''Respect'' was a seven-part

documentary A documentary film (often described simply as a documentary) is a nonfiction Film, motion picture intended to "document reality, primarily for instruction, education or maintaining a Recorded history, historical record". The American author and ...

television series A television show, TV program (), or simply a TV show, is the general reference to any content produced for viewing on a television set that is broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, and cable, or distributed digitally on streaming plat ...

featuring some of the biggest names in British sport and was broadcast each Sunday at 5.00pm on

Central Independent Television ITV Central, previously known as Central Independent Television, Carlton Central, ITV1 for Central England and commonly referred to as simply Central, is the ITV (TV network), Independent Television franchisee in Midlands, the English Midlands ...

during November/December 1995. The series of half-hour programmes was produced at Central Independent Television studios in Birmingham, and focused on sportspeople of African Caribbean origin who have gained "

respect Respect, also called esteem, is a positive feeling or deferential action shown towards someone or something considered important or held in high esteem or regard. It conveys a sense of admiration for good or valuable qualities. It is also th ...

" through their single-minded determination to succeed in their chosen sport. The subjects in the series were

Lennox Lewis Lennox Claudius Lewis (born 2 September 1965) is a British-Canadian boxing commentator and former professional boxer who competed in the heavyweight division from 1989 to 2003. He was a three-time world champion, a two-time lineal champion, ...

(Boxing),

Judy Simpson Judith Earline Veronica Simpson (née Livermore; born 14 November 1960) is a British former heptathlete who competed at two Olympic Games. She went on to appear as Nightshade in the TV show '' Gladiators'' between 1993 and 1996. Early life She ...

(Athletics),

Martin Offiah Martin Nwokocha Offiah MBE ( (''original pronunciation''), (''commonly used'')); born 29 December 1965) is an English former professional rugby league and rugby union footballer who played in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. Offiah was inducted ...

(Rugby League), Diana Bowles (Disabled Tennis),

Tony Daley Anthony Mark Daley (born 18 October 1967) is an English former footballer, who made the vast majority of his appearances for Aston Villa, playing mainly as a winger, well known for his pace. Playing career Daley joined hometown club Aston V ...

(Football),

Gladstone Small Gladstone Cleophas Small (born 18 October 1961) is an English former cricketer, who played in 17 Test matches and 53 One Day Internationals (ODIs) for the England cricket team. He was a part of the English squads which finished as runners-up ...

(Cricket) and John Regis (Athletics). The narration was provided by sports presenter

Garth Crooks Garth Anthony Crooks, (born 10 March 1958) is an English football pundit and former professional player. He played from 1976 to 1990, for Stoke City, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, West Bromwich Albion and Charlton Athletic. Club ca ...

. series producer and director,

Pogus Caesar Pogus Caesar (born 1953)"Pogus Caesar"
''Diaspora Artists''. is a British ...

. "Over the past decade, Britain has seen the tremendous impact and contribution of black people in sport on a worldwide scale." This will be the first series of its type which concentrates exclusively on black sportspeople, looking at their life stories and lifestyles and, perhaps more importantly, finding out what gives them the will to win. " Contributors to the series included

Sharron Davies Sharron Elizabeth Davies, (born 1 November 1962) is an English former competitive swimmer who represented Great Britain in the Olympics and European championships and competed for England in the Commonwealth Games. Davies has attended 12 co ...

Ian Botham Ian Terence Botham, Baron Botham (born 24 November 1955) is an English cricket commentator, member of the House of Lords, a former cricketer who has been chairman of Durham County Cricket Club since 2017 and charity fundraiser. Hailed as one of ...

Nigel Benn Nigel Gregory Benn (born 22 January 1964), is a former British professional boxer who competed from 1987 to 1996. A two-weight world champion, he held the WBO middleweight title in 1990 and reigned as the WBC super-middleweight champion f ...

Henry Cooper Sir Henry Cooper (3 May 19341 May 2011) was a British heavyweight boxer. He was undefeated in British and Commonwealth heavyweight championship contests for twelve years and held the European heavyweight title for three years. In a 1963 fi ...

Denise Lewis Dame Denise Rosemarie Lewis (born 27 August 1972) is a British sports administrator and former sports presenter and athletics athlete, who specialised in the heptathlon. She won the gold medal in the heptathlon at the 2000 Sydney Olympics ...

John Barnes John Charles Bryan Barnes (born 7 November 1963) is a former professional football player and manager. Often considered one of the greatest England players of all time and one of Liverpool's greatest ever players, Barnes currently works as an ...

Roger Black Roger Anthony Black MBE (born 31 March 1966) is an English former athlete who competed internationally for Great Britain and England. During his athletics career, he won individual silver medals in the 400 metres sprint at both the Olympic Ga ...

, and

Kriss Akabusi Kezie Uchechukwu Duru Akabusi, MBE (; born 28 November 1958), known as Kriss Akabusi, is a British broadcaster and former sprint and hurdling track and field athlete. His first international successes were with the British 4 × 400 metres re ...

. ''Respect'' was produced and directed by

Pogus Caesar Pogus Caesar (born 1953)"Pogus Caesar"
''Diaspora Artists''. is a British ...

, and is a

Carlton Television Carlton Television (now part of the non-franchised ITV London region) was the ITV franchise holder for London and the surrounding counties from 9.25am every Monday to 5.15pm every Friday. The company is now managed with London Weekend Tele ...

UK production and a

programme.

References

1995 British television series debuts 1995 British television series endings ITV documentaries British sports television series Documentary television series about sports Television series by ITV Studios Television shows produced by Central Independent Television British English-language television shows {{sport-documentary-stub