An all-star comedy pilot that was partly filmed in Bushey has been accused of making light of the UK’s involvement in the historical slave trade.
In July of this year, residents were left perplexed by a top-secret production being filmed inside the The Swan pub, with those involved tight-lipped about the nature of the project.
Now, five months later, the British Comedy Guide has revealed the filming was for a new Sky comedy series titled Forty Acres, set to feature Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville, Bancroft actress Sarah Parish and American rapper GaTa.
The show concerns a rich family coming to terms with the fact that their large historic fortune originated from the transatlantic slave trade, with Bonneville’s character the heir to the money.
However, some Black British writers have criticised the show’s concept on social media.
Posting on social media site X, comedian London Hughes said: “Why would anyone want to make a comedy series about the transatlantic slave trade? Who is this for? Why would you want to watch it? Why did it get commissioned?
“British television is so completely and utterly backwards I want to choke. ”
Sky has defended the programme, stating it is categorically not about slavery, but rather about “Britain’s murky colonial history”.
Photo credit: Sarah Parish
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