What is Empire with David Olusoga?

Empire with David Olusoga is the latest BBC history documentary series from presenter David Olusoga. It tells the story of the British Empire from its birth to its end after the Second World War, showing how the small island of Britain came to rule over a fifth of the world’s landmass over five centuries. David will travel to formerly colonised countries, including the USA, India, Barbados and Australia, to see what the historical record says about the British Empire, and why its legacy is so controversial today. He will also talk to the descendants of formerly colonised peoples, and share the impact of the Empire on his own family history.

When is Empire with David Olusoga on TV?

The first episode of Empire with David Olusoga will air on BBC Two at 9pm on Friday 7 November 2025. It will be followed by two more episodes on the following Fridays and will be available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

Who is David Olusoga?

David Olusoga is a Professor of History at the University of Manchester. He has presented historical documentary series including Black and British: A Forgotten History, A House Through Time and Civilisations. He can also currently be seen competing on The Celebrity Traitors.