Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 20210510 | 20210512 (R4) | Twenty years ago Barnie Choudhury was reporting for BBC Radio 4's Today programme when he was sent to the the frontline of the worst rioting Britain had seen for generations. The violence over a six-week period in the summer of 2001 in Oldham, Burnley and Bradford, saw communities split along racial lines. Hundreds of police officers were injured and repair costs ran into the millions. Over three episodes Barnie returns to his previously unaired recordings and interviews made on those febrile, frightening nights to ask: 'Why did this happen? He finds answers from the people behind the groundbreaking report commissioned to find out how northern communities had become so devastatingly segregated - and discovers why a workable plan to transform race relations in the UK got sidelined. Presented by Barnie Choudhury Produced by Kevin Core Assistant Producer Emb Hashmi One summer of race riots in the north of England. Episode One. Oldham. New documentary series for BBC Radio 4 Twenty years ago Barnie Choudhury was reporting for BBC Radio 4's Today programme when he was sent to the the frontline of the worst rioting Britain had seen for generations. The violence over a six-week period in the summer of 2001 in Oldham, Burnley and Bradford, saw communities split along racial lines. Hundreds of police officers were injured and repair costs ran into the millions. Over three episodes Barnie returns to his previously unaired recordings and interviews made on those febrile, frightening nights to ask: 'Why did this happen? He finds answers from the people behind the groundbreaking report commissioned to find out how northern communities had become so devastatingly segregated - and discovers why a workable plan to transform race relations in the UK got sidelined. Presented by Barnie Choudhury Produced by Kevin Core Assistant Producer Emb Hashmi One summer of race riots in the north of England. Episode One. Oldham. New documentary series for BBC Radio 4 | |
| 02 | Burnley | 20210517 | 20210519 (R4) | In the second episode of Parallel Lives former Today Programme reporter Barnie Choudhury returns to the recordings he made in the aftermath of the 2001 racial violence in three northern towns. The official report into what happened in Oldham, Burnley and Bradford revealed whole communities were living in complete segregation, brewing suspicion and hatred. In Burnley, it proved to be fertile ground for the BNP which secured council seats in 2002. Barnie returns to those febrile, angry recordings made at the time, to consider what the division of the start of the millennium can tell us about Britain now. He hears how the period may have been a harbinger of trouble for the 'Red Wall' - an early indicator of dissatisfaction in traditional Labour heartlands. Barnie also talks to the then Home Secretary David Blunkett and Baron Khan of Burnley who was on the frontline of the tensions as a taxi operator. Presented by Barnie Choudhury Produced by Kevin Core Assistant Producer Emb Hashmi Barnie Choudhury continues his reflections on the 2001 race riots with a visit to Burnley. New documentary series for BBC Radio 4 In the second episode of Parallel Lives former Today Programme reporter Barnie Choudhury returns to the recordings he made in the aftermath of the 2001 racial violence in three northern towns. The official report into what happened in Oldham, Burnley and Bradford revealed whole communities were living in complete segregation, brewing suspicion and hatred. In Burnley, it proved to be fertile ground for the BNP which secured council seats in 2002. Barnie returns to those febrile, angry recordings made at the time, to consider what the division of the start of the millennium can tell us about Britain now. He hears how the period may have been a harbinger of trouble for the 'Red Wall' - an early indicator of dissatisfaction in traditional Labour heartlands. Barnie also talks to the then Home Secretary David Blunkett and Baron Khan of Burnley who was on the frontline of the tensions as a taxi operator. Presented by Barnie Choudhury Produced by Kevin Core Assistant Producer Emb Hashmi Barnie Choudhury continues his reflections on the 2001 race riots with a visit to Burnley. New documentary series for BBC Radio 4 |
| 03 | Episode Three: Bradford | 20210524 | 20210526 (R4) | In the final part of the series about the northern riots of 2001, after Oldham and Burnley comes Bradford. On July 7 tensions were high in the city, as an anti-fascist demonstration is gripped by rumours that the far right had arrived. Within minutes what had been a carnival atmosphere became the scene of such violence that 1,000 police officers from ten different forces were called upon to restore order. Barnie Choudhury listens back to the recordings he made in the thick of the conflict, to ask what lessons can be learned about racial tension in the UK now. A report into the violence by Professor Ted Cantle found that communities were living 'parallel lives' which seldom crossed the racial divide, creating a toxic mix of myths, suspicion and mistrust. Twenty years on Barnie talks to a rioter from Oldham whose life was changed by sentences viewed as draconian. Adeeba Malik CBE, Deputy Chief Executive of QED, an organisation which seeks to improve opportunities for people in Bradford, describes what happened when proud families regretted turning in their sons to the police. Former senior police officer Martin Baines explains he believes there was a lack of understanding about just how serious the behaviour on the day had been. Barnie also visits Mohammed Ali Yunis who runs Bradford Modified Club - which at a ground level unites car loves across ethnic divides and hears from Molly and Riffat from Bradford Women for Peace who put themselves on the frontline to prevent a return to violence. Presented by Barnie Choudhury Produced by Kevin Core Assistant Producer Emb Hashmi Barnie Choudhury considers the riots of summer 2001 - as the violence reaches Bradford. New documentary series for BBC Radio 4 In the final part of the series about the northern riots of 2001, after Oldham and Burnley comes Bradford. On July 7 tensions were high in the city, as an anti-fascist demonstration is gripped by rumours that the far right had arrived. Within minutes what had been a carnival atmosphere became the scene of such violence that 1,000 police officers from ten different forces were called upon to restore order. Barnie Choudhury listens back to the recordings he made in the thick of the conflict, to ask what lessons can be learned about racial tension in the UK now. A report into the violence by Professor Ted Cantle found that communities were living 'parallel lives' which seldom crossed the racial divide, creating a toxic mix of myths, suspicion and mistrust. Twenty years on Barnie talks to a rioter from Oldham whose life was changed by sentences viewed as draconian. Adeeba Malik CBE, Deputy Chief Executive of QED, an organisation which seeks to improve opportunities for people in Bradford, describes what happened when proud families regretted turning in their sons to the police. Former senior police officer Martin Baines explains he believes there was a lack of understanding about just how serious the behaviour on the day had been. Barnie also visits Mohammed Ali Yunis who runs Bradford Modified Club - which at a ground level unites car loves across ethnic divides and hears from Molly and Riffat from Bradford Women for Peace who put themselves on the frontline to prevent a return to violence. Presented by Barnie Choudhury Produced by Kevin Core Assistant Producer Emb Hashmi Barnie Choudhury considers the riots of summer 2001 - as the violence reaches Bradford. New documentary series for BBC Radio 4 |