On Virgin TV, we’re celebrating Black stories throughout October, which is Black History Month in the UK and beyond. All the TV shows and films in our Black History Month collection are compelling and profound, as well as entertaining, but they’re also an opportunity to mark the contribution that Black and mixed-heritage people have made to culture and society.

Our Black History Month collection explores stories about the racism and other obstacles that Black people have faced, and their achievements in thie face of these challenges. We also have shows and films that honour Black cultural successes, including leading actors and world-conquering musicians, in the collections Celebrate… Black Actors, Celebrate… Black Music and Celebrate… Black Talent.

You’ll find all these collections in On Demand > Box Sets. Here are the highlights. 

Black History Month

Clotilda: The Return Home

Find it in On Demand > Box Sets > Black History Month or in On Demand > National Geographic now

In this powerful, hour-long documentary, descendants of Cudjo Lewis and Gumpa Lee – survivors of the last ship that brought slaves from Africa to North America – fulfil their ancestors’ dream of returning to their ancestral home. As well as bringing soil from Lewis’ memorial site to his family’s village, in a truly moving moment, the participants also tackle the uncomfortable subject of historical wrongdoings in the slave trade. Not just by Americans, but also by Germans and those in what’s now Benin.

Erased: WWII’s Heroes Of Color

Find it in On Demand > Box Sets > Black History Month or in On Demand > National Geographic now

Produced and narrated by Idris Elba, this series reveals the wartime stories of the people of colour often airbrushed out of history. Each of the four episodes highlights participants who played a significant role in one of the key flashpoints of the Second World War: the evacuation of Dunkirk, D-Day, Pearl Harbor and finally the Battle of the Bulge, which includes the experiences of the original Black Panthers battalion – the soldiers who inspired the later civil rights movement.

Triumph: Jesse Owens And The Berlin Games

Find it in On Demand > Box Sets > Black History Month or in On Demand > Sky HISTORY from Saturday 5 October

The story of the man who was Adolf Hitler’s worst nightmare. Using archive footage, animation and interviews with historians, athletes and family members, including Jesse Owens’ daughters Marlene and Beverly, this documentary explores the dramatic tale of Black sprinter Owens’ gold medals 1936 Berlin Olympic Games and the dedication and perseverance that got him to the finish line. A compelling portrait of a true Black icon. 

The Harlem Hellfighters 

Find it in On Demand > Box Sets > Black History Month or in On Demand > Sky HISTORY from Saturday 12 October

The 369th Infantry was among the first predominantly African-American regiments to serve with the American Expeditionary Forces in the First World War. Reflecting its New York origins, IT came to be known as the “Harlem Hellfighters”. Its men spent longer on the front lines than any other American regiment in the Great War and suffered worse losses, earning the respect of allies and enemy combatants alike for their tenacity. This new documentary follows the Hellfighters’ journey through the eyes of three men: famed jazz band-leader James Reese Europe, painter Horace Pippin and Henry Johnson, who was awarded the Croix de Guerre.

Celebrate… Black Actors

The Color Purple

Find it in On Demand > Box Sets > Celebrate… Black Actors or in On Demand > Sky Cinema from Friday 4 October

From Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel comes this multi-award-winning screen adaptation that champions love, strength and resilience. Beginning in the early 20th century, the film follows the life of Celie Harris (played by Fantasia Barrino, the stage star of The Color Purple in her movie debut), who endures extraordinary hardships before finding her independence as well as the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood. Taraji P Henson (Hidden Figures), Halle Bailey (The Little Mermaid) and an Oscar-nominated Danielle Brooks (Orange Is The New Black) co-star.

Bob Marley: One Love

Find it in On Demand > Box Sets > Celebrate… Black Actors or in On Demand > Sky Cinema from Friday 11 October. Cert 12

In this inspiring musical biopic, Kingsley Ben-Adir (One Night In Miami…) gives a showstopping performance as revolutionary reggae artist Bob Marley. Set against a backdrop of political unrest in 1970s Jamaica, the film captures Marley’s rise to superstardom and shows how he used the power of music to promote peace within the nation, leaving behind a remarkable legacy that still influences musicians today.

Celebrate… Black Music

Kings From Queens: The Run DMC Story

Find it in On Demand > Box Sets > Celebrate… Black Music or in On Demand > Sky Documentaries now

This three-part series about the rise of rap duo Run DMC from their humble beginnings in Queens, New York, to superstardom is executive-produced by Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons and Darryl “DMC” McDaniels. But it’s no glossy hagiography. This is warts-and-all stuff, as the pair face up to their past indiscretions, including self-destructive substance abuse issues. The music remains their saving grace, as their groundbreaking hip-hop tracks still sound great, while interviews with the great and good of the music industry acknowledged Run DMC’s huge influence, particularly on other Black musicians.

Janet Jackson

Find it in On Demand > Box Sets > Celebrate… Black Music or in On Demand > Sky Documentaries now

Singer Janet Jackson worked hard to get out of her brother Michael’s shadow to become a global pop icon and one of the biggest stars in the music world – only to fall foul of a bizarre controversy that almost detailed her career. Over the four parts of this in-depth docuseries, Jackson talks candidly about her rise to fame, her struggle to gain control of her life and work, and that night at the Super Bowl.

Celebrate… Black Talent

Big Zuu’s Big Eats

Find it in On Demand > Box Sets > Celebrate… Black Talent or in On Demand > U&Dave or in Apps > U now

Rapper, songwriter, chef, actor, DJ, presenter and all-round cultural polymath Big Zuu, along with sous chef Hyder and chief taster Tubsey, cooks up a feast for guests including Spice Girl Mel B, presenter Maya Jama, rapper Big Narstie and The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air’s Joseph Marcell in this BAFTA-winning show. Touring around in a food truck, Zuu shops for local ingredients from independent businesses, and discusses the origins and meanings of the guests’ favourite food.

Black Monday

Find it in On Demand > Box Sets > Celebrate… Black Talent or in On Demand > Sky Comedy now

Don Cheadle (House Of Lies) and Regina Hall (Nine Perfect Strangers) star in this dark comedy series set on Wall Street in the 1980s, as a group of outsiders take on the stockbroker establishment, kick-starting the events that lead to the financial crash of 1987. In many ways it’s an object lesson in breaking the glass ceiling – you can do it, but you might not like what you find on the other side – with a ridiculously talented cast and sharp-witted writing.

Where can I find the Black History Month collections?

You’ll find all these collections in Box Sets whether you watch on Stream, TV 360, V6 (powered by TiVo^®) or TiVo^®.