BBC reveals plans to tackle lack of diversity

The BBC has revealed a “new talent-led approach” to improving its representation of Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities both on- and off-screen. The plans include a new £2.1m commissioning fund that will address “the specific challenge around BAME portrayal”, and revised targets that hope to see on-air portrayal of BAME people increase from 10.4% to 15% by 2017, and BAME senior level staff at the BBC increase from 8.3% to 10% by 2017, and then to 15% by 2020. A partnership with the Clore Leadership Programme will provide six people from BAME backgrounds with support and the opportunity to work in senior positions at the BBC, while 20 BAME graduates will also be given the chance to become trainee interns.

The move was prompted by a speech by actor and comedian Lenny Henry in March, in which he highlighted that BAME representation in the creative industries was falling – to just 5.4% in 2012, according to Creative Skillset – and outlined a proposal to tackle this. However, the BBC hasn’t adopted his plan, which was modelled on the corporation’s regional diversity commitment and involved ring-fencing money for programmes for which at least 50% of the production team and cast were from BAME backgrounds. BBC Director General Tony Hall was quoted in The Guardian as saying: “We think that this idea is better because actually it’s taking nascent ideas and saying let’s develop them.” Henry acknowledged the BBC's plans are “a really positive small step forward”, but told a Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee hearing that it's “an old model that doesn't work". Henry will also be part of an Independent Diversity Action Group that will advise the BBC.

Responding to the announcement, Simon Albury, Chair of the Campaign for Broadcasting Equality, said the changes represent a “huge step forward”, but admitted to “slight disappointment” that just £2.1m is being put into the scheme – around 0.12% of the BBC’s total content budget.