will.i.am, Ashley Banjo and Charlene White to headline ITV’s Black History Month programming

will.i.am, Ashley Banjo and Charlene White to headline ITV’s Black History Month programming

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Tuesday, 5th October 2021
(credit: Twofour, Uplands Television & Doc Hearts Productions)

ITV will celebrate Black History Month this October with high-profile documentaries, a series of specially commissioned films, related daytime strands and the return of the only panel show on Black History.

There will also be a new brand campaign and curated collections on ITV Hub and BritBox.

Commissioning Editor Satmohan Panesar said: “Building on last year's celebrations, Black History Month returns to ITV this October.

“Featuring a range of engaging documentaries from some of our highest profile talent; through their personal stories, the films will explore what it means to be black in Britain today.”

Programming

Sorry I Didn’t Know

Sunday nights in October

ITV


Sorry, I Didn't Know (credit: TriForce Creative Network)

Comedy panel show Sorry, I Didn’t Know returns for a five-part series airing across Sunday nights in October.

Jimmy Akingbola will return to host, testing the biggest comedians from diverse backgrounds on their knowledge of Black History.

Chizzy Akudolu and Judi Love are back as leaders of the teams battling it out over four rounds.

Russell Kane, Dane Baptiste, Reginald D Hunter and Fatiha El-Ghorri were the first to join the captains, with Eddie Kadi, Stephen K Amos, Sara Pascoe, Verona Rose, Kemah Bob, Sikisa, James Acaster, Bethany Black, Paul Chowdry, Curtis Walker and Kojo Anim on the line-up for the next episodes.

will.i.am: The Blackprint

14th October

ITV, 9.00pm


will.i.am & robotics engineer Silas Adekunle (credit: Twofour)

A new one-hour documentary following pop sensation will.i.am’s personal exploration of what it means to be Black and British.

Despite moving to the UK from Los Angeles over 20 years ago, will.i.am has never had the opportunity to explore Black Britain. But now he will set out to meet members of the community across the country, and learn of the major events in Black British History.

Ashley Banjo: Britain in Black and White

19th October

ITV, 9.00pm


Ashley Banjo with activist Leila Hassan Howe (credit: Uplands Television)

When his dance group, Diversity, performed a pro equality routine on Britain’s Got Talent, Ashley Banjo was thrust into the political spotlight amid the Black Lives Matter movement.

The moment was one of the most complained about in OFCOM’s history, and Banjo and his dancers suffered vicious abuse on Twitter.

A year on, and having won a BAFTA for the performance, Banjo will use his own experience to explore Britain’s relationship with race.

Charlene White: Empire’s Child

21st October

ITV, 9.00pm


Charlene White (credit: Doc Hearts Productions)

TV presenter Charlene White will travel across Britain and Jamaica to uncover the roots of her family and their relationship with the British Empire.

White will go right back in time to the origins of the Empire to discover how it has shaped the lives of many Caribbean families like hers, and answer the question of what it means to be Black and British.

Daytime

Good Morning Britain will celebrate the month with a special news feature series called ‘Black History Icons.’ There will be five films airing every Friday in October, with each remembering a significant forgotten figure in Black History.

Famous faces will tell the stories, including Fleur East, Craig Charles, Maggie Aderin-Pocock MBE and Kris Akabusi.

Lorraine’s Candice Brathwaite will travel to Barbados to retrace her roots and learn of her grandparents’ journey to the UK as part of the Windrush generation. She will also take the time to celebrate Bajan culture, from food to fashion and everything in between.

This Morning will continue to explore key topics, with Hamza Yassin fronting a brand new series on nature and wildlife and Alison Hammond taking on more presenting duties to deliver surprises to those who have missed special milestones due to the pandemic.

Meanwhile chefs Nisha Katona and Joseph Denison Carey will continue to show their stuff in the kitchen and Strictly stars Oti Mabuse and Ugo Monye are among the guests on the sofa.

After last year’s Black History Month saw Loose Women’s all-black panel win an RTS Award, the show’s panellists will once again shine a light on important topics through their own experiences.

They will tackle taboos like skin lightening, White will interview rising black stars in her Life Before Loose segment, and Kelle Bryan will investigate the lack of representation for women of colour in mainstream magazines.

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ITV will celebrate Black History Month this October with high-profile documentaries, a series of specially commissioned films, related daytime strands and the return of the only panel show on Black History.