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UK TV Diversity Stalls: Black Lives Matter Promises Unmet
28 Jul
Summary
- On-screen diversity for ethnic minorities plateaued at 23.2% since 2022.
- Off-screen representation of ethnic minorities fell to 13%, below national average.
- Senior role diversity for non-white individuals dropped to 12%, matching 2019 levels.
Progress in UK television diversity has stalled or reversed since the Black Lives Matter movement in summer 2020, according to the latest Diamond diversity report. On-screen representation for Black, Asian, and minority ethnic actors and presenters has remained stagnant at 23.2% since 2022. Off-screen, this figure has decreased by 1 percentage point to 13%, falling short of the national workforce average of 17.9%.
The report highlights a decline in non-white individuals holding senior roles, dropping to 12% and returning to 2019 levels. This is particularly concerning given that only 10.9% of executive producer roles were held by individuals from non-white backgrounds last year. While there have been some positive trends, such as an increase in lead actors from non-white backgrounds and writers from these backgrounds, overall progress in the UK TV industry remains flat.
