Sitcoms are branded 'too white/middle class'

[vandamme]

BBC launches competition for multicultural writers as its sitcoms are branded 'too middle class'

The BBC has launched a competition to find multicultural sitcoms because the BBC is perceived to be ‘too white and middle class’.

In a new political correctness row, comedy executives have called on writers who feel their lives are under-represented to submit the first ten pages of a sitcom to the BBC.

The winner of the contest may get the chance to pen a series.
My Family: Its producer wants end BBC's white middle class sitcoms and reflect Britain's multicultural society

My Family: Its producer wants end BBC's white middle class sitcoms and reflect Britain's multicultural society

It is run by the BBC College of Comedy which launched in 2008 to help new writers develop their careers.

Creative head of the college Micheal Jacob, who is the executive producer of the sitcom My Family starring Zoe Wanamaker told The Stage yesterday: 'I think there is a feeling perhaps that the BBC is a closed door for writers who are not necessarily white middle class.

'I wanted to say the door is open and that we want to find shows that reflect the fact Britain is a multicultural society. We hope the competition will attract entries from writers who may feel their lives are not currently reflected in television comedy.'

The BBC will have exclusive rights to develop the scripts, with the possibility of a commission further down the line.

The move follows criticism of the BBC in 2008, when Extras producer Charlie Hanson claimed the number of black people working in creative positions had not changed in 15 years, particularly within the comedy department.

Politicians have criticised the scheme, although it is not clear what the criteria for entry are.

Philip Davies, MP for Shipley, said: 'I think licence fee payers will be appalled to be subsidising a politically correct competition like this.

'We just want high quality programming irrespective of race or background. These things should be colour blind and awarded on merit.'

The initiative All Mixed Up is in collaboration with Triforce Promotions, an organisation formed by black actors Fraser Ayres and Jimmy Akingbola, which aims to promote talent from a range of backgrounds.

Jacob said he wanted to 'tap into their network' as part of the competition which opens on August 31.

The best six scripts will be performed by a professional cast at London’s Soho Theatre on December 4 and the winner, decided by a panel of BBC executives, will get a £1,000 prize.

Former director-general Greg Dyke famously described the BBC’s workforce as 'hideously white' in 2004 and caused a positive discrimination storm over plans to fast track ethnic staff into managerial positions.

Of course, if anybody had a competition of white-only it would be slammed as racist.

[Teddy Bear]

So let's see - the BBC gets 'multicultural' people writing some scripts.
Maybe they get lucky and somebody actually writes a good script.

More likely is they get average or poor scripts which they judge out of them which one is the best.
They then foist this sitcom upon us as necessary for our multicultural viewing pleasure, which they get for peanuts.

So we can't be too hard on the inevitable absence of real quality, they've already justified any mediocrity.

Win Win for the BBC, and as usual - screw the licence payer.

Or am I too cynical

Add-On:
Just listened to a few minutes of 'My Family' to see what this head of the BBC College of Comedy was responsible for as its executive producer. Soon as I heard its canned laughter it was enough for me.

How would this guy recognize anything funny if he's one of those inflicting this rubbish on us?

There's really only one modern 'sitcom' that I can watch - and that's The Simpsons. I know it's strictly speaking not a sitcom, but it's brilliance is outstanding. Imagine if the creators of The Simpsons had originally come to the BBC can you imagine how many politically correct excuses the BBC would have made not to show it - yet The Simpsons is multicultural.

I'm not being too cynical.

[lomax]

Thames Television beat the Beeb to it - they had a multiculteral sitcom running way back in the early seventies. It was called "Love Thy Neighbour" - do you think that would fit the bill? ;0)

Incidentally, I used to love "My Family" but had not seen it for a couple of years until a few weeks ago. Now, apparently, the younger son is a homosexual. So they have got that minority (majority at the Beeb?) catered for. All we need is for mum to turn Lesbian, the daughter to have a black child, and Ben to turn into a muslim. Bingo!

P.S. I really hate the BBC bias on the news channel - that is why I joined up. To give me an outlet - am I allowed to swear on here?

[Teddy Bear]

Welcome lomax

Sorry I have an aversion to any show that needs canned laughter to be 'funny'. I just think of the prick who's trying to manipulate me into finding a particular exchange humorous. Now I find out one of these pricks is in charge of the BBC College of Comedy - says it all really.

Feel free to let your BBC frustrations and peeves out here - that's what we're here for. As for swearing - if it's relevant and likely to be received well - as you feel fit

[lomax]

Ta for welcome.

I agree about canned laughter, but I ignore it as I am too single minded to laugh when everyone else does - unless summat really is funny (to me). Hence my complete silence during the last ever showing of My Family that I will watch.

BUT - Last of the Summer Wine is the funniest show ever, and that uses canned laughter!!!!

[Teddy Bear]

Never seen it - for that matter I've never watched any show with canned laughter. Find it hard to believe that it could be funnier though than other great British comedy shows like Only Fools and Horses, Vicar of Dibley, Till Death Us Do Part, Fawlty Towers, Yes Minister, Steptoe and Son, Porridge, Reggie Perrin, The Office, et al.