In his latest publication, a British TV star has urged that the BBC and other traditional broadcasters follow streaming service Netflix’s lead in casting actors that represent Britain's ethnic diversity.
62-year-old Sir Lenny Henry, who has relished a successful career in television for forty years, said that he still felt “very lonely” in the industry as someone from a minority background.
In his new book, actor and comedian, examines issues of race and diversity in British TV whilst warning that the BBC that it could find itself losing black and Asian viewers to on-demand streaming services that “do a better job at representing their lives”, The Times reported.
He wrote, “If British broadcasters don't tackle the diversity grey rhino now, they run the risk of losing large parts of their audience forever.”
He also stated that one in five Britons will be from a black, Asian or minority ethnic (BAME) background by 2031. He pointed to research which showed that BAME audiences were watching on-demand streaming services more than others as they feel the shows “do a better job at representing their lives” than terrestrial broadcasters such as The BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5 and ITV.
The actor makes the call for diversity in all aspects of TV, on screen and behind the camera, in his new book, Access All Areas: The Diversity Manifesto for TV and Beyond, which was co-written by Marcus Ryder, a media diversity expert, and will be released on Thursday by Faber.
Sir Lenny appeared to take a swipe at the lack of diversity in ITV's hit show Downton Abbey, which has a largely white cast, writing in his book that the nominee list at the Royal Television Society's annual awards was like 'a Downton Abbey Christmas special', The Times reported.
The comedian said more needed to be done to increase the number of minority writers, producers and directors, behind the camera - as well as on screen. He added that only having diversity on-screen was “fake diversity”.
