BBC Two begins its look back at a defining cultural moment with Live Aid at 40: When Rock ’n’ Roll Took on the World, starting Sunday, July 6, at 9:00 PM. Episode 1 traces the catalyst for the global concert, focusing on Bob Geldof’s sharp response to the dire famine in Ethiopia.
The documentary follows Geldof’s shift from rock star to humanitarian. It lays out the events that led to the creation of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” by Band Aid, the song that galvanized public opinion in Britain and the United States. The program pulls from archival footage and includes new interviews with key players, including Geldof himself, Midge Ure, Bono, and Sting. It also includes perspectives from those in the world of aid and even Ethiopian ministers involved in the relief efforts, alongside personal accounts from two famine survivors.
This first hour sets the stage, detailing the immediate shock and the rising awareness that eventually led to the monumental concert that captured the world’s attention.
Live Aid at 40: When Rock ’n’ Roll Took on the World: Episode 1 airs Sunday, July 6, at 9:00 PM on BBC Two.
