Back in Time for Birmingham Norsen Khan

Back in Time for Birmingham explores the story of South Asian Brits

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The BBC has announced Back in Time for Birmingham, the latest volume in it’s Back in Time social history series

Commissioned to coincide with the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022, the series will be presented by BBC Asian Network’s Noreen Khan, alongside social historian Yasmin Khan, and offers a celebratory look at the city and the vital contributions made by arrivals from the Indian sub-continent over the last 75 years. Today nearly 250,000 Brummies, more than a quarter of the city’s population, have Pakistani, Indian or Bangladeshi heritage.

Starting in the 1950s when immigration from the Indian subcontinent began in earnest, the family will fast forward through five decades of rapid change, exploring every facet of British Asian family life. They’ll take on the jobs of their predecessors, living where they lived, cooking what they ate, learning what they were taught at school and facing the same difficulties (how do you produce authentic home cooking when there’s only swedes at the greengrocers and no-one sells chilli?).

Speaking about Back in Time for Birmingham, Presenter Noreen Khan said:

“I’m genuinely so excited to be a part of this incredible series! Taking viewers on an insightful, emotional journey over 5 decades of the South Asian story will be fascinating. Can’t wait for everyone to watch this!”

We’ve enjoyed the previous incarnations of this series, and look forward to watching in 2022. The series will comprise 4×60 minute episodes. You can read the full announcement on the BBC press site.