Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20080516 | Anna Chen on the history of the Chinese who came to Britain. Anna Chen sets out to uncover the early history of the Chinese who came to Britain | ||
| 20080523 | Anna Chen on the history of the Chinese who came to Britain. Anna Chen sets out to uncover the early history of the Chinese who came to Britain | ||
| 01 | The First Chinese VIPs | 20070430 | Anna Chen sets out to uncover the early history of the Chinese who came to Britain before the takeaway boom of the 1960s.
1/10. The First Chinese VIPs
Shen Fu Tsong was a Christian convert from Nanking whose portrait was commissioned by King James II and hung in his bedchamber. John Anthony, a go-between for Chinese sailors and the East India Company, became the first Chinese to be naturalised as a British citizen in 1805.
From 2007.
Producer: Mukti Jain Campion
Anna Chen uncovers an early history, beginning with Shen Fu Tsong in the court of James II Anna Chen sets out to uncover the early history of the Chinese who came to Britain |
| 02 | The Creation of Chinatown | 20070501 | Anna Chen sets out to uncover the early history of the Chinese who came to Britain before the takeaway boom of the 1960s.
2/10. The Creation of Chinatown
As the Chinese settlement in ports such as London and Liverpool grew in the early 20th Century, so did the myths and lurid fantasies. Anna investigates how the small Limehouse Chinese community in London became the subject of countless books, songs, films and hysterical headlines during the 1920s.
From 2007.
Producer: Mukti Jain Campion
How the small Limehouse Chinese community became the subject of hysterical headlines. Anna Chen sets out to uncover the early history of the Chinese who came to Britain |
| 03 | From Ship to Shore | 20070502 | Anna Chen sets out to uncover the early history of the Chinese who came to Britain before the takeaway boom of the 1960s.
3/10. From Ship to Shore
Most Chinese people who came to Britain were seamen recruited to work aboard British merchant ships, a practice that dates back to the Napoleonic wars. Anna investigates what life was like for those sailors and their families who settled in the ports of Liverpool and London during the Second World War.
From 2007.
Producer: Mukti Jain Campion
Life for the sailors and families who settled in Liverpool and London during World War II. Anna Chen sets out to uncover the early history of the Chinese who came to Britain |
| 04 | Steam and Starch | 20070503 | Anna Chen sets out to uncover the early history of the Chinese who came to Britain before the takeaway boom of the 1960s.
4/10. Steam and Starch
Anna learns what it was like to live and work in the Chinese laundries which sprung up across the country during the first half of the 20th century.
From 2007.
Producer: Mukti Jain Campion
Life in the Chinese laundries which sprung up during the first half of the 20th century. Anna Chen sets out to uncover the early history of the Chinese who came to Britain |
| 05 | Educated in Britain | 20070504 | Anna Chen sets out to uncover the early history of the Chinese who came to Britain before the takeaway boom of the 1960s.
5/10. Educated in Britain
A young man from Canton called Wong Fun became the first recorded Chinese student here when he received his MD at Edinburgh in 1855. Today there are over 50,000 Chinese students in Britain. Anna investigates why so many Chinese sought an education at British universities, particularly those in Scotland.
From 2007.
Producer: Mukti Jain Campion
Why so many Chinese sought an education at British universities, particularly in Scotland. Anna Chen sets out to uncover the early history of the Chinese who came to Britain |
| 06 | Feet Unbound | 20070507 | Anna Chen sets out to uncover the early history of the Chinese who came to Britain before the takeaway boom of the 1960s.
6/10. Feet Unbound
Few Chinese women came to Britain, but there are some intriguing accounts of those who did. Anna hears of one young woman who walked all the way to Britain from Hubei on her unbound feet.
From 2007.
Producer: Mukti Jain Campion
Anna Chen hears of one young woman who walked all the way to Britain from Hubei. Anna Chen sets out to uncover the early history of the Chinese who came to Britain |
| 07 | Mixed Blessings | 20070508 | Anna Chen sets out to uncover the early history of the Chinese who came to Britain before the takeaway boom of the 1960s.
7/10. Mixed Blessings
Chinese men arriving as sailors and laundrymen usually married local women, but their wives and children often faced discrimination.
From 2007.
Producer: Mukti Jain Campion
Chinese men arriving as sailors and laundrymen usually married local women. Anna Chen sets out to uncover the early history of the Chinese who came to Britain |
| 08 | Artistic Pursuits | 20070509 | Anna Chen sets out to uncover the early history of the Chinese who came to Britain before the takeaway boom of the 1960s.
8/10. Artistic Pursuits
Historian Diana Yeh recalls two Chinese writers living in Britain who became widely known in the 1930s and 40s. Chiang Yee was the author of the Silent Traveller travel books and SI Hsiung's play Lady Precious Stream was a huge West End hit.
From 2007.
Producer: Mukti Jain Campion
Two Chinese writers living in Britain became widely known in the 1930s and 40s. Anna Chen sets out to uncover the early history of the Chinese who came to Britain |
| 09 | Screen Beginnings | 20070510 | Anna Chen sets out to uncover the early history of the Chinese who came to Britain before the takeaway boom of the 1960s.
9/10. Screen Beginnings
The 1958 film The Inn of the Sixth Happiness, starring Ingrid Bergman, was a major boost for the British Chinese community. Shot in Snowdonia, it launched the careers of actors such as Burt Kwouk and brought together Chinese extras from all over Britain.
From 2007.
Producer: Mukti Jain Campion
A 1958 Ingrid Bergman movie was a major boost for the British Chinese community. Anna Chen sets out to uncover the early history of the Chinese who came to Britain |
| 10 | Peking Duck ... and Chips | 20070511 | Anna Chen sets out to uncover the early history of the Chinese who came to Britain before the takeaway boom of the 1960s.
10/10. Peking Duck... and Chips
In the early days of Chinese restaurants around Britain, the idea of sweet and sour food was enough to make diners laugh. British appetites were gradually won over with chow mein and chop suey, as long as they were served with chips.
From 2007.
Producer: Mukti Jain Campion
In the early days, the idea of sweet and sour food was enough to make British diners laugh Anna Chen sets out to uncover the early history of the Chinese who came to Britain |