Alison Hammond has landed her very own show for Black History month where she will be taking the ultimate school trip across Britain.
That’s right, Alison Hammond: Back To School will be launching on ITV in October, seeing the presenter travel to historic landmarks throughout the UK including Hadrian’s Wall and Hampton Court where she will revisit everything we learned in the classroom – just from a different angle.
Yes, we may know all of our kings and queens, and pretty much every William Shakespeare sonnet going, but the This Morning star will be introducing us to Black figureheads who have tirelessy been overlooked.
The 45-year-old will also be talking to an array of experts to get an in-depth look at our country’s past.
The new show will be directed by Ryan Samuda and Mariam Hussain with Anna Manton sat in the producer’s chair.
As well as the Alison-fronted programme, ITV will also be dropping the new comedy Sorry I Didn’t Know, a celebration of Black Comedy Legends and Charlene White’s studio show Charlene and Friends.
Satmohan Panesar, who has overseen commissioning for Black History Month, said of the newly-announced programming: ‘These programmes span Factual, Entertainment, and Children’s in an effort to reach out to viewers across the board at all levels.
‘We hope viewers will enjoy the incredible stories, wonderful entertainment and fascinating people they focus on as we look at Britain from a vital and different perspective and celebrate the contribution of Black people to Britain’s story, our culture and our lives.’
Panesar added: ‘Diversity on-screen must be accompanied by a commitment to diversity off-screen, with first time ITV primetime directing credits for Samuda and Hussain and Manton taking the reigns as a new series producer. We look forward to watching their progress in the industry.’
This isn’t the first small-screen success Alison has achieved over the past few months, as she recently joined Dermot O’Leary when stepping in for Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield on This Morning.
Prior to this, she made an impassioned speech on the breakfast show during the Black Lives Matter protests, which happened in the wake of George Floyd’s death.
‘Firstly I am a mother of a 15-year-old black boy,’ she began. ‘When I saw that image of George Floyd, I saw, my brothers, my father and I saw my son and I was disgusted to my core.
‘It hurt me to the pit of my stomach to think this is 2020 and we are seeing that and, let’s be honest, this has been going on forever. My whole life, my mum’s life, my father’s life, everyone’s life.
‘I believe this movement, Black Lives Matter, is so very important and so wonderful when I see my white, my Asian brother and sisters standing by Black Lives Matter. It means they understand.’
ITV will be running their new shows throughout Black History month, in October.
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Black History Month
October marks Black History Month, which reflects on the achievements, cultures and contributions of black people in the UK and across the globe, as well as educating others about the diverse history of those from African and Caribbean descent.
For more information about the events and celebrations that are taking place this year, visit the official Black History Month website.