
8 September 2021
Production company Like A Shot Entertainment, part of global superindie Argonon, is producing a one off documentary, Black Panthers of WW2, for UKTVs specialist factual channel Yesterday.
Premiering during Black History Month, this 60 minute special is narrated by David Harewood and will also be available on UKTVs on-demand service UKTV Play. BossaNova Media has secured the international rights and will distribute the film.
The documentary follows the story of the history-making 761st tank battalion composed of African- American servicemen, the first US armoured unit of its kind to enter combat. Their motto was Come Out Fighting but these US soldiers were not only forced to confront the enemy abroad but also battle racism at home. As they battled valiantly for their country, the very democracy they were defending saw them as second-class citizens as they fought against racial segregation, in a world where Nazi prisoners of war enjoyed better rights.
The film traces their story back to their formation in a prevailing climate of segregation, and the reluctance of US high command to commit the battalion to battle. It charts their entry into combat where they served for an incredible 183 consecutive days, and their involvement in the Battle of the Bulge, as part of the Allied forces who liberated Gunskirchen. And it follows their return to America, where instead of being greeted as returning heroes, they were confronted by angry white mobs.
The programme also sheds light on the little-known Battle of Bamber Bridge in Lincolnshire, illustrating racist attitudes in the US military at the time. The segregation in the US army was not well received in the UK, and black US servicemen were welcomed by the townsfolk with whom they drank in the local pub. Violence erupted in 1943 when white US military police tried to arrest a black American GI, leading to a gun battle that raged through the night, resulting in one man being killed and a number injured.
Through reconstruction and interviews with historians, descendants and one of the last surviving Blank Panthers - Corporal Robert Andry - the programme reveals the untold story of the black servicemen who changed history.
Steve Gilham is executive producer for Like A Shot Entertainment and the director is Farrah Jaufuraully. The pre-investment deal was brokered by Daniel Thomas, Global Acquisitions Manager for UKTV and BBC Studios. Newly launched BossaNova is managing international sales.
UKTVs Daniel Thomas said:
Im thrilled to bring this special one-off documentary to Yesterday to recognise the incredible contribution that the 761st tank battalion made to WW2.
Steve Gillham, executive producer for Like A Shot commented:
The story of the Black Panthers is one of racial injustice, extreme prejudice and striking bravery, with important lessons for modern society today. Like their heroic deeds on the field of battle, their treatment at the hands of their own compatriots should never be forgotten. Were delighted to partner with UKTV and BossaNova to take this documentary to a UK and international audience.
Paul Heaney, CEO at BossaNova added:
Its great to be working with Like A Shot again and on such a prestigious special. Its such a unique story in a familiar sub-genre so were all hopeful it will carry a lot of appeal with the international community.
For more information please contact:
Ali Laurie, Senior Publicist, UKTV
Rich Turner, Indie House PR - rich@indiehousepr.com
About UKTV
UKTV has been at the forefront of branded television for over 25 years, entertaining the nation with programmes they love. Its leading brands - Dave, Gold, W, Drama, Alibi, Eden and Yesterday - span comedy, entertainment, natural history, factual and scripted drama, and are delivered to audiences through UKTV Play, Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, BT, TalkTalk, YouView, Freesat and Amazon Fire. The broadcaster is a significant investor in British creativity and is committed to working with new and established writers, directors and programme-makers.
UKTV is part of BBC Studios, the UKs most-awarded production company, a world-class distributor with international branded services, and a commercial subsidiary of the worlds leading public service broadcaster, the BBC.
corporate.uktv.co.uk | press.uktv.co.uk | @uktvpress
About Like a Shot Entertainment
In the past nine years, Like A Shot Entertainment has become one of the UKs most successful production companies. Now part of Argonon, it has created hundreds of hours of programming from its UK production base for domestic and international broadcasters. It has a reputation for high quality programming in history, science and engineering genres, such as Henry VIII and the Kings Men (Smithsonian), Private Lives of the Monarchs (UKTV/Smithsonian), Mysteries of the Abandoned (UKTV/Discovery), Witness to War (Quest/Discovery), Inside Secret Societies (Channel 5) and the prolific Murder Mysteries strand (UKTV/Reelz Channel).
About Argonon
Founded in 2011 by CEO James Burstall, Argonon is the worlds first hyper-converged superindie group, producing content including The Masked Singer UK (ITV1), Worzel Gummidge (BBC One) and Dispatches (Channel 4). Headquartered in London, New York and LA with further offices in Liverpool and Glasgow, Argonon is an independent production group led by a board of creatives and entrepreneurs including James Burstall (CEO), Laura Bessell (COO) and David Dugan (Chairman, Windfall Films). The group consists of eight companies producing multi award-winning content for major broadcasters, platforms and brands in the UK, US and across the world. The companies produce content across all genres and of all lengths, specialising in factual, factual entertainment, documentaries, entertainment, drama, comedy, arts and childrens programming. Argonon has won 120 awards inc
More from UKTV
02/07/2025
Brand new factual series follows mechanic and self-taught engineer Dom Chinea as he makes the move of his life to the far west of Cornwall
UKTV today announces...
26/06/2025
UKTV and Talented People are delighted to announce the renewal of their successf...
24/06/2025
The promo for U&alibis brand-new drama, Bookish (6x70) has been released, ahead of the series being available on the specialist crime-drama channel from 16th Ju...
17/06/2025
London - Tuesday 17 June 2025: It is with an incredibly heavy heart that we share the news that Melanie Rumani has passed away after a long battle with cancer. ...
06/06/2025
Stacey Dooley MBE is returning to the UK for her latest instalment of Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over(3x60') on U and U&W. Across three episodes, Stacey will meet...
29/05/2025
Fifty years ago, The Good Life made its debut. Now, the nation's favourite c...
20/05/2025
Praise for series two:
Daily Mail - 5* It's a murder mystery masterclass
Heat - 4* Marlow's giving Midsomer a run for its murder money
Daily Tele...
16/05/2025
UKTV today announces the re-commission of Bookish (6x70') for specialist cri...
13/05/2025
London, 13th May 2025: Iconic fashion brand Ghost is launching a 30-piece curate...
08/05/2025
Comedy and entertainment channel U&Dave bring back their #1 ranked programme of ...
07/05/2025
UKTV has ordered a feature length documentary celebrating the life of Britain...
30/04/2025
Damien Molony will head back to Jersey for a second series of Bergerac, written by Toby Whithouse alongside Ashley Sanders, Emilie Robson and Faebian Averies
D...
29/04/2025
UKTV has acquired the UK premiers of The Hunting Party, the new hit crime proced...
25/04/2025
Hit DOG-umentary Pete Wicks: For Dogs' Sake is recommissioned by U&W for two...
24/04/2025
Edmond Dant s (Sam Claflin)
The eight-part miniseries will be available this Su...
22/04/2025
The six-part series will be available on U and U&DRAMA from 19th June
Outrageous is produced by Firebird Pictures and created and written by Sarah Williams
(L...
07/04/2025
New series from BBC Studios Specialist Factual Productions will see the presente...
18/03/2025
Virgin Media O2 and UKTV have renewed their long-standing partnership in the UK with a multi-year deal securing carriage for UKTV's highly popular pay chann...
03/02/2025
UKTV has acquired the UK premier of Side Hustlers, the US business reality series produced by Reese Witherspoon's production company Hello Sunshine, part of...
27/01/2025
One family's extreme existence working the treacherous northern waters of Australia is the subject of new series from McAvoy Media.
UKTV has commissioned a...
20/01/2025
Elbow lead singer and Radio 6 Music presenter, Guy Garvey, provides the voiceover for a new TV series on U&Dave and free streaming service U later this month.
...
16/01/2025
UKTV more than doubles views to its free streaming service U in just two years (...
14/01/2025
Leading multi-channel broadcaster UKTV has today announced it has invested in Re...
08/01/2025
UKTV and BBC Studios have appointed Sophie Judge to the role of Global Acquisitions Manager, further strengthening their combined expertise as a world-class hub...
19/12/2024
UKTV today releases a first look teaser for the upcoming re-imagined series of Bergerac (6x60') on U and U&DRAMA. The six-part U&Original series is produced...
18/12/2024
UKTV has commissioned two new series from Prospero Productions. Brit Cops Down Under (8x60) for U&W and The Legend of Outback Gold (w/t) (6x60) for U&YESTERDAY ...
11/12/2024
UKTV has appointed Emma Tibbetts as its new Director of Programming for Drama, as it finalises changes to the structure of its programming team in line with pla...
03/12/2024
Keir Starmer, Oasis & and Gareth Southgate all feature in this years top 10 gags
TV channel U&Gold challenged the nation to come up with the best topical Chris...
21/11/2024
Installation includes hidden clues of the show's best and funniest moments a...
21/11/2024
THE VICAR OF DIBLEY CELEBRATES 30 YEARS, WITH UNVEILING OF GIANT STAINED-GLASS INSPIREDART INSTALLATION
Installation includes hidden clues of the show's be...
07/11/2024
UKTV has today completed the rollout of its new U Masterbrand with the commercia...
04/11/2024
Jim Bergerac's iconic Triumph Roadster is set to feature in the upcoming re-...
22/10/2024
UKTV today releases a selection of first look images for the upcoming U&Original series, Bookish (6x60') on specialist crime drama channel, Alibi. The brand...
10/10/2024
UKTV today releases a selection of first look images for the upcoming U&Original...
08/10/2024
Neil Morrissey and Martin Clunes are to reunite for factual entertainment series Neil & Martin's Bon Voyage (3x60') produced by Expectation for Gold, th...
24/09/2024
Fan-favourite Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators has started filming ...
23/09/2024
- Renewed agreement sees UKTV pay channels, Alibi and Gold, together with its free channel portfolio, available to Sky customers
- Gold & Alibi also available ...
19/09/2024
UKTV has commissioned the new series, Classic Car Kings (6x60'), for leading factual channel U&YESTERDAY and free streaming service, U. The six-part series ...
18/09/2024
Johnny Vegas & Lucy Beaumont and Babatunde Al sh & Kae Kurd arethecomedians taking part in brand new episodes of World's Most Dangerous Roads, which return...
18/09/2024
The nation's favourite comedy channel, Gold, is set to take a reflective loo...
17/09/2024
UKTV today releases a selection of first look images captured in Jersey for the upcoming re-imagined series of Bergerac (6x60') for U and U&DRAMA. The six-p...
16/09/2024
UKTV and Everyone TV - the organisation leading the evolution of free TV in the ...
05/09/2024
Nina Sosanya, Samantha Womack, Hugh Quarshie, Patrick Robinson and many more joi...
04/09/2024
UKTV today announces the acquisition of Hotel Portofino (2 x 6x60') for U an...
28/08/2024
UKTV has commissioned another new series of Canal Boat Diaries (10x60) for leading factual channel U&YESTERDAY and free streaming service, U, having licensed th...
27/08/2024
UKTV today releases a selection of first look images for the upcoming U&Original series, I, Jack Wright (6x60') on specialist crime drama channel, Alibi. Th...
22/08/2024
Notorious New Orleans womens prison to open its doors for new documentary series.
TV presenter, Katie Piper returns to U&W to once again uncover life for women...
22/08/2024
UKTV is excited to announce the commission of the new series, Guy Martin's P...
19/08/2024
U&DAVE'S JOKE OF THE FRINGE 2024
10 FUNNIEST GAGS OF THE 2024 EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL REVEALED
Comedian Mark Simmons wins U&Dave's Funniest Joke of...
15/08/2024
UKTV today releases a selection of first look images for the upcoming U&Original series, Outrageous (6x60') on U and U&DRAMA. The brand-new drama, created a...