A campaign to get more black, Asian and ethnic minority faces on our television screens was launched in London today by a collaboration of actors, directors and writers.
The Act for Change Project – which saw Lenny Henry, Meera Syal and Russell Tovey turn out in support – wants television drama to more accurately reflect the social make-up of Britain.
Set up by actor Danny Lee Wynter, it recently found that an ITV trailer for its new season of shows included no non-white actors.
Analysis of the casts of all ITV dramas by the group has indicated that black, Asian and ethnic minority artists accounted for just 5.4 per cent of actors.
Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, an actor on the group’s committee, said they hoped today’s meeting would develop awareness. “One thing we’re not doing is say we have the answers. And we don’t want to name and shame,” he said.
