An important and sensitively-crafted series shedding new light on 400 years of human trafficking, as millions of enslaved Africans were shipped to the Americas by Western European slave traders.

Hollywood icon and human rights activist Samuel L. Jackson takes us on a powerful and personal journey in this landmark programme, travelling the globe to reveal stories of immense suffering and greed, as well as of resistance, accomplishment and hope.

Over 12 million people were kidnapped and sold into slavery. At least two million perished en route at sea. Now for the first time, new diving technology – such as advanced 3D mapping and ground-penetrating radar – has enabled us to locate and examine sunken slave ships on three continents, revealing an entirely new perspective on the history of the transatlantic slave trade.

At six dive sites, including the UK, Jamaica and Florida, we follow an experienced team of deep-sea divers as they search for and locate six ships that sank drowning the enslaved humans aboard. Meanwhile, on land, experts investigate the stories behind related locations, including the slave forts and dungeons of Ghana, the stately homes of England and former plantations in the Americas.

Scientific detective work, clues from retrieved underwater artefacts, reportage and dramatic reconstruction combine to serve as a platform for examining the ideology, economics and politics of slavery, as well as for sharing details of historical events and the personal stories of forgotten lives – both of the enslaved people and their European captors.

Directed by and featuring three-time Emmy award-winning investigative journalist Simcha Jacobovici, the series provides a fresh and authentic history of the transatlantic slave trade – one that demonstrates to today’s audiences that this is a truly global story. It celebrates the cultures that millions of enslaved people left behind, and the impact those who survived had on world culture today.

On camera, talent includes investigative journalist and best-selling author Afua Hirsch.

Enslaved is a Canada/UK co-production between Toronto-based Associated Producers and London-based Cornelia Street Productions. Simcha Jacobovici directs Ric Esther Bienstock, Sarah Sapper and Felix Golubev produce, with executive producers Samuel L. Jackson, LaTanya Jackson, Eli Selden, Rob Lee, Simcha Jacobovici, Ric Esther Bienstock, Sarah Sapper and Yaron Niski.

Catch new episodes of Enslaved on Wednesdays at 20:30 on 1 Magic.