempah
Interviewed Guest Trevor McDonald
Interviewed Guest Trevor Nelson
Interviewed Guest Yinka Shonibare

Broadcasts

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Black and British Season

Black and British Season

Bold, vibrant, provocative stories exploring what it means to be black in Britain today.