Black History Month: Essential viewing for this week
All the best programming from the fourth week of Black History Month, from Queen of Katwe to Fresh Cuts: The Ink Life.
As we head into the fourth week of Black History Month – the annual event dedicated to celebrating African and Caribbean diaspora across the UK - there's still plenty of TV shows, documentaries and films available to mark the occasion.
The UK has been honouring the achievements and contributions of Black people to economic, cultural and political life throughout October and this week there are shows to reflect that, such as another episode in ITV's Fresh Cuts series and Mo Gilligan's new stand-up special Mo Gilligan & Friends: The Black British Takeover.
Other titles airing this week include films such as Queen of Katwe and Harriet, as well as the documentaries Joseph Shabalala: Music Is My Life and Tina.
Here’s all the best programming from the fourth week of Black History Month 2022.
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Queen of Katwe
This biopic stars Madina Nalwanga, David Oyelowo and Lupita Nyong'o, and tells the story of Phiona Mutesi, a young girl whose world changes when she meets a mission worker who runs the local chess club in her town, a slum of Kampala in Uganda.
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The film was Adapted from an ESPN magazine article and a book by Tim Crothers and went on to critical acclaim.
How to watch? Saturday 22nd October, 10am, BBC Two
Joseph Shabalala: Music Is My Life
This documentary charts the life of the South African singer and musician Joseph Shabalala, exploring his rise to international fame as founder and musical director of choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
How to watch? Sunday 23rd October, 1:35am, Sky Arts
Fresh Cuts: The Ink Life
The fourth episode of ITV's Fresh Cuts series, which reveals untold stories from new directors for Black History Month. This episode explores tattoos in Black British culture by following three Black tattoo artists and their customers.
These artists are Nish, Tianna and Sammy and the film is directed by Yemi Adegbulu, who was funded and mentored in 2022 by The Roundhouse for her directorial debut Keeping Grandma.
How to watch? Sunday 23rd October, 10:45pm, ITV
Tina
A revealing and intimate look at the life of musical icon Tina Turner, this documentary film charts both her rise to early fame and also her personal and professional struggles.
The documentary is made up of archive footage spanning 60 years as well as interviews from Angela Bassett, Oprah Winfrey, journalist Kurt Loder, playwright Katori Hall, and Turner's husband and former record executive Erwin Bach, amongst others.
How to watch? Monday 24th October, 9pm, Sky Documentaries
Harriet
Cynthia Erivo stars as Harriet Tubman – the abolitionist and social activist who rescued approximately 70 people from slavery in the 19th and 20th centuries – in this 2019 biographical film.
Directed by Kasi Lemmons, Harriet follows the story of Tubman, from her marriage to John Tubman to her leading an armed expedition of 150 Black soldiers into the Combahee River Raid, with the likes of Leslie Odom Jr, Joe Alwyn, Clarke Peters and Janelle Monae rounding out the cast.
How to watch? Wednesday 26th October, 11:45pm, BBC Three
Mo Gilligan & Friends: The Black British Takeover
Channel 4 is airing Mo Gilligan’s live stand-up comedy showcase Mo Gilligan + Friends: The Black British Takeover from December last year, as a one-hour special.
The show features Gilligan alongside comedy stars Eddie Kadi, Ola Labib, Slim, Thanyia Moore and Babatúndé Aléshé, plus music from The Compozers. The film also includes intimate backstage access and conversation with the cast as they discuss the significance of the event.
How to watch? Friday 28th October, 11:05pm, Channel 4
See what else is on with our TV Guide.
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