AL MURRAY RETURNS TO SKY HISTORY WITH NEW SERIES ON BRITISH EMPIRE

Al Murray returns to Sky HISTORY with the new UK commission, Al Murray: Why Does Everyone Hate the British Empire? premiering on 23rd October 2023.

Al Murray: Why Does Everyone Hate the British Empire? marks the third collaboration between Sky HISTORY and historian and writer Al Murray and his comedic alter ego, The Pub Landlord.

The series follows in the footsteps of the award-winning Why Does Everyone Hate the English? (2018), which explored the roots of England’s most deep historic enmities, and the ratings success Why Do the British Win Every War? (2020), which discussed whether Britain has been helped or hindered by its military legacy.

Now Al Murray returns to examine a piece of British history that today is under the microscope like no other – the British Empire. Al Murray will be taking a global history lesson to unpick the legacy of the empire and, importantly, how it’s viewed today by the citizens of these countries.

In each country, Al will pair up with a local comedian, to explore the history of British colonial rule in that country and its legacy. In India, Al will be joined by Anuvab Pal; in Jamaica, by Chris Daley; in South Africa by Loyiso Gola; and in Australia, by Aboriginal comedian, Kevin Kropinyeri.

Together, they’ll find out about the origins of British rule, its impact upon each country and how its legacy continues to influence governance, culture, and attitudes.

Al Murray said: “This is a debate that is ongoing and becoming more and more heated. The history demands exploration, the legacy assessment. I’ve been lucky enough to go all over the world to take a look for myself, find out what legacy remains and, most importantly, how it figures in the lives of people in Britain’s former colonies. Is this a story with a happy ending or is it not yet over?”

Al Murray: Why Does Everyone Hate the British Empire? premieres on Sky HISTORY in October and on The HISTORY Channel across key European markets in the autumn of 2023.