Our TV picks for Black History Month UK 2025

Small Island streaming on BBC iplayer

Small Island is a two-part 2009 BBC One drama adapted from Andrea Levy’s 2004 novel. Starring Naomie Harris as Hortense Roberts and Ruth Wilson as Queenie Bligh, it follows two women pursuing their dreams amid the upheaval of World War II in London and Jamaica. Based on our book of the month, Small Island beautifully complements this year’s UK Black History Month theme, “Legacies of Action: Understanding 60 Years of Change and Challenge."

Get Millie Black steaming on Channel 4 On Demand

Get Millie Black is a British television series created by Jamaican writer Marlon James. Jamaican-born detective Millie-Jean Black is forced out of Scotland Yard, and she returns home to join the Jamaican Police Force. She and her partner, Curtis, investigate missing person cases, and their lives are up-ended when one of their investigations crosses paths with another that brought Scotland Yard detective Luke Holborn to Kingston.

Babyfather streaming on BBC iplayer

The first series to be helmed by four Black British actors was first released back in 2001 and is now available to view on BBC iplayer. Babyfather is based on Patrick Augustus's novel of the same name, Babyfather tells the story of four black men struggling with the issues of fatherhood, love and friendship.

Ellis streaming on Channel 5 My 5

Ellis (also known as Inspector Ellis) is a British crime drama series on Channel 5, starring Sharon D. Clarke as Detective Inspector Ellis. It premiered in the UK on 31 October 2024 as a three-part series and has since been renewed for a second. DCI Ellis and her assistant, DS Harper, are assigned to support struggling police investigations across various local stations.

Just Act Normal streaming on BBC iplayer

Just Act Normal is a 2025 British comedy-drama series adapted by Janice Okoh from her stage play Three Birds. Starring Chenée Taylor, Kaydrah Walker-Wilkie, and Akins Subair, alongside Romola Garai and Sam Buchanan, the series follows three Black siblings coping with the death of their mother. Determined to appear “normal” to family, friends, and adults to avoid being placed in foster care, their secret begins to unravel when someone starts to suspect that something isn’t quite right.

Hard Truths steaming on Netflix

Hard Truths, directed by Mike Leigh, is a raw and intimate character study of Pansy, a woman consumed by anger and despair. Played powerfully by British actress Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Pansy’s bitterness and constant criticism drive a wedge between her and those around her. As she lashes out at both family and strangers, only her optimistic sister, Chantelle, continues to reach out in compassion. Unflinching and emotionally complex, the film explores pain, isolation, and the fragile bonds that hold families together.

A Thousand Blows Streaming on Disney plus

A Thousand Blows is a gritty period drama set in the violent underworld of 1880s East End London. Loosely based on true stories and real historical figures, the series dramatizes the lives of those struggling to survive in a brutal, divided city. At its heart is Jamaican bare-knuckle boxer Hezekiah Moscow, who fights for dignity and survival, and the infamous all-female Forty Elephants gang, navigating power, loyalty, and ambition in a world ruled by crime and corruption.

Focusing on black talent....

Dancing on the Edge on streaming ITV X

Dancing on the Edge follows a Black jazz band’s rise in 1930s London. Managed by the passionate Wesley Holt and promoted by journalist Stanley Mitchell, the band becomes a sensation among aristocrats and even the Royal Family. As fame grows, so do connections with powerful figures - but when tragedy strikes, their success unravels, threatening to destroy everything they’ve achieved.

Get Out streaming on BBC iplayer

Get Out is a 2017 American psychological horror film written, co-produced and directed by Jordan Peele in his acclaimed directorial debut. Daniel Kaluuya delivers an Oscar award winning performance as a young Black man who visits his white girlfriend’s family estate, only to uncover terrifying secrets beneath their seemingly warm and welcoming exterior. The film also features the brilliant and undeniably captivating LaKeith Stanfield.

This Flatshare streaming on Channel 5 My 5

The Flatshare is a British romantic comedy-drama series based on Beth O’Leary’s bestselling novel. It follows Tiffany and Leon, two Londoners who share a one-bedroom flat — but never meet. Tiffany uses the flat at night, while Leon works night shifts and occupies it during the day. Communicating only through notes, the pair gradually form an unexpected bond that blossoms into something deeper, proving that love can grow in the most unconventional circumstances.

Interview with the Vampire streaming on Netflix

Interview with the Vampire follows Louis de Pointe du Lac, played by Jacob Anderson, as he recounts his life to journalist Daniel Molloy, who first received an unpublished interview in 1973. A wealthy Black man in 1910s New Orleans, Louis is seduced and turned into a vampire by the charismatic Lestat de Lioncourt. Struggling with his humanity, he faces further tension when Lestat introduces his teenage fledgling, Claudia. In the present, Daniel begins to question the truth of Louis’ story, noting inconsistencies with the earlier account.

His House streaming on BBC iplayer

His House is a 2020 horror-thriller by Remi Weekes, starring Wunmi Mosaku, Sope Dirisu and Matt Smith. It follows South Sudanese refugees Bol and Rial, who survive a perilous journey across the English Channel and are granted provisional asylum in Britain. Assigned a run-down house on the outskirts of London, they face strict rules, hostile neighbours, and a sinister presence within their new home that threatens their chance at safety and normalcy.

Passenger streaming on ITV X

Passenger is set in the fictional Northern town of Chadder Vale, BAFTA-winning Wunmi Mosaku stars as former Met Police detective Riya Ajunwa, who investigates a series of unsettling crimes shaking the community. It begins with the mysterious disappearance and sudden reappearance 24 hours later of a local girl. As bizarre events and increasingly shocking offences unfold, Riya struggles to convince the villagers that things are far from what they seem

Best Documentaries

Black Power: A British Story of Resistance streaming on BBC iplayer

This documentary delves into the history of Black activism in Britain, highlighting the contributions of individuals and groups who fought against racism and inequality. It explores the emergence of Black power movements, their impact on British society, and the ongoing struggle for racial justice.

Subnormal: A British Scandal streaming on BBC iplayer

Directed by Steve McQueen, this film explores the systemic racism in the British education system during the 1960s and 1970s. It highlights the wrongful placement of Black children in schools for the 'educationally subnormal' and the lasting impact on their lives. This documentary is a powerful companion to our articles on the Black Parents Movement and Mollie Hunte.

Colony streaming on BBC iplayer

Sixty years ago, the Pebble Mill team produced a groundbreaking documentary called The Colony, which was broadcast on the BBC. Ahead of its time, the series remains a pioneering piece of television and is now available to watch on BBC iPlayer. It features interviews with members of Birmingham’s growing Caribbean community, who share their impressions of their new home, experiences of racism, and hopes for the future.

Must-Watch Global Picks

From reunion drama in The Best Man: The Final Chapters (BBC iPlayer) to the adrenaline of Fight Night (ITV X), the timeless romance of Forever (Netflix), the thrilling adventure of Washington Black (Disney+), Spike Lee's gripping crime thriller Highest 2 Lowest (Apple TV+), and the Jordan Peele produced HIM (in cinemas nationwide) these global picks deliver stories that entertain, move, and captivate from start to finish.

Image Credits: BBC, Sky TV, Channel 4, Channel 5, Apple TV and Netflix.