Victoria's Empire

Ghana / Jamaica / Newfoundland (1x2)

Air date: May 06, 2007

Victoria Wood visits countries that used to be part of Queen Victoria's British Empire. The first stop this episode is Ghana, once known as the Gold Coast, where slaves were purchased to be transported across the Atlantic to work on the Jamaican sugar plantations. Victoria travels inland to visit Assin Manso. Here the slaves were washed and sold before being marched to the Cape Coast Castle dungeons, where they were held before being dispatched. Visiting Cape Coast herself, Victoria discovers how the Ghanaians live now and how they are moving away from the stain of the slave trade. Then it’s on to Jamaica, the slave’s grim destination, and a chat with Aleric Josephs about how the slaves resisted their harsh treatment and ultimately participated in infanticide to prevent their children being born into slavery. Victoria sees how they fought for and joyously celebrated their freedom and meets Freddie Macgregor to discuss the African roots of reggae. Finally it’s on to Newfoundland, a foggy rock on the furthest eastern edge of Canada where Victoria has tea with a monarchist and meets Michael, who takes her up a hill to try and spot fairies.