Idris Elba to narrate new National Geographic series that honours black World War II heroes

Idris Elba is to narrate a new series that will honour the black heroes of World War II.

'Erased: WW2's Heroes of Colour' will uncover the long-lost legacies of soldiers of colour who served during the conflict between 1939 and 1945 and will "shed light" on the stories of some eight million veterans, with Hollywood star Idris, 51 providing the voiceover and serving as producer.

The first episode will focus on Peal Harbour and explore the story of three black sailors who survived Japan's surprise military strike on United States and also saved countless lives.

The second episode will uncover the story of the only all-black combat unit to fight on the D-Day beaches, and the third will take a look at little-known Indian regiment of mule handlers in WW2, with one unit destined to be pivotal in evacuating Allied forces at Dunkirk.

The fourth and final installment will tell the untold story of the Black Panthers, an elite African American tank battalion, complete with unseen diaries and rare interviews that chart the unit’s action through France.

'Erased: WW2's Heroes of Colour' is produced by October Films and 22Summers. For October Films, Johanna Woolford Gibbon, Jos Cushing, Matt Robins and Chris Muckle are executive producers. Sam Pollard is consulting exec producer; Annabel Hobley is co-executive producer. For 22Summers, Idris Elba, Jamilla Dumbuya and Khaled Gad are executive producers.

For National Geographic, Sean D. Johnson and Simon Raikes are executive producers. Charlie Parsons is senior vice president, Development, and Tom McDonald is executive vice president, Global Factual and Unscripted Content.

'Erased: WW2's Heroes of Colour' will premiere on Monday 27 May at 8:00pm on National Geographic.