Major TV documentary about Mary Seacole statue

ITV have been making a film about the making of the Mary Seacole statue at St Thomas’ Hospital for the last 3 years.

The end result, a one-hour documentary entitled In the Shadow of Mary Seacole, will be shown on ITV1 at 10.40pm on Tuesday 18 October.

Actor David Harewood embarks on a personal journey across Britain, Jamaica and Crimea to follow the story of the creation of the statue of Mary Seacole – the first ever public statue of a black woman in Britain.

The statue was unveiled at St Thomas’ on 30 June 2016 following a fundraising campaign which attracted support from thousands of individuals, as well as several larger donors.

Lord Soley, Chair of the Mary Seacole Memorial Statue Appeal which led the fundraising campaign, says: “The film really brings Mary Seacole’s statue to life and provides a fascinating insight into how it was created.”

Speaking at the unveiling event in June, Sir Hugh Taylor, Chairman of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, said: “One of the reasons that the statue is sited here is that from these gardens it overlooks the Houses of Parliament. In that sense, today’s unveiling could not be more timely.

“Perhaps there has never been a time in our recent history when it has been more important to celebrate and stand up for difference. Mary Seacole was different. She was not and is not defined by what she was not, or by what she did or did not do when compared with anyone else.

“She is being honoured today for herself, for her contribution which has become her legacy. As she stands proud – overlooking Parliament – she bears witness to what it means to be different in our society and the need to recognise it and honour it.”