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but what is your comparison with the US?
As you say for representation to be effective characters shouldn't be stereotyped and should break traditional moulds. AFAIK there are many more opportunities for black actors in the US and subsequently a wider variety of roles. The US isn't a good benchmark it's just a lot better than here IMO. I believe black actors from the UK know this which is why so many head for the states. The series "They Gotta Have Us" touches on this and is well worth a watch.
jono84-
They're more opportunities for black actors in the US than the UK. Like most entertainment industries. The US is at epicentre so it would make sense for them to gravitate towards Hollywood. White actors do the same.,what the problem and will always be is that the people of colour aren't represented in TV and film as much as they should be plain and simple.
chokalateboywonder
I don't cast any doubt on lack of and mis-representation in British film and TV, but what is your comparison with the US? I'm not very familiar with TV in either country, but I guess I'm curious in a wider sense, when we talk about representation how much it relates to statistics, how much to do with narrative, and how much to do with building a better society.
Like you might say, as an absolute minimum, that the quantitative representation of BAME people in UK film+TV should reflect the general population (which is a significantly higher proportion in US). But it also needs to give us characters that aren't just stereotyped and aren't token. And if it means part of creating better social cohesion, shouldn't the quantitative representation exceed the population stats? Like is equality 'fairness' or is it about what you are trying to achieve. Obvs answer that it includes both, not trying to pitch an either/or here, just unpicking a little.
I'm also thinking in the US there are narratives of indigenous people that are so fundamental to the identity of the country, that everyone starting from childhood, needs to hear them more. We don't really have an equivalent in the UK, but colonialism and imperialism are probably the closest. 'Stories of people' is such an important aspect, not just taught as 'history'.