A+E Networks® UK has commissioned leading UK production company Avalon to produce a brand new documentary series: JAMES NESBITT: DISASTERS THAT CHANGED BRITAIN. The 6×60’ series, due to air on HISTORY® in early 2018, takes a unique and unprecedented look at some of the most impactful events that affected Britain in the 20th and 21st centuries.
Presented by award-winning actor JAMES NESBITT (Cold Feet, Stan Lee’s Lucky Man), the original six-part series unpicks the events that led to the most devastating disasters of the past 60 years.
The unique documentary shines a spotlight on the human cost of the tragedies while seeking to explain the wider political, cultural and institutional context that contributed to them – and looks at the changes made in the wake of each disaster. With individual narratives explored by journalists: DONAL MACINTYRE (Macintyre Investigates) and ANNA RICHARDSON (Super Shoppers, Naked Attraction), the series asks why warning signs were often ignored and how seemingly innocuous decisions – sometimes decades before – contributed to the events that changed post-war Britain forever.
Each self-contained episode explores a different event, covering the recent Grenfell Tower tragedy (2017); the Ladbroke Grove rail crash (1999); the Zeebrugge ferry disaster (1987); and the King’s Cross Fire (1987). The series will also examine the Piper Alpha oil platform explosion (1988) and the Munich Air crash (1958), both of which will be broadcast during their 30th and 60th anniversaries respectively.
The series was ordered by Dan Korn, VP of Programming at A+E Networks UK, with Diana Carter as executive producer.
Dan Korn said: When confronted with the horrors of Grenfell, or any of the other terrible events explored in the series, it’s impossible to reflect not only on the loss of life and personal tragedies but also on the profound impact on British society as a whole. HISTORY is pleased to be working with James Nesbitt, Donal MacIntyre, Anna Richardson and Avalon, on a series which reveals the full devastating impact and effect of the disasters which have shaped post-war Britain.
Michele Carlisle and Jamie Isaacs are executive producers at Avalon and Ian Hunt is series producer.
Jamie Isaacs, Executive Producer for Avalon, added: This documentary tells the story of Britain through the prism of some of the most harrowing events in living memory. By examining the long-term catalysts that contributed to these tragedies, viewers will understand the complex, and compelling instances that led to disasters such as the Munich air crash or the Ladbroke Grove rail crash.
James Nesbitt: Disasters That Changed Britain is currently in production and due to air on HISTORY® in 2018. The series is distributed by Avalon Distribution, the international TV sales arm of Avalon.
ENDS
Editor’s Notes
- HISTORY® is available on Sky 529 / Virgin 270 / BT 327 / Talk 327.
- Clips, viewing materials and images to be provided on request when available.
- Interview access available depending on availability.
About A+E Networks UK
A+E Networks® UK is a joint venture between A+E Networks® and Sky. Its portfolio of quality factual and entertainment channels includes HISTORY®, Lifetime®, Crime + Investigation®, H2® and new free-to-air channel BLAZE™. A+E Networks UK launched in November 1995 and now operates 18 channels, broadcasting into 56 million homes across 102 countries in the UK, Scandinavia, Benelux, Central & Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The venture has offices in London, Warsaw, Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Johannesburg.
@AENetworksUK
About Avalon
Avalon is a multi-award winning talent management, live promotion and television production group with offices in the UK and the USA. Avalon and ARG, the talent management arm has discovered and represents many artists which are household names, both in the UK, the USA, and around the world. In 2017 Avalon was named the number one true independent television production company in the UK and has produced numerous ground-breaking television shows including: Emmy and Peabody award winner Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO), multi-award winning and Emmy-nominated Catastrophe (Channel 4/Amazon Prime), seven seasons of Workaholics, three seasons of Adam Devine’s House Party (Comedy Central), RTS and Rose d’Or winning Not Going Out (BBC1’s longest running sitcom currently on air), BAFTA and RTS-nominated Taskmaster (DAVE). Avalon is also currently producing the first US season of Taskmaster for Comedy Central, hosted by Reggie Watts and Alex Horne. For Avalon news visit: www.avalon-entertainment.com or @avalonent.
For more information please contact:
David Clifton at A+E Networks UK David.Clifton@aetn.co.uk / 07715 799 967
Cristina Dunn at Avalon – CDunn@avalon-entertainment.com / 020 7598 7230
