In Black, White and Colour:
A TV timeline
Since the 1950s, Black people have played an important role in ITV programmes. This timeline celebrates those who pushed through doors, broke glass ceilings and changed attitudes by appearing on mainstream television. These trailblazers paved the way for future Black TV stars in the UK.
Decade after decade, ITV has championed the rich diversity of modern Britain, creating a space for Black voices to be included on-screen.
Our journey has been one of progress: from stereotypes to more authentic portrayals, from symbolic to meaningful change, and from uniformity to inclusivity and diversity. However, underrepresentation is still an issue. We continue to work to create content that truly represents all of our audience and provide opportunities for Black people – both in front of and behind the camera.
We are changed by what we see, just as we are changed when we are seen.
1960-62 First TV Dramas by Black Writers
The Trinidadian actor and writer Errol John adapts his acclaimed Royal Court stage drama Moon on a Rainbow Shawl for television in 1960. Set in a tenement yard in Port of Spain, Trinidad, it centres on a group of characters living close to the poverty line.
The Big Pride (1961) is created by the Guyanese writer Jan Carew and his Jamaican wife Sylvia Wynter, and stars William Marshall and Johnny Sekka. It tells the claustrophobic story of three escaped convicts in Guyana.
The Jamaican writer Barry Reckord adapts his stage play You in Your Small Corner in 1962. It stars his brother, Lloyd Reckord, who had previously appeared on stage and television in Hot Summer Night.
1961 Dame Shirley Bassey at the Royal Variety Performance
At the age of 24, Dame Shirley Bassey, the legendary singer from Cardiff’s Tiger Bay, makes her first appearance of many in the Royal Variety Performance.
In 1999, she is made a Dame of the British Empire for services to the performing arts.
1964 An On-screen First
Popular British soap opera Emergency – Ward 10 (ATV) casts Black and White actors side by side, several years before American TV.
In 1964, the soap makes history for portraying a romance between a Black surgeon (Joan Hooley) and a White doctor (Giles Farmer). It is one of the first interracial relationships shown on TV in the UK.
1964 The Greatest
A local ITV reporter interviews civil rights activist and heavy weight champion Muhammad Ali in the run up to his fight with British boxer Henry Cooper at Wembley Stadium.
Later, in 1972, Ali is interviewed for ITV by legendary journalist Sir David Frost.
1967 Pathfinder
Tyne Tees Television in Newcastle employs Clyde Alleyne on 1st March 1967 and the 27-year-old becomes a TV presence.
In November, he conducts a historic interview with US civil rights leader Dr Martin Luther King Jr. who is assassinated five months later. Dr King meets with other news channels too, but as a Black journalist interviewing a Black activist at this time, Clyde Alleyne’s work is a significant television landmark.
Alleyne is an inspiration for future generations and Tyne Tees news honour his contribution in 2017.
1968 First Black woman reporter
Barbara Blake Hannah becomes the first Black woman reporter to appear on ITV. She is appointed as a reporter/interviewer on Thames TV. She interviews Prime Minister Harold Wilson and one of the biggest film stars at the time, Michael Caine.
Barbara’s arrival on television coincides with a period of high racial tension as Enoch Powell, a leading politician at the time, makes his racially incendiary ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech.
1970 Crossroads (ATV)
The first Black character is introduced to Crossroads, one of the UK’s most popular soap operas at the time, with 11 million viewers. Cleo Sylvestre plays Melanie Harper, the foster daughter of lead character Meg Richardson.
The actress later comments, “the decision to introduce a main character who was Black was unprecedented and a brave decision for a soap that was sometimes ridiculed.”
1972 Love Thy Neighbour (Thames)
The popular British sitcom, Love Thy Neighbour, is based around the experiences of a Black couple and a White couple who live next door to each other. It highlights ignorance and racism, but the scripts often lapse into crude name-calling which many viewers find offensive.
Despite its shortcomings, the programme helps boost the career of Trinidadian-British actor Rudolph Walker CBE. He wins the Variety Club of Great Britain Television award in 1972 with his co-stars, Nina Baden-Semper, Jack Smethurst and Kate Williams.
1973 National icon
Sir Trevor McDonald begins his illustrious career as a general reporter at ITV. He becomes one of the most respected and well-known faces on British TV, interviewing world leaders and politicians and covering historical moments such as the fall of the Berlin Wall. In 1990, he interviews Nelson Mandela, which he says is the highlight of his journalistic career.
Later, Sir Trevor becomes the first Black news anchor, reading ITV’s News at Ten from 1992.
1974 Rising Damp
In Rising Damp (Yorkshire), Don Warrington MBE plays Philip Smith, a wise Black student, who faces the racial taunts of his nosey and bigoted landlord, Rigsby (Leonard Rossiter). Smith shows himself more than able to assert himself, despite the ignorance Rigsby confronts him with.
Once described as ‘ITV’s finest ever sitcom’, the show is one of the highest rated comedy series in the mid-seventies, with average viewing figures of 18 million.
1976 Sitcom breakthrough
The Fosters (London Weekend Television) is the first UK sitcom to focus on a Black family. Following his TV debut in the talent show New Faces, Sir Lenny Henry joins the all-Black cast alongside Norman Beaton and Isabelle Lucas, who play his parents.
The series is a British adaptation of a popular American show called Good Times, and paves the way for other popular Black sitcoms like Desmond’s (Channel 4, 1989-94).
1978 Love in all colours
Mixed Blessings (London Weekend Television) is one of the earliest TV sitcoms to feature an interracial couple. The comedy centres on the happy union of two British-born university graduates, Thomas (Christopher Blake), who is White, and Susan (Muriel Odunton), who is Black. Neither of the couple’s families approve of their marriage, or each other.
In 1978, Muriel Odunton receives the Variety Club of Great Britain award for Most Promising Newcomer.
1978 Tiswas (ATV)
In 1978, Sir Lenny Henry joins the cast of the anarchic Saturday morning children’s programme, Tiswas. Broadcast live, it showcases his comedic talent and gift for creating zany characters. He stars in the show until 1981.
1979-80 Babylon/Skin
Babylon (London Weekend Television) is one of the first current affairs series for the Black community in Britain. Lincoln Browne presents on a range of issues including the problems Black teenagers face at school.
London Weekend Television follows this with a similar series called Skin with Sir Trevor Phillips.
1980 Sir Trevor Phillips starts career at ITV
Black British broadcaster Sir Trevor Phillips joins London Weekend Television in 1980 as a researcher on current affairs programme Skin. In 1986, he begins reporting, and becomes well known for presenting ground-breaking series The London Programme for 12 years. He continues to have a successful career on television presenting prestigious news programmes, chat shows, and winning numerous awards.
Sir Trevor Phillips receives a knighthood in the 2022 New Year Honours in recognition of his services to equality and human rights.
1983 Corrie
In 1983, Coronation Street (Granada) introduces its first Black regular character. The Baldwin’s Casuals machinist Shirley Armitage is played by Lisa Lewis from 1983 to 1989.
While the show has included occasional appearances by Black actors in storylines since 1961, including Thomas Baptiste as a bus driver who is the victim of racism, this marks a step forward for the soap.
1983 The face of Caribbean Cuisine
Rustie Lee makes her name as the UK’s leading expert on Caribbean cuisine when she appears on TV-am. The popular television cook, who was born in Jamaica and raised in Birmingham, enjoys national fame during her eight years at the ITV breakfast show. She also makes many other TV appearances as a guest star.
1989 Black Blind Date
Claudia Patrice appears on Blind Date. She is the first Black woman to be a contestant on the popular dating show presented by Cilla Black OBE. Blind Date dominated Saturday night TV for many years with a regular 16 million viewers.
“When I was growing up in Macclesfield in the 80s, I rarely saw people who looked like me on screen, so I can't tell you the delight I had seeing one of the first Black contestants on Blind Date, which was essential Saturday night viewing. Claudia was Black, beautiful, talented and authentically herself - everything I wanted to be.” Ade Rawcliffe, Group Director of Diversity and Inclusion, ITV
1993 TV motivation
Mr Motivator – Derrick Evans MBE – hits TV screens on GMTV, a programme many watched every day. He becomes incredibly popular with his fitness routines and health advice.
1996 Music Recognition (Carlton Television)
Kanya King MBE launches The Music of Black Origin Awards (best known as the MOBO Awards). The MOBO Awards recognise the outstanding achievements of artists who perform music in genres such as Gospel, Jazz, RnB, Soul, Reggae and Hip Hop. It has become one of the most popular music shows in the world.
1998 Friday Night all Wright
Ian Wright MBE, beloved former footballer and football pundit, becomes one of the first Black people to front his own Friday night chat show on ITV. He interviews celebrities like Will Smith and Mariah Carey.
Wright continues to have a successful TV career today.
“When I first watched a Friday night entertainment show presented by my footballing hero I was in awe. Wrighty's show was one of the things that inspired me to work in telly, watching it made me know Black people didn't just do news and play the comedy sidekick, but had access to the big name stars. A year after it launched I had the amazing opportunity to work on it. Wrighty is and always will be a legend, he inspires and pioneers and that's what legends are made of.” Verina Burt - (Acting) Head of News Features on GMB ITV
1998 Trisha
London-born Trisha Goddard becomes the host of Trisha, an ITV flagship morning chat show. She enjoys immense popularity from 1998 to 2004, and remains one of TV's most popular presenters and celebrities.
Later, Trisha makes a number of appearances on ITV's popular Loose Women. In 2020, she takes part in the twelfth series of Dancing on Ice.
1999 The Murder of Stephen Lawrence (ITV)
ITV air a powerful drama based on the story of the 1993 racist murder of Black teenager Stephen Lawrence and his family’s struggle for justice.
The film stars Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Hugh Quarshie as Stephen’s parents, Baroness Doreen and Neville Lawrence, and is directed by Paul Greengrass CBE. It receives Best Television Drama awards from both the Commission for Racial Equality and BAFTA.
A follow up drama called Stephen is broadcast on ITV in 2021 and Hugh Quarshie, reprising his role of Neville Lawrence, is nominated for Best Lead Actor at the BAFTAs.
2002 Alison Hammond
TV personality Alison Hammond becomes This Morning’s first Black reporter in 2002. She is made a regular Friday sofa presenter alongside Dermot O’Leary, celebrating 20 years on the programme in 2022. Alison is a well-loved face on ITV, appearing in a number of shows, including I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in 2010. For Black History Month 2020, she presents a one-off documentary, Back to School, which honours overlooked Black figures in British history.
2008 Return of Sir Trevor McDonald
After over 30 incredible years at ITN, Sir Trevor McDonald steps down from his role as anchor on ITV News. A few years later, he returns to ITV screens to present his first investigative mini-series The Secret Caribbean with Trevor McDonald, and goes on to have an illustrious documentary career across ITV.
2009 The Chase
Barrister, Mastermind winner and original Chaser Shaun Wallace makes his debut on The Chase as ‘The Dark Destroyer’. He also features as a guest Chaser on the Australian version of the popular gameshow and appears on UK spin-off show Beat the Chasers. In 2022, fellow Chaser Anne Hegerty joins Shaun on ITV’s DNA Journey, where they learn about their own family histories.
2013 Power Couple
Married couple Marvin and Rochelle Humes (formerly of JLS and The Saturdays) present the ITV flagship show This Morning as guest presenters.
2014 Exceptional talent
Charlene White becomes the first Black woman presenter on ITV’s News at Ten. Her appointment follows years of experience, from working as a producer and reporter on ITV Meridian in Kent, to presenting the ITV National News bulletin at 5.30am in 2008.
In 2019, Charlene is lead presenter of the main 6pm ITV News London. In 2020, she anchors the award-winning Loose Women show, which provides greater scope for her wide-ranging talent as an on-screen broadcaster (see 2021).
2020 Performances for the ages
The Brits see two iconic performances by young Black artists. Dave gives a powerful performance of his song ‘Black’ with memorable imagery. After winning Best Male Solo Artist, Stormzy delivers a visually stunning set, emphasising the importance of empowerment.
These performances happen a few months before the Black Lives Matter demonstrations protesting the murder of George Floyd.
"The lyrics articulate and summarise the Black British experience so effectively and many of us resonate with the topics explored within Dave's performance. I will always admire his bravery for this." - Catherine Tyrell, Project Manager - DTC Technology ITV
2020 Black Voices
ITV launch the powerful Black Voices series to give Black people a platform to share experiences, stories and ultimately to educate. It features MPs like David Lammy and celebrities like will.i.am.
This project is supported by a wide range of organisations, including 1000 Black Voices, Access UK, Black Thrive, The Amos Bursary, The British Blacklist, Creative Access, Godwin Lawson Foundation, Operation Black Vote, Runnymede Trust, Urban Synergy, World Afro Day and Youth Charter.
To find out more please go to: https://www.itv.com/blackvoices/
“I remember 2020 so vividly. It sparked a change in me. I am no longer afraid of myself, the runner who was not given the opportunity. ITV Embrace [ITV Staff Network for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic colleagues] gave me the chance to shine my light. This is our ITV, our career, and our legacy” - Modupe Aluko, Post Production Manager, Potato
"Hearing honest stories during Ad breaks from well known faces, as well as my fellow ITV colleagues about similar experiences of racism that they had faced, moved me to tears at times. So proud of ITV for doing this." - Sonny Hanley, ITV Academy Director
2020 ITV backs up Diversity
Just over a decade after winning Britain's Got Talent, talented dance group Diversity stage a Black Lives Matter inspired performance on the same show. The impressive routine is widely praised, but there are more than 24,000 complaints. ITV stand by the decision to televise the performance, putting adverts in all major newspapers which state: ‘ITV stand with Diversity’.
In a statement, ITV say, “Ashley and the group are a great example of the talent, creativity and diversity in modern Britain and their performance was an authentic, heartfelt response to many of the issues and events which have affected society in 2020.” Diversity went on to win the public-voted Bafta TV award for Must-See Moment.
2020 ITV marks Black History Month
ITV celebrates Black History Month on air by commissioning a series of programmes including IRL with Charlene White, Alison Hammond: Back To School, Black Comedy Legends and Sorry I Didn’t Know
2021 Loose Women
An all-Black panel presents Loose Women for the first time in its history. Led by Charlene White, the panel includes Kelle Bryan, Judi Love and Brenda Edwards. The episode is watched by more than a million viewers and wins the 2021 Royal Television Society award.
Baroness Floella Benjamin said: “At the sight of four multi-talented women giving their views, I jumped for joy and shouted: ‘This is how television should be, this is what I have been campaigning for behind the scenes for almost 50 years!’”
“I remember fondly waiting for the episode to start, having watched Loose Women for years, knowing that I was about to witness history live, a moment that felt so personal to me was so exciting. Seeing four incredible Black women being unapologetically themselves made me feel proud, inspired and seen.” - Natasha Dawkins, Creative Diversity Coordinator, ITV
2021 Win or Lose: Stand Together
Following the England football team’s defeat in the Euro 2020 final, Good Morning Britain releases a video and billboard posters called ‘We All Stand Together’. The campaign defends the Black players – Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Bukayo Saka – who face vile racist abuse. It describes the players as ‘Kings of England’ and contains the words, ‘Win together. Lose together. We all stand together!’
"I watched the Euro 2020 final with my three black sons and the silence in the previously noisy room was telling. We all knew what the next few days would bring and how crushed it would make us feel." - June Stewart, Head of Portfolio Management, Group Technology, ITV
2021 Peckham power
Reality TV show, Peckham’s Finest, puts diversity front and centre. Dubbed ‘south-east London’s very own TOWIE’, it puts a different spin on the genre.
One participant says: "It was an opportunity for me to not embrace just being Black, but [also] other types and other versions of being African and Caribbean, and what that means."
2021 ITV celebrates Black History Month
Programmes including Will.iam The Blackprint, Ashley Banjo in Black and White and Charlene White’s Empire’s Child and a second series of Sorry I Didn’t Know are specially commissioned to celebrate Black History Month.
2022 Confessions of Frannie Langton
This four part drama series premiered on ITVX in December. Based on the novel by Sara Collins who also adapted the screenplay, a formerly enslaved servant is accused of murder in Georgian London. This thriller takes period drama and twists the lens to explore themes of colonialism, Black history and queer love all set against the backdrop of murder.
But it is also a drama that isn't your "typical" tale about slavery, as Frannie herself states to the viewer at the start of the series: "No doubt you'll be thinking that this is just another one of those slave stories, all sugared over with misery and despair." - Radio Times
2022 Fresh cuts
ITV launched the innovative Fresh Cuts strand which gave five rising Black filmmakers the opportunity to create their own full length documentary. Each of the five films aired on ITV in October with one of the films Our Jubilee receiving a BAFTA Breakthrough Talent nomination.
The five selected filmmakers were Louise Coleman, Yemi Adegbulu, Daniel Dempster, Jason Osborne and David Adeyemi.
2022 Riches
Created by writer Abby Ajayi (How to Get Away With Murder), Riches is glossy, glamorous and full of beautiful people. It begins with the death of the CEO of a multi million pound Black cosmetics empire and his estranged heirs battling his new family for a power play with millions of pounds at stake.
“Riches is a love letter to Black London and it has been thrilling to create the Richards' family and celebrate their opulence, their ambition and their immigrant grit." Abby Ajayi, writer Riches
2023 Fresh Cuts
Running again in 2023. Four Producer/Directors made their first documentaries for ITV to celebrate Black History Month, covering subjects including the Military, Fashion, Mental Health and the NHS- all told from a unique Black perspective.
The selected producer/directors were Jordan Thomas, Salomé-Dior Williams, Jessicah North, and Archie Onobu.
ITV Acknowledgements:
ITV Leads: Ade Rawcliffe and Natasha Dawkins
ITV’s Black History TV Timeline was created by brilliant colleagues across and outside our business. We would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this timeline, including the following people and many others.
Outside of ITV (including Authors and Researchers): Gaverne Bennett; Ralia Sofola; Richie Hiney; Sir Trevor Phillips; Stephen Bourne; Urvashi Patankar.
ITV Embrace network: Catherine Tyrell; Charlene White; Joel Duncan; June Stewart; Lara-Lee Green; Olusoga Adamo; Sonny Hanley; Verina Burt.
ITV Creative: Alex Mathieson; Annabelle Wong; Jonathan Clarke-Ezzidio; Massimo Paradiso; May Sinlapa; Terri Turner.
Colleagues across ITV: Amaima Bhatti; Daniel Levy; Kalaiyashni Puvanendran; Lyndsay Theobald; Mary Wimpress; Michael Jermey; Modupe Aluko; Nahrein Kemp; Philip Youngson; Sarah Riding.
Gaverne Bennett’s Acknowledgements:
Creative director/lead author: Gaverne Bennett
Co-author: Ralia Sofola
Initial Graphic designer: Urvashi Patankar
Acknowledgements to my wife Peggy and children Aphra, Brontyrre and Lysander who looked at each word written here at various stages.
Resources/sources
Stephen Bourne, Black in the British Frame: The Black Experience in British Film and Television (Continuum, 2001)
Stephen Bourne, curator of the following Black British television retrospectives for BFI South Bank: Black and White in Colour (1992), Black on White TV (1996) and Forgotten Black TV Drama (2019).
Jim Pines (editor), Black and White in Colour: Black People in British Television since 1936 (BFI, 1992)
Sarita Malik, Representing Black Britain: Black and Asian Images on Television (Sage, 2002)
David Dabydeen, John Gilmore and Cecily Jones (editors),The Oxford Companion to Black British History (Oxford University Press, 2007)
David Olusoga, Black and British: A Forgotten History (Macmillan, 2016)
ATV Icons: The Reporters who led the way – ATV Today
Black History timeline | World news | The Guardian
Clyde Alleyne: The first black broadcaster on British television news | Tyne Tees - ITV News
Boxing legend Muhammad Ali interviewed in 1964 | ITV News Wales
MOBO Awards 1996 | MOBO Organisation
ITV 'stands behind' decision to broadcast Diversity's BGT performance | ITV News
Watch The Big Pride online - BFI Player
My Crossroads entrance came at a time of racial tension | Television | The Guardian
‘It was so emotional’: the duo who helped rapper Dave stun the Brits | Dave | The Guardian
Blind Date contestants who didn't get famous | Daily Mail Online
Peckham's Finest is a reality show like no other (digitalspy.com)
Loose Women wins RTS Award 2021 (itv.com)
http://www.kanyaking.com/mobo.html
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https://www.itv.com/thismorning/articles/alison-hammond-celebrates-20-years-at-this-morning
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