Channel 4’s commitment to Bristol will be underpinned this evening when its flagship news programme is broadcast from the city as part of its ground-breaking Black to Front initiative.
Black to Front aims to showcase Black talent and improve representation within the TV industry, said Channel 4, which opened its Bristol creative hub in 2019. 
All Channel 4’s programming today is featuring Black presenters, actors, writers and experts, contributors, and programme-makers.
Channel 4 News will be broadcast from concert hall Bristol Beacon and presented by Ayshah Tull and Keme Nzerem. It will also feature a panel discussion including Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees in front of a live audience,
Its use of Bristol Beacon, pictured, comes nearly a year on from the venue’s change of name from Colston Hall, a pre-planned event that coincided with the city gaining international attention following the toppling of a statue of slave trader Edward Colston.
Bristol Beacon chief executive Louise Mitchell said: “We are delighted to welcome Channel 4 News to Bristol as part of this landmark day of programming.
“As a music charity we are committed to ensuring that diverse talent is nurtured through our schools and community programmes and on our stages. 
“We want to make sure the joy of music is shared with everyone. We’re pleased to help celebrate that commitment to inclusion and greater diversity in our public and cultural life with Channel 4 today.”
Two years ago Channel 4 selected Bristol as one of two creative hubs from more than 30 cities across the UK which pitched to become a new base for the national broadcaster. At the time it said it was attracted to the city by its diverse talent pool and social mobility initiatives that aimed to bring new talent into the industry.
The development of three new centres – a national HQ in Leeds and creative hubs in Bristol and Glasgow – are at the heart of Channel 4’s 4 All the UK strategy to attract and develop talent from across the UK, both on and off-screen.
Channel 4’s 3,200 sq ft Bristol creative hub in the historic Fermentation Buildings employs around 50 people and is home to key creative decision makers supporting Channel 4’s relationships with the production sector, particularly focused on genres with strengths in the South West and Wales.
Commissioning departments represented in the creative hub include daytime, drama; factual and popular factual. Creative diversity will also have a presence in Bristol to help nurture and develop on and off-screen talent.
