9 episodes

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.
Big Narstie finds out why.

Brixton: Flames on the Frontline BBC Radio 5 Live

    • History
    • 5.0 • 5 Ratings

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.
Big Narstie finds out why.

    Episode 8: From the Ashes

    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.
    ----------
    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

    • 39 min
    Episode 7: Brixton Burns

    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.
    ====================
    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

    • 36 min
    Episode 6: No Going Back

    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

    • 39 min
    Episode 5: The Hardest Day

    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

    • 30 min
    Episode 4: Sides are Taken

    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.
    ====================

    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

    • 33 min
    Episode 3: Feel the Heat

    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

    • 32 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
5 Ratings

5 Ratings

WalesSoccer ,

Wonderful

Everything is so well done on this. Wish I could come across more bbc podcasts similar to this one, in terms of historical context, narrative and production.

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