Whose Britain Is It Anyway?

Simon Schama traces how artists have tried to make sense of Britain’s place in the world after the end of empire. As mass immigration changed the face of the country, artists and writers have attempted to redefine what British society looks like.

From the arrival in Britain from the Caribbean of calypso performer Lord Woodbine aboard the Empire Windrush in 1948, providing an unlikely early influence on The Beatles, to Hanif Kureishi’s radical writing, Simon explores the rich creative offerings of Britain's multicultural society. He also examines cultural icons like James Bond – a character who reflected the anxieties of those who felt uneasy with Britain’s diminished status on the world stage.

Simon speaks to Jerry Dammers about the defiant two-tone revolution of The Specials, conceived in the face of racially motivated violence, as well as Clive Myrie about his personal experiences of the Windrush scandal. He asks, as Britain becomes ever more diverse, if culture can help the country to overcome its differences.