BBC Two and iPlayer have commissioned a two part history series titled Finding Britain's Slave Traders. Presented by David Olusoga, the production examines the individuals and organisations that financed the trade in enslaved Africans from the 16th century until abolition in 1807. The series is produced by Hillgate Films and Voltage TV.
The series utilizes data from a five year academic research project led by Professor William Pettigrew. This research resulted in the creation of the Register of British Slave Traders, a database identifying 13,000 individuals and several hundred institutions involved in the trade. The BBC will make this database available to the public during the broadcast of the series.
The narrative covers the early Tudor origins of the trade and the monopoly companies established by the Stuart monarchy in the 17th century. It further details the subsequent emergence of independent traders in Bristol and Liverpool who expanded the scale of the industry. The production focuses on the financial profits generated and the links between these investments and modern British institutions.
Simon Young, Head of Commissioning for History at the BBC, confirmed the commission. The series follows a previous project presented by David Olusoga titled Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners, which aired twelve years ago and focused on the compensation paid to slave owners following the abolition of slavery in the British Empire in 1833. This new commission focuses on the identities and histories of the traders and investors rather than the recipients of compensation. The Register of British Slave Traders constitutes the most comprehensive record of Britain's role in the Transatlantic slave trade.