. . To hate that there's not enough black people on tv

[Iloverusks]

Yesthey are flittered into the soaps and some tv shows. But since Desmond's there has not been a tv show where the majority of the cast are black. Of course there are countless "all white" shows.

In these multicultural times why is this the case?

Same could be said for Polish, asian, gypsy etc..

When ever they do make shows about anyone other than white people the shows are dreadful (there was a show fairly recently about an Asian family that was just one stereotype after another)

I haven't noticed any shows with only white people.

aren't most shows a mix these days? I would/hope expect them to be?

I think it would look dated to only have one race.

Not enough black script writers, producers maybe?

TV is full of stereotypes of all backgrounds. Lazy writing really.

Yup theres is mix now not just white not just black.

Tbh I dont notice colour, people are people what ever race.

If you go to Africa, most of their programmes and soaps are predominantly black. I wonder why that is ??

White is still the majority race in this country. I would have said tv in general is fairly representative to be honest.

I guess because Britain is still approx 90% white so perhaps not as multicultural as we're sometimes led to believe. TV programmes, at least those set outwith London or Birmingham, with all white casts are probably reflecting more or less the norm in the rest of the country.

I don't think I've seen any all white tv shows!

STOP WATCHING TV, IT'S MOSTLY SHITE.

Not enough people with red hair on the telly. I've never seen an albino either (apart from some dan brown crappy film). Or bald people. Not many of them either.

In these multicultural times why is this the case?

Well, you answered your own question, surely?

We are multicultural and I think most TV shows reflect that. What would be multicultural about an all black show?

Used to absolutely love Desmonds :)

It is a bit shit. Then again, some parts of Britain are more multicultural than others.

Children's TV has a high proportion of non-white faces, but there are probably different guidelines for producing programmes aimed at the under 18s.
Despite the propaganda, the population is largely white in the UK, so unless there is positive discrimination and quotas set, the situation won't change.
www.ethnicity.ac.uk/population/size.html

Or actors with a disability where the entire role isn't focused on the disability.
Name a couple?

I just wish they would find good presenters for TV. I dont care what colour or where they are from.

I'm less worried about numbers than about the type of parts black actors get. Look at how many good black actors get roles in the US they would not get here. Prime example, David Harewood, who was Estes in Homeland. he said, and I think he's right, that he would not have been considered for the role of senior MI5 official in an equivalent UK drama.

And I don't care that there possibly hasn't been a senior black MI5 official in real life-you shouldn't need to see the change in real life to be able to cast very good black actors in the TV drama.

And dark-skinned and older black woman are INVISIBLE in UK TV and film, and the US isn't much better. Don't let's even mention the representation of black women in music vids. It is very depressing.

I like Jeremy Kyle's new doctor, Dr Aaron Ghosh, which has nothing to do with anything except he's multicultural and I wanted to bring him up....

It is a little weird, I think the last statistics they did said ethnic minority groups make up nearly 15% of the country but only about 5% of tv. But it's the same (or possibly worse) with women, as we make up over 50% of the country but less than 30% of tv roles. And working class people as well. It's all kind of grim...

Well Eldritch - don't come to the Westcountry, or you'll be even more depressed !

multicultural isn't all about one other culture...

it is a mix of cultures, representativ of society

White privilege

FlapJackFlossie is right!

I loved Desmonds -

I don't know if shows with all black casts are what we need now though. I often wish there were better roles for women and older people. Some 'youth' programming particularly on Channel 4 and to a lesser extent BBC3 has very good casting and provided substantial roles for Black and asian actors. But the size and demographics of the UK will probably mean black actors will never get the range of roles available in the States (for e.g.).

So yes I would like to see prominent roles for women, ethnic minorities, disabled people and older people on tv, I also want the roles to be well written, not cliched and stereotypical - but even now that seems to be a big ask. I also look forward to when a persons ethnicity rarely has a bearing on the role they are given.

i think black families (and asian too) within shows that depict family life are important to have.

I should imagine that a show should be commissioned on merit, though, not on what colour the cast are?