BBC "absolutely committed" to diversity and representation
The BBC's Director of Content Charlotte Moore has stated that the broadcaster "does not reflect the nation that we are making our programmes for", and that it will endeavour to represent people better.
This year's Edinburgh TV Festival kicked off its virtual event with a focus on diversity, something Moore claims has "never been more important" to the BBC.
Speaking as part of a 'Meet the Controller' session (as quoted by Variety), Moore said: "We won't meet the challenges of the next few years if we don't make diversity an absolute priority, and on BBC One, it really is."
The TV boss pointed to series such as I May Destroy You, A Suitable Boy, Noughts + Crosses and the upcoming Small Axe as examples of shows that "have taken a long time to reach the screen" but she hopes "show the direction of travel... across all our output; we are absolutely committed".
Michaela Coel's I May Destroy You in particular has been praised for showing the young Black community enjoying life in the same way white millennials do, as well as Black male sexuality and how white women can use their privilege to paint Black people as sexual predators.
A Suitable Boy, which reached its conclusion on Monday night (August 24), has come under fire for being adapted for television by a white scriptwriter and containing a number of clichés.
However, critic Karthik Shankar (writing for Digital Spy) has argued: "A Suitable Boy is a win for diversity because it exists within the formula refined by [Downton Abbey and Indian Summers]. Viewers get to gawk at beautiful people in period garb and luxuriate in their lives while learning a little something along the way."
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