Channel 4 to air critically-acclaimed series, Defiance: Fighting the Far Right, with brand new trailer illustrating Channel 4’s commitment to anti-racism

8 August 2024

Against the backdrop of far-right extremism and racist violence in the UK, Channel 4 will once again air critically-acclaimed and award-winning series, Defiance: Fighting the Far Right, at 10pm Monday 12th – Wednesday 14th August. The series is also available stream in full on Channel 4.

Across three compelling hours, Defiance: Fighting the Far Right examines how British Asians and immigrants were targeted with a campaign of violence and murder between 1976 and 1981, as National Front and extremist activity became increasingly prominent. The series investigates seminal events ranging from the Southall protests, the death of Blair Peach, the Battle for Brick Lane and the extraordinary story of the Bradford 12. Through a cache of archive footage and compelling new testimony from key figures on the front line at the time, the ground-breaking documentary series shows what happened when the British Asian community decided to fight back.   

This particularly timely series lifts the lid on a period in recent British history, in which the violence, injustice – as well as the extraordinary courage of those who confronted it – resonates through the decades as well as holding a mirror and bringing context to the scenes of extremism and racism across the UK that dominate the news headlines today.

Defiance: Fighting the Far Right was the winner of Best Documentary at the 2024 Eastern Eye ACTAs. The series was hailed with critical acclaim when it first aired on Channel 4 earlier this year.

BBC Radio 5Live’s Nihal Arthanayake said the series is “incredible viewing whether you’re Asian or not”. The Guardian said: “This striking three-part documentary… does a compelling job of telling the personal and political stories behind Britain’s Asian community as it faced violence and murder between 1976 and 1981.” The Times gave the series four stars, describing it as “powerful”. The Telegraph praised the series as “fresh, important and detailed”, also giving four stars.

The series will air alongside a brand-new, bespoke trailer from Channel 4’s in-house creative agency, 4creative, commissioned by newly installed CMO Katie Jackson. The 10-second promo, which begins airing tonight (Thursday 8th August), reflects Channel 4’s commitment to anti-racism, and amidst the disturbing scenes being witnessed across the country, serves as an important reminder of the power of inclusion, which sits at the heart of Channel 4’s Altogether Different brand DNA.

The trail lifts directly from a mural found on the walls of Channel 4’s London office at Horseferry Road. The full mural reads:

“Different. It’s the one thing we’ve all got in common. We’re often made to think that different is what divides us, but at Channel 4 we think different is brilliant, that it’s our weird bits and odd bobs – our shared uniqueness - that brings us all together. Altogether different.”

The trail can be viewed here.

Channel 4’s Head of Specialist Factual, Shaminder Nahal said: “As we all try to make sense of the horrific scenes of racist violence taking place on our streets, and what these events say about Britain, this timely series provides important context. The series reveals the deep-seated fear of immigration from some British people back in the 70s and 80s, how that informed political debate, and how devastating the violence on the streets was to become. Defiance: Fighting the Far Right painfully highlights the impact and toll that racism has on those who courageously fought it across decades, and gives us much to reflect on today.”

Executive Producer for Rogan Productions James Rogan said: “A comprehensive telling of the extraordinary experiences of a generation of Asian refugees and migrants who came to Britain and faced unprecedented wave of racial violence, stood their ground and turned the tide, is long overdue. This landmark documentary series is packed with jaw-dropping stories and thrilling tales of resistance, breaking new ground on stories long overlooked forgotten.”

Riz Ahmed and Allie Moore of Left Handed Films said: “The British Asian civil rights movement is a forgotten piece of history. The Southall Protests, the death of Blair Peach, and the story of the Bradford 12 all continue to shape Britain. These are stories of bravery in the face of violence, and a refusal to let prejudice go unchallenged - they could not be more timely.”

Defiance: Fighting the Far Right, was produced by Rogan Productions and Group M Motion Entertainment, in association with Left-Handed Films. The series was executive produced by James Rogan, Nancy Bornat and Soleta Rogan for Rogan Productions, Riz Ahmed and Allie Moore for Left Handed Films and Deep Sehgal for GroupM Motion Entertainment.

ENDS