According to a poll, over half of UK viewers believe that LGBTQ+ and ethnic minority populations are overrepresented on television.
44% of British consumers say LGBTQ+ persons are more represented on our televisions than in the general, while 45% believe racial minorities are similarly represented.
Yet, according to a YouGov survey, just 26% of British people believe ethnic minorities are under-represented.
The study found that more British individuals agreed with these statements than persons in France, Italy, Spain, Chile, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia.
Nonetheless, more UK TV viewers, 60%, said fat individuals were underrepresented on the small screen than the other countries in the research.
The masterwork It’s A Sin, written by Doctor Who’s Russell T Davies and starring Olly Alexander and Neil Patrick Harris, has received praise from both reviewers and the general audience.
The Channel 4 drama explores the lives of a group of young men as they experience the horrors of the 1980s HIV/AIDS epidemic, as well as the anguish of rejection and prejudices that their contemporaries suffered throughout the decade.
But, the Queer as Folk creator has already spoken about his difficulties in getting It’s A Sin commissioned, which took five years to find a home, as well as the hostility he experienced from certain TV executives.
Similarly, Idris Elba has recently revealed he doesn’t identify himself a ‘Black actor’, stating society’s ‘obsession with race’ may ‘actually hamper people’s desire’
After triggering a reaction over the statements, Idris explained in a tweet: ‘There isn’t a soul on this earth that can question whether I consider myself a BLACK MAN or not. Being an “actor” is a profession, like being an “architect” , they are not defined by race.
‘However, If YOU define your work by your race, that is your perogative. Ah lie?’
Fellow British actor John Boyega responded to the Luther star’s comments on Twitter, writing, ‘He’s not incorrect lol. Numerous Black and POC performers have spoken out about being stereotyped due of their race.’
‘I think we should fixate on who is typecasting and putting actors in boxes because of this,’ the Star Wars actor responded.
‘Not on making weird adjustments for them. We continuously focus on what we have to do so they don’t do this or that. Very worrying. We BLACK and that’s that.’