As vain and shallow as they are, award shows can at least giving people a platform to speak out to a national TV audience (providing they actually win something…) Last night Lenny Henry recieved a special award honouring his contribution to British television at last night’s BAFTA TV awards, and the veteran comedian used his speech to encourage the BBC to include a dedication to improving on-screen diversity in its charter.
In his speech he thanked he thanked:
All the people who’ve campaigned to improve diversity in our industry, everyone who’ve signed the open to ring fence money, including Idris Elba, Adrian Lester, Emma Thompson, Meera Syal, Richard Curtis, Russell T Davis and Richard Ayre… Massive respect to all of these people.
Henry first urged the BBC to address what he saw as its “systemic failure” in representing minorities in its Royal Charter last year.
[via Telegraph and Express & Star]