Happy birthday to the BBC. But now it’s time you started to think outside the box
Happy birthday to BBC Scotland, celebrating
100 years of broadcasting.
Here’s the good news. From comedy to covering national events in our country, there is a lot to look back on with pride.
From Rab C Nesbitt to The High
Life and Naked Video, I have vivid memories of sitting in front of the telly and enjoying these shows with the family.
Later, Limmy, Rab Florence, Karen Dunbar and the cast of Scot Squad carried on the tradition of delivering a distinctly Scottish brand of comedy specifically for a Scottish audience.
Their news programmes have always been top quality with stalwarts like Jackie Bird and Sally Magnusson bringing us Reporting Scotland every day at teatime.
Many of us will remember huge events such as the Lockerbie bombing, the Dunblane shootings, the opening of the Scottish Parliament, then, in more recent years, the 2014 referendum and Commonwealth alth Games in Glasgow – all covered with a regional slant, which is vital when big things happen close to home. There’s lots to look back on with pride.
I really hate being a party pooper but here’s the not-so-good news.
There is one thing glaringly y obvious to me – the complete lack of diversity in terms of LGBTQ+ and black and minority ethnic talent in front of the camera. Obviously
Scotland was a very different country in 1923 but, looking at the presenters even now, there’s still a massive problem with representation.
The channel seems to be slow at moving with the times. Scottish society has changed and, while other broadcasters have been quick to evolve and adapt accordingly,
BBC Scotland appears slow to move forward and fulfil the needs of a modern audience.a
ITV and Channel 4 have whowhole departments deddedicated to ensuring fair representation behbehind and in front of the camcameras, making for a mormore level playing field. WhWhile Scotland may have a muchm smaller number of people fromfr minority groups, iit shouldhld stillillbbe making an effort to achieve a more diverse organisation.
Television is so much more competitive now – most of us watch on our phones or devices and streaming services are the future, so in order to stay current and make people tune in, you simply must keep it moving or be left behind.
There have been baby steps to make more diverse content. My cousin, filmmaker Stewart Kyasimire, had his documentary Black And Scottish on the channel in 2019 and last year I fronted a Disclosure programme, The Truth About Scotland And Racism.
They were massive departures to the type of shows you’d normally see go out regionally but they are few and far between. I’ve often heard the excuse that there’s not enough minority talent here or that it’s hard to find. That is simply isn’t true.
Independent production companies who deliver to BBC Scotland should also be making an effort to seek out and nurture new talent.
If they tap in to social media, keep an ear to the ground and take the time to get out and discover new faces, the diversity will happen naturally.
And when you have a presenter from an ethnic minority background, they should not just be talking about issues surrounding race.
We’re capable of hosting game shows, music, comedy, travel and general entertainment. I’ve been given those opportunities elsewhere but not here in my home country. People who look like me have never really been included and the same goes for the LGBTQ+ and disabled community.
In order for the channel to last another 100 years, it needs to take a good look at itself and make changes fast.
People who me look like really have never
It included. been make needs to fast changes