Black is the New Black

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BBC Two England

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Black Is the New Black

Simulcast of network BBC Two in high definition.

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Until 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales (analogue) was known simply as BBC Two Wales. BBC Two Wales (digital) was BBC 2W. From 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales schedules on both analogue and digital became identical

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Simon Frederick

Anna Smith Tenser

Roy Ackerman

Dermot Caulfield

Alesha Dixon

John Sentamu

Ashley Banjo

Patricia Scotland

Beverley Knight

Bill Morris

Charlene White

Charlie Casley-Hayford

Christopher B-Lynch

Chuka Umunna

David Adjaye

Denise Lewis

David Harewood

Dizzee Rascal

Edward Enninful

Ekow Eshun

Gary Younge

Gina Yashere

Goldie

Jamal Edwards

Jazzie B

Laura Mvula

Lenny Henry

Les Ferdinand

Maggie Aderin-Pocock

Malorie Blackman

Naomi Campbell

Noel Clarke

Ozwald Boateng

Reggie Yates

Sharon White

Shevelle Dynott

Terry Jervis

Thandiwe Newton

Tinie Tempah

Trevor McDonald

Trevor Nelson

Yinka Shonibare

Black Is the New Black: Episode 1

Documentaries

Episode 1

BBC Two - Black Is the New Black, Episode 1

Exploring the first and second generation immigrant experience of black Britons.

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.

Knowledge, drama, comedy and the arts for a broad adult audience.

BBC Two is a lively channel of depth and substance, carrying a range of knowledge-building programming complemented by great drama, comedy and arts.

Factual

Factual: Life Stories

Exceptional figures from all walks of life share their thoughts on being black today.

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

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Black Is the New Black

Episode 1

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