Shooting star who kicked on in exile

TV PICK OF THE WEEK

Featuring rarely-seen archive and interviews with people who met him, this documentary examines Marley’s special relationship with Britain and reveals how his presence helped influence British politics, culture and identity, during a time of massive social and civil unrest in the UK – and how his universal message of One Love and unity helped inspire a generation of black British youth.

This documentary also takes a revealing look at how Marley spent his time while he was in Britain: the houses he lived in, football kickabouts in Battersea Park and visits to the UK’s growing Rastafarian community, including secret gigs in the north of England.

It was in Britain that Marley established himself as an international artist, recorded some of his most successful albums and performed some of his most memorable concerts.

The film features interviews with people who met and worked with Marley in the UK – and whose lives were changed by meeting him – including photographer

Dennis Morris, who accompanied Marley on tour; Brinsley Forde, founding member of reggae band Aswad; and filmmaker and BBC Radio 6 Music presenter Don Letts.

There are also memories of the most important gigs he played in Britain, as told by those who were there, including early Wailers gigs in small pubs and clubs when the band were still largely unknown, a nowlegendary acoustic performance in the gym of a Peckham High School and a triumphant show at London Lyceum Theatre that helped propel Marley to global fame.