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BBC is told to stop box-ticking casting that 'shoe-horns' ethnic minority actors into period dramas – and to improve coverage of the working class and women over 60
UK Daily Mail ^ | January 29, 2026 | Katherine Lawton

Posted on 01/30/2026 2:37:23 AM PST by C19fan

The BBC must stop box-ticking casting that 'shoe-horns' ethnic minority actors into period dramas, a review has urged.

In a damning independent report into the corporation's content, the BBC was also told it needs to improve coverage of the working class and women over 60 if it is to keep engaging audiences.

The broadcaster has been conducting 'preachy' diversity casting in a string of its dramas, resulting in ethnic minorities ending up in inappropriate settings, the review found.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: History; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: bbc; blackwashing; diversity; gaslighting; inclusionarycasting; race
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I enjoy period dramas but I have not watched any recent productions as they are plagued by race swapping and being made for the mythical "modern audience".
1 posted on 01/30/2026 2:37:23 AM PST by C19fan
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To: C19fan

My fearless prediction: The BBC will pay some lip service to this report, and make a few minor adjustments.

But then they will go back to their old, woke methods. After all, that’s the way “progressives” operate. Those smug and arrogant folks just won’t be able to help themselves.


2 posted on 01/30/2026 2:52:34 AM PST by Leaning Right (It's morning in America. Again.)
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To: C19fan
Its hilarious when they just insist on putting Black actors in shows/documentaries about the battle of Hastings or in the Court of King Henry VIII. Could you possibly beclown yourselves any further?

I even saw one version of the Iliad in which they cast Achilles as Black....y'know because there were so many Black Greeks 3300 years ago....Its impossible to take anything like that seriously. It would be like placing a 6'4' Blonde Haired Blue Eyed Swede in a period piece about 16th century Japan.

No. Just No.

3 posted on 01/30/2026 2:59:38 AM PST by FLT-bird
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To: C19fan

I remember a movie from a few years back with Margot Robbie playing Queen Elizabeth I. Her ladies in waiting were asian and black. I’m not the most historically literate but I’m pretty sure QE1’s court was not comprised of Chinese and sub-saharan courtiers. It ruined the whole movie, there was no way you could feel you were watching an accurate depiction of historical events with such silliness on display. The movie flopped, largely for that reason I’d argue. I’m sure the producers high fived themselves over their diversity stance but to most normal people it’s just ridiculous and makes us lose interest quickly.


4 posted on 01/30/2026 2:59:59 AM PST by GaryCrow
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To: Leaning Right
Saw a BBC show about a young King Arthur, set in the far dark ages. The show's title
was Merlin. "Welsh" Queen Guinevere was cast with a Negress. Preposterous. Ludicrous.

I guess the BBC thought that's why it was called the dark ages.

5 posted on 01/30/2026 3:06:24 AM PST by Governor Dinwiddie ( O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is gracious, and his mercy endures forever. — Psalm 106)
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To: C19fan
... the BBC was also told it needs to improve coverage of the working class and women over 60 if it is to keep engaging audiences.

I suppose that, with good writing, "the working class and women over 60" can be as entertaining as any other topic.

6 posted on 01/30/2026 3:16:53 AM PST by Tax-chick (Sounds like a great idea, with the best of intentions. What could possibly go wrong?)
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To: C19fan
the BBC was also told it needs to improve coverage of the working class and women over 60

So ... stop steering entertainment toward black and other ethnic groups, but start steering entertainment toward working class and older women.

Controlling people need to control.

7 posted on 01/30/2026 3:18:09 AM PST by ClearCase_guy (I believe that every state is a Red state, if the elections are honest.)
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To: C19fan

Said another way it would appear that the BBC is the British version of Disney, don’t know though as many of us would rather watch grass grow.


8 posted on 01/30/2026 3:21:40 AM PST by quantim (Victory is not relative, it is absolute.)
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To: C19fan
Broadway did the same with it's bastardization of Tolstoy's War and Peace. They retold the story
of Natasha and Pierre. Set in Russia in 1812, they cast Natasha as Negress. Totally nuts.

Then again this is the same Broadway which cast the founding fathers in Hamilton with Negroes.

Where is the rich African culture we are always told about? Are there no authentic African tales
worth telling?

Ironically, one of the most endearing African tales, is the African "trickster" fable of Br'er Rabbit.
Yet that tale has been totally suppressed and buried by Disney.

9 posted on 01/30/2026 3:22:15 AM PST by Governor Dinwiddie ( O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is gracious, and his mercy endures forever. — Psalm 106)
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To: C19fan

A fun spoof would be a remake of “Roots” with the races switched: white slaves and black owners.


10 posted on 01/30/2026 3:26:42 AM PST by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn... )
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To: Governor Dinwiddie
Where is the rich African culture we are always told about? Are there no authentic African tales worth telling?

You want a Zulu Dawn remake?

11 posted on 01/30/2026 3:30:06 AM PST by Kudsman (47 is making things right again. )
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To: Governor Dinwiddie

How about a bio about MLK using a white actor to play MLK?


12 posted on 01/30/2026 3:30:40 AM PST by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn... )
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To: C19fan

Mary Queen of Scots a particularly vile and egregious offender.


13 posted on 01/30/2026 3:31:30 AM PST by KobraKai
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To: ClearCase_guy

:: working class and older women ::

Middle class working women in the sunset of the boomer era?

Sounds AWFL


14 posted on 01/30/2026 3:40:12 AM PST by Cletus.D.Yokel (The Democrats' official policy is now, “Hate, Violence and Murder". Change my mind.)
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To: central_va
Yes! Great idea—a freckled ginger MLK Jr with braces.

15 posted on 01/30/2026 3:44:09 AM PST by Governor Dinwiddie ( O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is gracious, and his mercy endures forever. — Psalm 106)
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To: C19fan

Tubi has a bunch of older BBC mini dramas available . Nary a negro in any of them.


16 posted on 01/30/2026 3:48:10 AM PST by OldHarbor
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To: C19fan

“box-ticking casting that ‘shoe-horns”

WTH does that mean?


17 posted on 01/30/2026 3:48:44 AM PST by albie
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To: C19fan

I guess they crossed the line with the 300 pound, bald black woman who portrayed George Washington.


18 posted on 01/30/2026 3:51:26 AM PST by albie
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To: FLT-bird

Agreed.


19 posted on 01/30/2026 4:21:16 AM PST by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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To: C19fan

So the BBC is their NETFLIX.


20 posted on 01/30/2026 4:32:22 AM PST by maddog55 (The only thing systemic in America is the left's hatred of it!)
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