David Olusoga hopes individuals with ‘backgrounds like mine’ have simpler TV journey
H
istorian and broadcaster David Olusoga has been honoured with a Bafta Special Award for being a “trailblazer” within the TV business throughout his three-decade profession.
The 53-year-old, who presents the BBC’s acclaimed and massively well-liked documentary collection A House Through Time, was introduced with one of many academy’s highest honours in the course of the ceremony on Sunday.
In his transferring speech, Olusoga mentioned: “Even before I dreamed I would one day work in television, it had already changed my life.
“It was watching history documentaries as a teenager in the 80s that made me decide to study history.
“It was watching David Attenborough reveal the natural world that made me get on a plane with a backpack in my 20s and 30s.”
Olusoga credited the “astonishing industry” for broadening his horizons and enriching his life – “I owe television so much,” he mentioned.
The broadcaster additionally mentioned having the chance to make programmes which have “impacted” the lives of others has been the “greatest privilege” and the “greatest responsibility” of his life.
He continued: “If I have a hope, it is that people entering the industry today, people from backgrounds like mine, minority communities, people from council estates, that they might perhaps find their journey through the industry a little easier.
“That they might not have to fight so much for the liberty of their voice and their experience.
“Our industry is changing, our industry is becoming more inclusive, I think tonight demonstrates that.
“How effective the changes we are making are in the long term will be visible by who gets to stand on this stage in years to come.”
Previous recipients of the award embody sports activities commentator John Motson, comic Sir Lenny Henry, TV presenter Cilla Black and actor Idris Elba.