Adrian Steed

Period drama Black Velvet Band takes us back to Victorian times when a gang of petty crooks find themselves sentenced to transportation to Australia, their ship, however, docks in South Africa and the gang manage to make their escape. The film starred Nick Berry, Chris McHallem and Todd Carty, who had all previously appeared in EastEnders together. The initial idea came from McHallem, whilst Nick Berry, thanks to being the darling of ITV at the time because of his hit show Heartbeat, had the clout to get it made.

Set in the First Matabele War in what was then Rhodesia; a scouting group from the British South African Company are chasing the Ndebele king Lobengula when they are ambushed by a massive Ndebele forced and must take a desperate last stand.