Introduction

End of Empire chronicles the last days of British rule around the globe, through the remarkably candid reminiscences of both colonisers and the colonised. The series, a Granada Television production, uses old newsreel film and interviews with former British and colonial officials.

Outline

End of Empire chronicles the waning days of the British Empire with segments dedicated to key Commonwealth assets throughout the world. Filmed over a five year period, each episode focused on a specific country and had a largely separate production team of its own. A companion hardcover book was also released.

Event at 12 hours, the documentary is far from comprehensive, so the producers selected cases for their significance. The sun may have set on the British Empire, but the UK still retained a number of colonies and territories at the time (e.g. Hong Kong, Gibraltar, the Falkland Islands, and the Virgin Islands) and remained a major global power.

The only country featured that was never a British colony or protectorate was Iran; although the colonial nature of Abadan, coupled with the strategic importance of the British oil concession, was undeniable

Interview Subjects

• Sir Donald Logan: Foreign Office, Iran Desk, 1951-1953.
• Nasrollah Fatemi: Iranian Delegate to United Nations 1951-1953.
• Abolhassan Banisadr President of Iran, 1980: Mossadegh supporter, 1951.
• Lady Margaret Drake: Wife of Eric Drake.
• Shapour Bakhtiar: Regional Director, Ministry of Labour, Iran, 1947-1949.
• Homa Katouzian: Tehran student.
• Sir Eric Drake: General Manager, Abadan, Anglo-Iranian Oil Company; Chairman, BP, 1969-1975.
• Sir Sam Falle: British Embassy, Tehran, 1949-1952.
• Sir Peter Ramsbotham: Foreign Office Secretary, Persian Oil Committee, 1951.
• Fouad Rouhani: Legal Adviser, National Iranian Oil Company, 1951-1954.
• George McGhee: Assistant Secretary of State, US, 1949-1951.
• Averell Harriman: Special Assistant to President Truman, 1951.
• Richard Cottam: Central Intelligence Agency, 1953.
• Sir George Middleton: Chargé D’affaires, British Embassy, Tehran, 1951-1952.
• Julian Amery: Conservative Member of Parliament.
• Mehdi Tehrani: Youth Organiser, Tudeh Party, 1951-1953.
• Alireza Saheb: Mossadegh’s aide.

Interviewees listed in order of appearance as identified on screen. Some subjects have two labels. An audio only, off the record interview with Norman Darbyshire (MI6) was also conducted, according to Granada producers. An interview with his American CIA counterpart, Stephen Meade, was filmed but not included.

End of Empire Series

• Episode 01: The Beginning of the End [Singapore].
• Episode 02: India: Engine of War.
• Episode 03: India: The Muslim Card [India and Pakistan].
• Episode 04: Divide and Quit [Indian Independence and Pakistan].
• Episode 05: Malaya.
• Episode 06: Palestine.
• Episode 07: Iran.
• Episode 08: Egypt.
• Episode 09: Aden [Yemen].
• Episode 10: Cyprus.
• Episode 11: The Gold Coast [Ghana].
• Episode 12: Kenya.
• Episode 13: The Rider and the Horse [Rhodesia and Malawi].
• Episode 14: Rhodesia.

Production & Filming Details

• Narrator(s):
  • Robin Ellis.
• Director(s):
  • Mark Anderson.
  • Mick Gold.
• Producer(s):
  • Brian Lapping … executive producer.
  • Mark Anderson … producer.
  • Norma Percy … producer.
• Writer(s):
  • Brian Lapping.
  • Norma Percy.
• Music:
  • Mark Williamson (or Mark Wilkinson).
• Cinematography:
• Editor(s):
  • Roland Coburn.
  • Peter Hallworth.
  • Chris Gill.
  • Kim Horton.
• Production:
  • Granada Television.
• Distributor(s):
  • Granada Television International (1985) (World-wide) (TV).
• Release Date: 15 April 1985 to 14 June 1985.
• Rating: Unknown.
• Running Time: 50 minutes.
• Country: UK.
• Language: English.

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