Forty years ago Brixton burned. It was the people versus the police. Violence erupted on the streets. What happened changed the face of Britain – for everyone.
Episode 8: From the Ashes
The Brixton uprising sparks a summer of discontent as rioting breaks out across the country - this is no longer just about Brixton. Questions start being asked: Why is this really happening? What are the causes?
Britain is forced to start acknowledging racism, discrimination and prejudice across society. It’s the start of a conversation which is still being had today.
This podcast includes strong language, use of racist terms and descriptions of violence.
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Credits
Presenter: Big Narstie
Producers: Helen Clifton and Ingrid Kelly
Editor: Gail Champion
Executive Producer: Natasha Johansson
Sound Design: Wayne Parkes and Sam Turner
Additional production: Jane Andrews and Annabel Deas
Research: Derrick Bennett and Imogen Rhodes
With thanks to Paul Field
Series Producer: Ben Robinson
Series Editor: Gail Champion
5/21/2021 • 39 minutes, 53 seconds
Episode 7: Brixton Burns
Molotov cocktails, burning buildings, police cars smashed, running battles on the streets - London has never seen anything like this. Brixton explodes in an orgy of violence fuelled by a boiling sense of anger and injustice among the black community.
This podcast includes strong language, use of racist terms and descriptions of violence.
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Credits
Presenter: Big Narstie
Producer Ben Robinson
Editor: Gail Champion
Executive Producer: Natasha Johansson
Sound Design: Richard Hannaford
Additional production: Jane Andrews and Annabel Deas.
Research: Derrick Bennett and Imogen Rhodes
Additional Archive: The Museum of London
With thanks to Paul Field
Series Producer Ben Robinson
Series Editor: Gail Champion
5/14/2021 • 36 minutes, 15 seconds
Episode 6: No Going Back
There is fury at a lack of compassion shown by the authorities to the victims of the New Cross Fire. Many are convinced it was a racist firebombing and accuse the police of failing to investigate properly.
Thousands of people from across the country descend on London for a march to demand justice. Organisers say more than 20,000 people take part in the Black People’s Day of Action - at the time the biggest ever protest led by black people in the UK.
This podcast includes strong language, use of racist terms and descriptions of violence.
====================
Credits
Presenter: Big Narstie
Producers: Helen Clifton and Ingrid Kelly
Editor: Gail Champion
Sound Design: Wayne Parkes and Sam Turner
Additional production: Jane Andrews and Annabel Deas
Research: Derrick Bennett and Imogen Rhodes
With thanks to Paul Field
Dramatisation
By Roy Williams
Tony Cealy played by Sheyi Cole
Produced by Lorna Newman and Simon Highfield
Series Producer: Ben Robinson
Series Editor: Gail Champion
5/7/2021 • 39 minutes
Episode 5: The Hardest Day
A birthday party ends in tragedy when 13 young people die in a house fire.
People are convinced it has been caused by a racist arson attack. They feel their grief is compounded by a lack of compassion shown by the authorities. It feels like black lives don’t matter. The aftermath fuels the anger that will lead to the riots in Brixton just months later.
This podcast includes strong language, use of racist terms and descriptions of violence.
====================
Credits:
Presenter: Big Narstie
Producers: Helen Clifton and Ingrid Kelly
Executive Producer: Natasha Johansson
Editor: Gail Champion
Sound Design: Wayne Parkes and Sam Turner
Additional production: Jane Andrews and Annabel Deas
Research: Derrick Bennett and Imogen Rhodes
Digital Producers: Stuart Birch, Eleanor Layhe and John Watts
Story Consultant: John Yorke
With thanks to Paul Field
Series Producer: Ben Robinson
Series Editor: Gail Champion
4/30/2021 • 30 minutes, 27 seconds
Episode 4: Sides are Taken
Sound systems. Reggae. Blues parties. Music pulses through Brixton - it’s a way of life and provides an escape from a tough world. But police are raiding parties which ratchets up resentment against the authorities.
And Brixton’s thriving gay community shares this sense of persecution.
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This podcast includes strong language, use of racist terms and descriptions of violence.
Credits:
Presenter: Big Narstie
Producers: Seren Jones and Maggie Latham
Executive Producer: Natasha Johansson
Editor: Gail Champion
Sound Design: Wayne Parkes and Sam Turner
Additional production: Jane Andrews and Annabel Deas
Research: Derrick Bennett and Imogen Rhodes
Story Consultant: John Yorke
With thanks to Paul Field
Dramatisation
By Roy Williams
Christopher Icha played by Valentine Olukoga
Produced by Lorna Newman and Simon Highfield
Series Producer: Ben Robinson
Series Editor: Gail Champion
4/23/2021 • 33 minutes, 42 seconds
Episode 3: Feel the Heat
Gangs of far right racist thugs are attacking immigrants on the streets and in their homes. Now they’re turning their attention to black power organisations and Brixton is in their sights – with terrifying consequences. And one man is on trial for a string of crimes he didn’t commit. Will the British justice system prevail?
This podcast includes strong language, racist terms and descriptions of violence.
Credits:
Presenter: Big Narstie
Producer: Seren Jones and Maggie Latham
Editor: Gail Champion
Executive Producer: Natasha Johansson
Sound Design: Wayne Parkes and Sam Turner
Additional production: Jane Andrews and Annabel Deas
Research: Derrick Bennett and Imogen Rhodes
Digital production: Stuart Birch, John Watts and Eleanor Layhe
Story Consultant: John Yorke
With thanks to Paul Field
Dramatisation
by Roy Williams
Farrukh Dhondy played by Nathaniel Curtis
Produced by Lorna Newman and Simon Highfield
Series Producer: Ben Robinson
Series Editor: Gail Champion
4/16/2021 • 32 minutes, 41 seconds
Episode 2: Fuel to the Fire
Resentment towards the police in Brixton grows as people face a series of injustices. But black power is fighting back.
And one man’s life changes forever when he’s falsely accused of crimes he didn’t commit by an out of control police officer.
This podcast includes strong language, racist terms and descriptions of violence.
----------
Credits:
Presenter: Big Narstie
Producer: Ben Robinson
Editor: Gail Champion
Executive Producer: Natasha Johansson
Sound Design: Wayne Parkes and Sam Turner
Additional production: Jane Andrews and Annabel Deas
Research: Derrick Bennett and Imogen Rhodes
Digital Producers: Stuart Birch, Eleanor Layhe and John Watts
Additional Archive: from The Museum of London
Story Consultant: John Yorke
With thanks to Paul Field
Dramatisation:
by Roy Williams
Winston Trew played by Peter Bankole
Produced by Lorna Newman and Simon Highfield
Series Producer: Ben Robinson
Series Editor: Gail Champion
4/9/2021 • 32 minutes, 16 seconds
Episode 1: The Fuse is Lit
The childhoods of a group of kids in Brixton are punctured by the threat of racism. That realisation changes their lives - and sets them on a course to the Brixton riots years later.
This podcast includes strong language, racist terms and descriptions of violence.
----------
Credits:
Presenter: Big Narstie
Producer: Ben Robinson
Editor: Gail Champion
Executive Producer: Natasha Johansson
Sound Design: Wayne Parkes and Sam Turner
Additional production: Jane Andrews and Annabel Deas
Research: Derrick Bennett and Imogen Rhodes
Digital Producers: Stuart Birch, Eleanor Layhe and John Watts
Additional Archive: from The Museum of London
Story Consultant: John Yorke
With thanks to Paul Field
Dramatisation:
by Roy Williams
Tony Cealy played by Sheyi Cole
Produced by Lorna Newman and Simon Highfield
Series Producer: Ben Robinson
Series Editor: Gail Champion
4/9/2021 • 29 minutes, 34 seconds
Coming soon...
Forty years ago, Brixton burned. It was the people versus the police as riots broke out over a spring weekend.
Big Narstie speaks to the people involved to reveal the causes of the violence.
A series of injustices shaped and tainted people’s lives and caused resentment to grow until it couldn’t be contained.
The uprising changed the national conversations on identity and race and was a catalyst for changes to policing across the UK.
Big Narstie explores the impact of the riots on individual lives - and on the whole of society - in the new podcast ‘Brixton: Flames on the Frontline’.
Coming soon.