New documentary on 2021 British & Irish Lions Tour to be aired on ITV, with the first episode on Sunday 19 June at 10.20pm

The British & Irish Lions in conjunction with The South African Rugby Union will release a much-anticipated three-part behind-the-scenes documentary of the 2021 British & Irish Lions Series.

The documentary series ‘Two Sides’ explores what transpired in the Springbok and Lions camps during the 2021 Tour of South Africa.

Stepping away from the traditional format, ‘Two Sides’ tells the story of both the Lions and Springboks during the first Tour to South Africa since 2009. The documentary features fly-on-the-wall footage of both camps as they took part in a fascinating series of games, which was successfully completed against the hugely challenging backdrop of a global pandemic.

This is the latest in a long and critically acclaimed series of Lions Tour documentaries that includes the mould-breaking ‘Living with Lions’ released 25 years ago.

As well as illuminating insights into the teams’ preparations and what went on during the matches, the documentary will also give fans a rare glimpse into the workings of a unique and memorable sporting event.

The British & Irish Lions and The South African Rugby Union are delighted to bring this three-part series to supporters with our broadcast partner ITV and broadcast sponsor Vodafone. Details on where the documentary will be shown in all other territories will be announced in due course.

The three hour-long episodes of Two Sides, produced by Whisper and T + W, will be shown on Sunday 19 June (10.20pm BST); Monday 20 June (10.45pm); and Tuesday 21 June (10.45pm). The first episode airs on ITV at 10.20pm this Sunday. Visit itv.com/hub/tv-guide/2022-06-19 for the full broadcast schedule.

Speaking on the new documentary, Ben Calveley, British & Irish Lions Managing Director, said:

“The British & Irish Lions and documentaries are inextricably linked. Going back to 1997 with the unforgettable ‘Living with Lions’, the Lions have produced a documentary capturing behind-the-scenes moments of every subsequent Tour. This particular documentary shows how both sides rose to the unprecedented challenge of hosting a major sporting event during a global pandemic.”

South African Rugby Union CEO Jurie Roux added:

“I know rugby fans are going to find this documentary fascinating and entertaining in equal measure, with the added twist this time of getting a fly-on-the-wall view of both camps involved in this unique tour. We are delighted to partner with The British & Irish Lions on Two Sides, which will act as a wonderful archive for rugby fans to look back upon for decades to come.”

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