Channel 4 Lines Up Definitive Nelson Mandela Docuseries

Channel 4 has commissioned the documentary series Free Nelson Mandela (w.t.) from Rogan Productions and GroupM Motion Entertainment.

It will chart Nelson Mandela’s journey from activist to revolutionary, then from prisoner to negotiator. Through access to those who fought for his freedom and the people at the center of the anti-apartheid movement, the series will tell his story in full.

Free Nelson Mandela is being directed by James Rogan, creative director of Rogan Productions, and executive produced by Soleta Rogan and GroupM Motion Entertainment’s Deep Sehgal, head of creative diversity. Producers are Samora Tikly and Xinlan Rose. It is funded by Channel 4 and GroupM Motion Entertainment’s Diverse Indies Fund.

The docuseries will air on Channel 4 and be distributed internationally by BBC Studios as part of its first-look output deal with Rogan Productions.

“Making this series has been a highlight of my career,” Rogan said. “It has been such a privilege to interview so many of the people closest to Nelson Mandela or [who] helped in the fight to free him. From the prisoners on Robben Island to the politicians on all sides, we’ll hear from the leaders, activists and musicians who took up the battle for freedom from the 1960s onwards. This is a story we all think we know, but through weaving together personal stories, the historic events and the cultural outcry, a whole different dimension emerges that is often overlooked. It’s an epic story for our time about sacrifice, hope and humanity.”

“It is a great honor to work with Rogan and Channel 4 on a project that resonates with so many people,” Sehgal commented. “The ‘Free Nelson Mandela’ concert back in 1988 was the first time that I became aware of international politics. I joined tens of thousands of others at Wembley to hear the greatest musicians in the world demand the freedom of a man who would go on to become a truly global icon.”

“We are looking forward to bringing the extraordinary story of Nelson Mandela, and the campaign to free him, to a new audience,” said Shaminder Nahal, head of specialist factual for Channel 4. “It’s hard to think of a more significant and deeply resonant story for today. I can’t wait to see how this brilliant team led by James Rogan will weave together the scintillating archive, music and testimony and bring it to life in a landmark series.”

Tom Young, head of indie partnerships for factual at BBC Studios, added, “We are thrilled to be joining forces once again with Rogan Productions and Channel 4 to tell the story of such an incredible figure in modern history. Free Nelson Mandela (w.t.) shines a bold and thoughtful new light on the legacy of Mandela and will resonate with audiences around the world. BBC Studios has a proven track record of collaborating with Rogan on ambitious documentaries about icons from modern history, and this continues this great partnership.”