Today, the world mourns the loss of one of the greatest inspirations of time. Paying a tribute to the great Nelson Mandela, Discovery Channel presents The Making of Mandela that commemorates the remarkable and inspiring life of the legendary leader. A moving, intimate portrait told through the words of an astonishing cast of close friends, comrades and associates such as former South African President Frederik Willem de Klerk, The Making of Mandela is a unique programme that tells the story of a man who dedicated his life to his people and dismantled South Africa’s apartheid system. A one hour programme The Making of Mandela will premiere on Saturday, 7 December at 9 pm and Sunday, at 8 pm only on Discovery Channel. Narrated by British actor David Harewood, the interviews are supplemented by Mandela’s own recordings for his book, A Long Walk to Freedom. The Making of Mandela pieces together Mandela’s incredible trajectory; an impassioned freedom fighter who overcame intense persecution to become leader of his own nation and a global symbol of hope and peace to the world. Nelson Mandela was arguably one of the most influential political figures of any era. From his rise to prominence as a member of the African National Congress he became, for many, the archetypal freedom fighter, anti-apartheid campaigner and political prisoner; a rise that culminated in his election to President of South Africa in 1994.