The writer of TV drama Cracker, Jimmy McGovern, has accused the BBC of being "one of the most racist institutions in England" in a BBC Five Live interview.

The award-winning writer said while there were "lots of black faces in the BBC", they were working in the canteen.

 

In a statement the BBC said: "We're actively seeking and nurturing ethnic talents both on and off the air."

 

McGovern, whose TV credits also include BBC One drama The Street, was being interviewed by presenter Simon Mayo.

 

Asked by Mayo whether the country was less racist than it once was, McGovern said: "I have got to say this, you will not like this. But I've worked a lot in the BBC, you know.

 

"I love the BBC as an institution and as an organisation and you do see lots of black faces in the BBC. But you see them in the canteen. You do not see them in positions of power.

 

"It would appear to me that one of the most racist institutions in England is in fact the BBC."

Mayo reacted by saying it was "a very serious allegation to be making", adding that the BBC would be responding.

 

He later read out a statement from the BBC. It said: "What really matters is that we reflect our audiences through our programmes.

 

"The BBC's ambition is to reflect the ethnic and social mix of people around the country. We're actively seeking and nurturing ethnic talents both on and off the air.

 

"This has been coming through in our output with a range of presenters and reporters across our peak-time programmes for example Freema Agyeman in Doctor Who, the forthcoming Omid Djalili show, Dance X, and dramas such as Waterloo Road.

 

"It is something we are always looking to improve on."

 

'Hideously white'

In March, Jonathan Ross said during his live Radio 2 show that too many black people at the BBC were in low-paid jobs.

"How many black people have they got working on proper shows there?," he said at the time.

"You know the BBC still haven't really come up to speed. I mean they are trying, God bless them.

"Most of the guys you see there are either working on the door, carrying a cloth in there and cleaning up. We haven't really made the effort yet."

In 2001, after being appointed director general of the BBC, Greg Dyke accused the corporation of being "hideously white".

 

Source: BBC News

oh lord... so job positions are down to quotas now?.. no black faces at the top of the bbc? well maybe there hasnt yet been any 'black face' that was the best candidate for the job!

 

the bbc would only be guilty of racism IF a job was given to a white over a better qualified black.

Oh good, another excuse to bring in "positive" discrimination. Just what we need to eliminate racial divisions.

I hate this posotive discrimination c**p, it is bascily a fancy way of saying, someone of one ethnicity is better qualified but there arent enough people of another ethnicity so one of them must be hierd. It is still racial discrmination.

The best candidate for the job should be employed, regardless of their race, sex or religion.

All the replies to the first post have been about positive discrimination. And yet there was nothing about positive discrimination in the first post, nor any hint in the BBC's reply that they were going to introduce it! Lighten up people!

omg why do ppl always use the race vote so silly!

All the replies to the first post have been about positive discrimination. And yet there was nothing about positive discrimination in the first post, nor any hint in the BBC's reply that they were going to introduce it! Lighten up people!

 

but positive discrimination is the obvious outcome of this....

oh lord... so job positions are down to quotas now?.. no black faces at the top of the bbc? well maybe there hasnt yet been any 'black face' that was the best candidate for the job!

 

the bbc would only be guilty of racism IF a job was given to a white over a better qualified black.

 

The BBC is an elitist, class-obsessed organisation though Rob. Unless you've been Oxford or Cambridge educated you can pretty much forget achieving anything in the upper-echelons of the organisation.. The institution is in need of something of an overhaul, not necessarily more black faces as such, but certainly a few more well-educated working class ones would certainly improve things I feel...

 

The BBC is an elitist, class-obsessed organisation though Rob. Unless you've been Oxford or Cambridge educated you can pretty much forget achieving anything in the upper-echelons of the organisation.. The institution is in need of something of an overhaul, not necessarily more black faces as such, but certainly a few more well-educated working class ones would certainly improve things I feel...

 

like i said.... the best person for the job regardless of race or even class.