Black History Month on ITVITV is celebrating Black History Month this October with a new brand campaign, high profile documentaries with leading talent, the return of TV's first comedy panel show about Black History, as well as engaging and awareness-raising strands across ITV's daytime programmes, and curated collections on ITV Hub and BritBox, plus specially commissioned content for digital platforms.
Commissioning Editor for the season, Satmohan Panesar, said:
Building on last years 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. We're also really pleased that Sorry, I Didn't Know returns, which is a brilliant and entertaining showcase of diverse talent.
Continuing our commitment to diversity off screen during the season, were delighted to be working with DocHearts and Uplands Television, who are making their first films for ITV as part of the season, and continuing to develop diverse production talent at TriForce Productions and TwoFour on their Black History Month commissions.
Programming
A series of specially commissioned films, as well as the return of the only comedy panel show about Black History, are leading ITV's programming for Black History Month, this October.
Sorry I Didnt Know - Sunday nights in October
Jimmy Akingbola returns to host comedy panel show Sorry, I Didn't Know, for a five part series airing across Sunday nights in October.
Chizzy Akudolu and Judi Love are back as the team leaders presiding over the guests as they battle it out over four rounds, unveiling interesting Black History facts along the way.
The show will once again be a riotous showcase of some of the hottest comedians from diverse backgrounds as they have their knowledge tested of untold stories and unsung heroes. Russell Kane, Dane Baptiste, Reginald D Hunter and Fatiha El-Ghorri kicked off the series joining the team captains, with talent including Eddie Kadi, Stephen K Amos, Sara Pascoe, Verona Rose, Kemah Bob, Sikisa, James Acaster, Bethany Black, Paul Chowdry, Curtis Walker and Kojo Anim featuring across the series.
Sorry, I Didnt Know is commissioned by Gemma John Lewis and Joe Mace in ITV Entertainment Commissioning, and is produced by TriForce Productions and was created by husband and wife team, Fraser and Minnie Ayres.
We are very excited to be back for another series of Sorry, I Didnt Know, said Minnie Ayres of TriForce Productions. This year we launched a competition to find additional writers and we were able to offer two brand new writers, Viv May and Shikira Porter, the opportunity to join the writing team working with showrunner Fraser Ayres and seasoned writer Mark Boutros. Its been great to see them flourish and become a vital part of the SIDK team.
Gemma John Lewis, ITV Entertainment commissioning said: We are delighted that Sorry, I Didnt Know is back for a second series. Jimmy, Judi and Chizzy, together with a roster of famous faces help to shine a light on Black people who have been overlooked or had their faces and stories brushed over in history. Through a mix of comedy and poignance, each episode delivers something that viewers may not have known before.
Black History Month also features content across ITV's daytime shows, as well as three primetime documentaries from leading ITV talent - will.i.am, Ashley Banjo and Charlene White.
will.i.am: The Blackprint - 14 October at 9pm
ITV will air will.i.am: The Blackprint, a one-hour documentary that follows global superstar will.i.am's personal and timely exploration of what it means to be Black and British, in the country he calls his second home.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, will.i.am first came to the UK over twenty years ago. Since then the British public have welcomed will.i.am into their homes and hearts as a fully-fledged national treasure. Yet despite all the time he has spent in this country that he loves, will.i.am has never had the opportunity to explore Black Britain and find out what it's really like to live here.
But now all that's set to change as will.i.am embarks on a fascinating nationwide quest to learn about the lives of Black Brits, and compare and contrast the lived experience on both sides of the Atlantic.
From civil rights heroes and trailblazers in tech, to inspiring schoolchildren, will.i.am's mission sees him meeting members of the Black community from across the country, and learn about the milestone events that have helped shape the modern Black British landscape.
With surprising, shocking and revealing moments throughout, will.i.am's thought provoking journey draws upon his own experiences growing up, and spans the heartbreak of the past, the struggles of the present day and the hopes for our future.
will.i.am: The Blackprint is a Twofour (part of ITV Studios) production, and the Executive Producers are will.i.am and Nic Patten. The Senior Producer is Laetitia Nneke. The Commissioning Editor is David Smyth in ITV Entertainment.
Nic Patten, Executive Producer and Twofours Head of Factual Entertainment, said: Were proud to be contributing to this season of programming with will.i.am and are extremely grateful to everyone who took part in the documentary. Through this personal and informative film, will.i.am examines the UKs role in Black history from the slave trade to the present day. Driven by his unique and forward-thinking perspective, he also looks towards the future and shines a light on a new generation who promise to become the innovators of tomorrow.
Ashley Banjo: Britain in Black and White - 19 October at 9pm
Also this October, ITV premieres Ashley Banjo: Britain in Black and White. In the summer of 2020 Ashley Ban
