Channel 4 has commissioned a series of programmes to mark the 50th anniversary of Pride in the UK.
It will be headlined by a 2 new factual commissions. The first, 50 Years of Pride (working title), will be a “landmark” documentary on the history of the movement, made in collaboration with Oscar-nominated filmmaker, Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot, The Crown) and playwright Joe Robertson.
The story will be told through first-person testimony and archive footage.
The second film, April Ashley (working title) will be the first in-depth feature documentary on Ashley, who was a trailblazer for trans women in the UK.
Ashley, who died last year at the age of 86, was a model, dancer and restaurateur, whose life took her from wartime Liverpool, to celebrity friendships, a landmark divorce trial and an MBE for services to equality.
“Channel 4 has been responsible for more outstanding LGBTQ+ content over its 40 years than any other public service broadcaster -often commissioning content others wouldn’t touch, from award-winning dramas It’s A Sin, Queer As Folk, and Brookside to innovative factual stories including Football’s Coming Out, Genderquake, and Hollyoaks: Gay Dads Forever,” said Louisa Compton, Head of News, Current Affairs, Specialist Factual and Sport.
“It only seems fitting that at this important moment for LGBTQ+ history in the UK we do what we’ve always done, double down on our commitment to agenda-setting programming with exciting new commissioning and All 4 firsts.”
Both documentaries will be aired around the anniversary of the first UK Gay Pride Rally, which was held in London on 1st July, 1972.
Channel 4 will also broadcast a series of specials, including Celebrity Gogglebox, Outed: George Michael and the Fight for Freedom, as well as key films, My Beautiful Laundrette, Buddies, Rocketman, Gods Own Country and Love, Simon.
