Richard, Alasdair, and Jen

Descendants

Narrated by Yrsa Daley-Ward, the poet and writer introduces us to a network of lives, each one connected in one way or another through the legacy of Britain's role in slavery.

In the final episode, the connections between histories bring us right back to the start - the 7th June 2020, and the day the Colston statue was toppled. Richard Pendlebury runs a charity for older people in Bristol, called The Anchor Society. In 1895 their member, J. Arrowsmith, paid for the Colston statue to be put up - 175 years after Colston's death. Alasdair was one of those who helped put it in the harbour, but he's also been looking into his own family history, and was surprised to see a very familiar name appear in his tree, back in the 17th Century.

Assistant Producer: Rema Mukena Producer: Candace Wilson Series Producer: Polly Weston Editor: Kirsten Lass Academic consultants: Matthew Smith and Rachel Lang of the Centre for the Study of the Legacies of British Slavery at UCL Additional genealogical research by Laura Berry Studio Manager: Michael Harrison