BBC Headquarters. Image courtesy The Guardian
BBC staff assumed a black TV director was a cleaner, her sister has revealed as MPs called for the broadcaster to take fresh action on diversity.
Labour MP Chi Onwurah told the story as the House of Commons heard the Beeb’s record is in “trouble” despite strides over the years.
David Lammy, who led today’s debate, raised the possibility of a dedicated fund for shows by or about ethnic minorities.
And MPs said the Corporation still has a long way to go – with one MP blasting “backward” sitcom Citizen Khan for Islamophobia.
Shadow culture minister Ms Onwurah, who became Newcastle’s first black MP when she took office in 2010, revealed the incident some years ago when her sister started work.
She said: “My brother and sister both worked for the BBC as filmmakers, although they no longer do so. Their experience has informed my views, not always positively.
“On my sister’s first day as a director at the BBC, she was automatically shown to the cleaning room to join the cleaning team.
“It was not what she expected when she was recruited to direct a series.”
The experience was similar to one recounted by fellow Labour MP Dawn Butler – who said an MP told her: “This lift isn’t for cleaners”.
Ms Butler revealed the row in February as she told how there were still “so many” racist incidents in Westminster.
Today’s debate heard of the desperate need for more minority representation at the Beeb to show what life in all parts of Britain is like.
SOURCE: The Mirror
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