David Olusoga and Mike Smith have closed their Bristol-based indie Uplands TV after five years.
Historian and broadcaster Olusoga, who delivered the Edinburgh V Festival’s MacTaggart Lecture in 2020, said he planned to concentrate on his presenting work and writing children’s books following the success of the kids’ version of his book Black and British.
Uplands has been supported by Channel 4’s Indie Growth Fund since February 2021 and was previously part of the broadcaster’s Indie Accelerator Scheme. Prior to 2021, it had a three-year first-look distribution deal with BBC Studios.
The indie has made documentaries for all of the UK public service broadcasters, often focusing on issues around black history.
Its notable shows include BBC1’s Our NHS: A Hidden History, BBC2’s A House Through Time, ITV’s Tareena: Return From ISIS and Channel 4’s The Unremembered.
Uplands scored two nominations in this year’s Grierson Awards: best history documentary for Channel 5’s 1000 Years a Slave and best presenter for ITV doc Ashley Banjo: Britain in Black and White.
Its latest show, More 4's Museum of Us, launched this week, while BBC2 shows The People’s Piazza and David Harewood on Blackface are still to air.
Olusoga said: “We are grateful for the support and understanding of key stakeholders including Channel 4 and the BBC in the decision that we have reached”
Smith added: “I will always be proud of the work David and I have done together which has been immensely rewarding and eye opening. I believe as strongly as ever in the mission we embarked on and am extremely grateful to all those who worked with us and shared that vision.”
Details of the closure have been posted on Uplands' website and were first reported by Broadcast.
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