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Doing Good

Episode 5 of 5

In the final part of his personal account of Britain's empire, Jeremy Paxman tells the story of how a desire for conquest became a mission to improve the rest of mankind.

In the final part of his personal account of Britain's empire, Jeremy Paxman tells the extraordinary story of how a desire for conquest became a mission to improve the rest of mankind, especially in Africa, and how that mission shaded into an unquestioning belief that Britain could - and should - rule the world.

In central Africa, he travels in the footsteps of David Livingstone who, though a failure as a missionary, became a legendary figure - the patron saint of empire who started a flood of missionaries to the so-called 'Dark Continent'.

In South Africa, Paxman tells the story of Cecil Rhodes, a man with a different sort of mission, who believed in the white man's right to rule the world, laying down the foundations for apartheid.

The journey ends in Kenya, where conflict between white settlers and the African population brought bloodshed, torture and eventual withdrawal.

1 hour

Last on

Wed 24 Oct 2018 22:00

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Music Played

  • Randy Edelman

    Arrival in the Big Bad City

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Jeremy Paxman
Series Producer Julian Birkett
Executive Producer Basil Comely

Broadcasts