Our TV shows are far too white, says Lenny Henry: Comedian attacks hit shows including Broadchurch and Miranda

Comedian and actor Lenny Henry launched a scathing attack on British TV hits including Broadchurch, Miranda and Midsomer Murders last night for being too white.

The 55-year-old criticised the shows for having fewer black actors than similar programmes in America, saying they were not representative of modern Britain.
Giving the annual Bafta Television Lecture, Henry said: ‘What is going on? This is 2014.
‘The evolution of black and ethnic minority involvement in British drama seems to lurch one step forward and two steps back, a bit like John Sergeant in Strictly Come Dancing. Except he had a job at the end.’
Mr Henry highlighted ITV crime drama Broadchurch, BBC sitcom Miranda and Northern Irish hit Mrs Brown’s Boys as examples of shows with majority white casts.

In an ironic aside, he said: ‘In Broadchurch, at least the boyfriend of the deceased is mixed race, so there’s someone in there.
‘Mrs Brown’s Boys. The Irish. An ethnic minority transvestite. I guess that counts.’
Quoting from a letter written by a 19th century black actor describing the troubles of finding work, he added: ‘Imagine if he’d had to cope with whoever casts Midsomer Murders. He would have topped himself.’
Mr Henry also warned Britain’s top stars are leaving the UK for America, where he said hit shows such as Breaking Bad and Boardwalk Empire all employ more black actors.
He said: ‘Since 2008 I’ve noticed a worrying trend. Our most talented black and minority ethnic actors are increasingly frustrated and they have to go to America to succeed.
‘You know who I’m talking about, David Oyelowo in The Butler, Idris Elba in Long Walk to Freedom, Prometheus and The Wire, Thandie Newton in Crash and Mission Impossible, Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave, David Harewood in Homeland.’

The comedian, who has recently embarked on a career as a stage actor and director after a career in stand up, called for the BBC to create ring fenced budgets for black dramas.
It could only be spent on productions where two out of three criteria are met: that at least half of the production staff or half of the on-screen talent are black, Asian or from a minority ethnic background, or where black people control at least 30 per cent of the production company.
He said imposing a more draconian quota system that would oblige the BBC to cast more black actors would ‘leave us open to possible legal challenges’.

It is not the first time Mr Henry has spoken out on the issue of under-representation of ethnic minority talent.
Last year he said it was a ‘disgrace’ there were not more black actors up for gongs at the annual Bafta TV awards.