Channel 4 documentary unveils hidden histories of Titanic passengers and crew

Deirdre McIntyre; Laura Ward; Helen Sanderson; and Cliff Ismay, who are featured in the Channel 4 documentary ‘Titanic: Our Secret Histories’, which is co-produced by Tourism Ireland.

(Image: Afro-Mic Productions)

A powerful new documentary delving into the untold stories of the RMS Titanic will premiere on Channel 4 this evening, Saturday, 17 May.

Titanic: Our Secret Histories promises to offer a poignant look at the lesser-known lives of passengers and crew aboard the ill-fated liner, ahead of the 40th anniversary of the ship’s wreck discovery.

The one-hour special, co-produced by Tourism Ireland and Afro-Mic Productions, a Belfast-based company, takes a fresh approach to the Titanic narrative.

Moving beyond the well-documented tragedy, the programme traces the stories of individuals whose voices have long been overlooked, with contributions from living descendants across both sides of the Atlantic and insights from world-renowned historians.

With much of the filming based in Belfast, where the Titanic was built, the documentary seeks to re-establish the city’s historic connection to the ship and promote it as a must-visit destination for heritage tourism. Viewers can expect powerful interviews, rare archival materials, and emotional reflections that shed new light on the Titanic’s enduring legacy.

Speaking about the initiative, Aidan Power, Director of Marketing at Tourism Ireland, said:

“Tourism Ireland was delighted to co-produce this new documentary, Titanic: Our Secret Histories. Audiences in GB, and elsewhere around the world, are expected to watch this special documentary, which provides a fascinating insight into the untold stories of some of the passengers and crew who survived and perished.

“With much of the filming taking place in Belfast, viewers will no doubt be inspired to come and find out more about our incredible history and heritage.”

The film is expected to reach audiences well beyond the UK, with international broadcasts planned in North America, Germany, Spain, and France, reinforcing Northern Ireland’s cultural resonance in global history.

Judith Owens MBE, Chief Executive of Titanic Belfast, added:

“‘Titanic: Our Secret Stories’ not only establishes Belfast as the home of Titanic, but also uncovers the lesser-known passenger and crew stories and highlights the international connections of the world’s most famous ship, all things that we are very passionate about and truly align with what we do at Titanic Belfast.

“It was a pleasure to work with Afro-Mic to celebrate these personal stories by bringing the living descendants to Belfast where the story all began.

“Our passionate crew were delighted to be involved, sharing their expertise while building their knowledge, further enhancing their authentic storytelling for future visitors coming to Titanic Belfast from all over the world.”

With Titanic remaining one of the most enduring and globally recognised maritime stories, this documentary seeks to humanise its legacy through the voices of those who descended from its passengers and crew — stories of hope, loss, survival, and remembrance.

Titanic: Our Secret Histories airs at 8:00pm on Channel 4, Saturday 17 May, and afterwards at Channel 4 on demand.