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Original poster

Which CBeebies White Men Would You Sack To Make Room For Diversity?

185 replies

FoodUnit · 13/04/2012 17:04

I'm fed up with the surplus white able-bodied men in children's programmes - especially those who really aren't all that. I mean Justin Fletcher and Chris from Show Me Show Me seem to have got in on talent - but Andy from Andy's Wild Adventures - what's the deal with him? Same for Mr Bloom and Alex. It would be really easy to replace these white men with more diverse presenters.

The same goes for cartoons like Mike the Knight- why don't they, just at the commissioning stage, have a process where they ask: Does this character actually NEED to be an able-bodied white male? If not, they could change them to somebody other than an ABWM. Wouldn't that be great?

So I'm just interested in knowing who else you think could be binned without any great loss in the name of diversity?

OP posts:
Original poster
FoodUnit · 13/04/2012 17:26

I don't mind postman Pat and Bob the Builder - but lament the lack of 'Bess the Builder' or 'Fay the Farmer'.... or anything that actually gives a female a nameable vocation

OP posts:
duchesse · 13/04/2012 17:22

Seriously, the people who commissioned and make the following: Zingzillas, Everything's fecking Rosie, Tweenies. They are crimes against girls' education and development in the first place and the reason why Cbeebies is now "broken" in our house.

Funnily enough I don't object per se to Postman Pat and Bob the Builder (although Wendy doesn't actually do anything much but in fairness neither does Bob) as long as they are counterbalanced by other programmes with strong female characters.

Andy's situation to me is different- his heart was never really into presenting in Cbeebies- always seemed unable to keep a straight face and looked suicidal behind the mask most of the time. He should have been removed rather than given more air time.

Original poster
FoodUnit · 13/04/2012 17:20

"Ethnic minorities do not want a job because of their colour, they want it on merit, this is what equal opportiniies is all about."

Exactly, I'm talking about all the ABWM who have not got there on merit, who have just got in because of entitlement and male privilege, or because of unimaginative stereotyping by the creators.... This creates a barrier which prevents diverse talent, because the positions are being clogged up by this average, not particularly talented ABWM.

OP posts:
TunipTheVegemal · 13/04/2012 17:17

Gunznroses, are you suggesting that Captain Barnacles got the part because he was the best out of a wide field of cartoon marine animals of all genders and levels of physical ability? Because I think it was fixed. Hmm

Gunznroses · 13/04/2012 17:14

Im all for diversity but i think you're suggestion is ridiculous. For starters the job should go to the best "candidate", not just the nearest ethnic person.

I think the question should be why arent there more people of ethnic origin in certain careers e.g television, if these are encoraged then when opportunities present themselves, you've more of a chance of a black, asian etc applying in order to then get the job all other things being equal.

Ethnic minorities do not want a job because of their colour, they want it on merit, this is what equal opportiniies is all about.

Original poster
FoodUnit · 13/04/2012 17:14

Ha ha yes Captain Barnacles is such an annoying patriarchal stereotype!

OP posts:
babyheave1662 · 13/04/2012 17:14

Indeed, and why does number three, and the female meanies (shape japer and spooky spoon) have to sodding well be pink?

ProlificYoungGentlemenBreeder · 13/04/2012 17:13

The number taker should be sacked on the grounds that he is bloody frightening alone!

SucksToBeMe · 13/04/2012 17:11

The number taker (shudder)

TunipTheVegemal · 13/04/2012 17:05

Captain Barnacles.