Black people on British TV

Most recently in March 2011, Midsomer Murders producer Brian True-May caused a major controversy when he was suspended for stating in an interview with the Radio Times ‘that he didn't really want to introduce any Black faces to the programme because he saw the series as a "bastion of Englishness"’.

Programmes from the 1970’s like Love Thy Neighbour, Mind your Language and the Black and White Minstrel Show to more recent series like BabyFather, Britz and Rastamouse have all been problematic to a greater or lesser extent. It seems that producers go from the downright offensive and racist to lazy racial caricatures without seeing any problem with this.

It's therefore rather refreshing to see other television producers being constructively self critical of their casting and productions in this weeks Radio Times.

Kieran Roberts, the executive producer of Coronation Street watched by on average over 12 million every day in February 2010 said that they were getting it just 'about right' He further remarked that "I'd be very worried if viewers - especially viewers from ethnic minorities - were saying they didn't think the show represented them fully".

Meanwhile, John Yorke BBC's controller of drama production said that Eastenders which peaked at 10.6 million viewers in February 2010 admitted that the "EastEnders' East End and its version of working-class life are very stylised" and that the show "may be significantly white compared with the real East End". He did however defend the show by saying that there had been dramatic improvements in the last five years.

With so many white and BME people watching, these shows have a great and obvious influence in the evening television schedules. These admissions and self analysis by executive producers are to be welcomed, but should also act as an impetus to get things right in regards to diversity and leading the way in terms of fair representations of BME life.