'The crew's not diverse enough': Kidulthood star Noel Clarke reveals how he demanded producers 'fix' the make-up of crew on first day of shooting new ITV project
Kidulthood star Noel Clarke revealed how he demanded producers 'fix' the lack of diversity on 'day one' of shooting a new TV project.
Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival, the actor said he immediately called in producers and insisted upon quick action to apparently dismiss some staff and replace them with trainees.
While not revealing the name of the project, his comments come the same day ITV announced he would be starring in a gritty new police show called Viewpoint.
Mr Clarke said: 'I'm on a job now which I can't mention and I came in on day one and I'm the lead actor and I was like, ''The crew's not diverse enough, fix it, fix it.''
'I don't care if there's trainees, because this job's trainees is the next job's runner, then the next job's assistant, then they're a supervisor, then in five year's time or three year's time, we have more people in the business from different backgrounds; socio-economic, not just about colour.'
ITV not responded when asked if Viewpoint was the show in question, or if there was a wholesale change in production personnel as a result of Mr Clarke's request.
All-star cast: Noel Clarke and Hollyoaks actress Bronagh Waugh are starring in a gritty new police show Viewpoint
Action: Filming has already started in Manchester and on Wednesday a dramatic fight scene took place on the city streets
Adulthood star Noel Clarke (pictured left, with Danny Dyer) has regularly spoken out about racism and previously claimed many TV channels refused to back his hit Sky One show Bulletproof because it was led by two black actors
The Kidulthood star has regularly spoken out about racism and previously claimed many TV channels refused to back his hit Sky One show Bulletproof because it was led by two black actors.
Mr Clarke and Hollyoaks actress Bronagh Waugh will be starring together in Viewpoint - the first ITV drama to begin filming since the coronavirus pandemic.
The programme, which is headed up by Fleabag director Harry Bradbeer, follows a tense police surveillance investigation into a close Manchester community.
Filming has already started in Manchester and on Wednesday a dramatic fight scene took place on the city streets.
Clarke spoke out at the TV festival where BBC Newsnight's editor Katie Razzall also shared her embarrassment at being appointed as a white woman to chair a session on 'racism in TV newsrooms' at a media festival.
It comes as the corporation is embroiled in a row about the corporation being 'out of touch' over its decision to censor the lyrics of Proms anthems - while simultaneously broadcasting offensive content such as presenters using the N-word.
The 49-year-old Ms Razzall told the online Edinburgh TV Festival this week: 'My chairing this panel as a white woman is indicative of the challenge we are all facing.'
But her own show and the BBC's current affairs programme has come under fire for lack of BAME presenters, which has resulted in it being nicknamed 'Newswhite'.
Another BBC producer told the Edinburgh TV festival that corporation bosses discuss diversity in 'every conversation' about new programmes and the issue is 'non-negotiable', the outlet's head of comedy says.
Shane Allen, who is responsible for the commissioning of all scripted comedy programmes to BBC channels, says director of content Charlotte Moore has been constantly telling staff not to forget to factor in diversity, The Guardian reports.
He said: 'I've been part of regimes where you have to be seen to do something. With Charlotte it's non-negotiable, it's a thing that underpins every conversation: what's the diverse element to this? And can it not be set in London?'
The BBC has come under furious criticism this week over its decision to perform Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory without lyrics at this year's Last Night of the Proms.
It will have an orchestrated version without lyrics after organisers allegedly wanted to reduce patriotic elements to reflect the Black Lives Matter anti-racism movement.
Dramatic: Headed up by Fleabag director Harry Bradbeer, follows a tense police surveillance investigation into a close Manchester community
Mr Clarke and Bronagh Waugh (pictured in Hollyoaks) will be starring together in Viewpoint - the first ITV drama to begin filming since the coronavirus pandemic
Gritty: In the fight scene filmed on Wednesday, actor Dominic Allburn was seen wearing a mask and swinging punches
Doctor Who star Noel, 44, DC Martin King in the all-star cast, which also includes Black Mirror's Alexandra Roach and Coronation Street's Catherine Tyldesley.
The five-part series will explore the nature of surveillance and whether police can observe a community with objectivity and without an effect.
In the show, DC Martin King sets up his observation post in the home of single mother and secret voyeur, Zoe Sterling, played by Alexandra Roach.
Zoe's windows look on to Westbury Square and the home of missing primary school teacher Gemma Hillman, played by Tutenkhamun star Amy Wren.
She shares the home with boyfriend and prime suspect in her disappearance, Greg Sullivan, played by I May Destroy You actor Fehinti Balogun.
The series is based on an idea by Emmy award-winning director Harry Bradbeer and written with Silent Witness creator Ed Whitmore.
Other stars in the series include EastEnders's Shannon Murray, Poldark's Phil Davis, Broadchurch actor Marcus Garvey and Catastrophe's Sarah Niles.
Executive Producer Lucy Bedford said: 'Harry and Ed have crafted a compelling, tense, claustrophobic thriller that turns the spotlight on the observer rather than the observed.
'With the incredible Noel Clarke and Alexandra Roach leading the cast, we are extremely excited to be back in production.'
Safety: Bronagh was seen wearing a rainbow mask during filming on Wednesday on the streets of ManchesterKamina Johnson-Smith branded the BBC Three show (pictured), which created a Jamaican version of Channel 4 show Countdown, 'outrageous and offensive'
Ms Johnson-Smith tweeted: 'This is outrageous and offensive to the incredible country which I am proud to represent along with every Jamaican at home and within our #Diaspora. I will immediately be writing formally on this! #StopThisShow.'
She was replying to a tweet from entrepreneur Nathaniel Peat, who wrote: 'As the Global Jamaica Diaspora Counsel Rep for South UK @bbcthree the Jamaican community in the UK have expressed serious concerns at how offensive the content in this show is.
'This doesn't reflect our culture well Nd many are upset. @Ofcom @kaminajsmith @mfaftja.'
But the BBC defended Famalm, with channel controller Fiona Campbell saying it was not 'malicious', adding: 'We stand by the creator's brand of humour.'
She told the Edinburgh TV Festival: 'Famalam is now in its third series and it is very successful.
'It is not malicious humour and I think if you followed on social, the creators themselves said they are poking fun at all stereotypes.White BBC comedy chief Shane Allen added: 'Don't diss my beloved Famalam. If you are going to do something about tricky topics it needs to be from those communities, from those people who've got that voice.'
A BBC spokesman said: 'Famalam... now in its third series, has an established brand of humour in line with audience expectations and is well known for confronting issues.'
Jamaica's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Kamina Johnson Smith speaks during the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations in New York in 2007
The broadcast announced it would play Land of Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia without lyrics at the Last Night of the Proms due to an association with colonialism.
It said 'new orchestral versions' of the hugely popular anthems would feature in the rousing finale of its concert next month.
Neither will be sung even though a soprano will perform the National Anthem, Jerusalem and You'll Never Walk Alone.
The songs are part of the last night's finale, when thousands of flagwaving 'prommers' traditionally pack the Royal Albert Hall.
But critics claim the lyrics to Rule Britannia, including the line 'Britons never, never, never shall be slaves', are overtly racist given the UK's role in the slave trade.
The 1902 lyrics of Land of Hope and Glory were reputedly inspired by Cecil Rhodes, an imperialist whose statue is being removed from an Oxford college.
The broadcast announced it would play Land of Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia without lyrics at the Last Night of the Proms due to an association with colonialism. Pictured: Jamie Barton waving the the rainbow flag at the Last Night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in London last year, while singing Rule Britannia
It was reported at the weekend the conductor for this year's Last Night, Dalia Stasevska of Finland, was keen to reduce the patriotic elements of the event.
This year, without an audience, was seen as the perfect moment to bring about change.
It led to a huge backlash, with even the Prime Minister and Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden getting involved.
In a bid to defuse the row, BBC bosses finally announced the Last Night on September 12 would still feature 'familiar, patriotic elements'.
'There isn't malice in the type of content.'
Ms Johnson-Smith tweeted: 'This is outrageous and offensive to the incredible country which I am proud to represent along with every Jamaican at home and within our #Diaspora. I will immediately be writing formally on this! #StopThisShow.'
She was replying to a tweet from entrepreneur Nathaniel Peat, who wrote: 'As the Global Jamaica Diaspora Counsel Rep for South UK @bbcthree the Jamaican community in the UK have expressed serious concerns at how offensive the content in this show is.
'This doesn't reflect our culture well Nd many are upset. @Ofcom @kaminajsmith @mfaftja.'
But the BBC defended Famalm, with channel controller Fiona Campbell saying it was not 'malicious', adding: 'We stand by the creator's brand of humour.'
She told the Edinburgh TV Festival: 'Famalam is now in its third series and it is very successful.
'It is not malicious humour and I think if you followed on social, the creators themselves said they are poking fun at all stereotypes.
'There isn't malice in the type of content.'
White BBC comedy chief Shane Allen added: 'Don't diss my beloved Famalam. If you are going to do something about tricky topics it needs to be from those communities, from those people who've got that voice.'
A BBC spokesman said: 'Famalam... now in its third series, has an established brand of humour in line with audience expectations and is well known for confronting issues.'
Jamaica's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Kamina Johnson Smith speaks during the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations in New York in 2007
The broadcast announced it would play Land of Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia without lyrics at the Last Night of the Proms due to an association with colonialism.
It said 'new orchestral versions' of the hugely popular anthems would feature in the rousing finale of its concert next month.
Neither will be sung even though a soprano will perform the National Anthem, Jerusalem and You'll Never Walk Alone.
The songs are part of the last night's finale, when thousands of flagwaving 'prommers' traditionally pack the Royal Albert Hall.
But critics claim the lyrics to Rule Britannia, including the line 'Britons never, never, never shall be slaves', are overtly racist given the UK's role in the slave trade.
The 1902 lyrics of Land of Hope and Glory were reputedly inspired by Cecil Rhodes, an imperialist whose statue is being removed from an Oxford college.
The broadcast announced it would play Land of Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia without lyrics at the Last Night of the Proms due to an association with colonialism. Pictured: Jamie Barton waving the the rainbow flag at the Last Night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in London last year, while singing Rule Britannia
It was reported at the weekend the conductor for this year's Last Night, Dalia Stasevska of Finland, was keen to reduce the patriotic elements of the event.
This year, without an audience, was seen as the perfect moment to bring about change.
It led to a huge backlash, with even the Prime Minister and Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden getting involved.
In a bid to defuse the row, BBC bosses finally announced the Last Night on September 12 would still feature 'familiar, patriotic elements'.
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