Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Meera Syal on TV executives: “Get out of the diversity quota system, it’s lazy racism”

Meera Syal on TV executives: “Get out of the diversity quota system, it’s lazy racism”

The actress reveals her frustrations with TV commissioners

Exclusive


By Barnie Choudhury

The star of Goodness Gracious Me and The Kumars at No 42, Meera Syal, has appealed to television commissioners to stop using an outdated “quota system” which blocks black and Asian (BAME) talent on screen.

During the Asian Media Group and University of Southampton’s inaugural fireside Pioneers Project chat, Syal said she wished that one day she would not have to talk about the challenges facing BAMEs in the industry.

“We just got to have really honest conversations, and I think that's happening,” she said. “The change really will come when the people that hold the purse strings and the power are diverse, and the boardrooms are diverse, when the commissioners are diverse. It’s not.

“People think diversity is a headcount and you switch on your television and go well there's one and there's one I mean, they're all over the place, they're even in adverts now for God’s sake. But that's actually quite superficial headcounts.”

Quota system

Syal, who has just finished filming a movie for Disney, where the central characters are south Asian, told the virtual audience that commissioners operated an unfair “quota system”.

GettyImages 498320442 1 Meera Syal is keen to see more Asian faces on TV. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

“It is getting out of the quota system in your head and actually [stop] thinking that there's only room for one Asian show a year, one Asian star, one Asian drama, one Asian comedy and to take that label right off it and go what's good, and not to worry about who's not going to watch it, who is going to watch it.

“Audiences are much smarter than they give them credit for. Audiences will watch what's good and they don't really care what colour the people are that are in it. They really don't. They just want to watch good stuff.”

Last June, more than 2800 actors, producers, writers and production staff wrote an open letter to industry bosses urging them “to tackle structural and systemic racism in our industry, in the UK”.

Industry racism

Syal said it is difficult to prove that the industry is institutionally racist.

“The answer you will get from your agent is they've gone in a different direction, which actually could mean a million things. It could genuinely mean you're not right for the part, and that is part of being an actor, of course. Or does it mean, we don't think somebody with a brown face should play that part? But how are you ever going to prove that? So, it's really hard to pinpoint where that happens.

“It's much more clearer when I'm trying to get scripts off the ground, because most of the things I've written heavily feature south Asian characters, because that's what I'm interested in, and I feel we have so many untold stories that haven't been told before, then I do feel the quota system comes in. So many times have I by heard, we have something similar, which doesn't mean we have something that is exactly the same idea as yours, it just means we have something with brown people in it, and we can't have both things at the same time. That makes me crazy mad.”

The key is to follow the American model, she said.

GettyImages 1205150481 Shonda Rhimes (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

“What has changed the American industry is having people like Shonda Rhimes, or Oprah Winfrey, who are black women with the financial power and managerial power, who go, I don't want to go and sit in your office and tell you I want to do this project. I can fund it myself, thank you very much. I've got audiences that will watch it.

“The broadcasters then say, oh yes, actually, that does work, so now come in with us.

That's why I'm saying when the boardrooms change, when the people who sit in the seats of power are actually diverse in their head and their heart, then we won't have to have these conversations, we won't have to keep explaining ourselves.”

More For You

Kanye West tricked agency to run Super Bowl ad promoting swastika shirt, sparks massive backlash

Kanye West sparks outrage over Super Bowl ad controversy and offensive merchandise promotion

Getty Images

Kanye West tricked agency to run Super Bowl ad promoting swastika shirt, sparks massive backlash

Kanye West, now known as Ye, is once again facing backlash after reportedly deceiving an advertising agency to air a Super Bowl commercial that ultimately promoted antisemitic merchandise.

The 15-second regional ad, which aired in select markets, initially appeared to be a harmless clip of Ye sitting in a dentist’s chair, directing viewers to his Yeezy.com website. However, shortly after the ad aired, the website was altered to display a swastika-emblazoned T-shirt, sparking immediate outrage.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kim Kardashian’s wedding dress moment goes viral: Hollywood’s new leading lady?

Kim Kardashian strikes a pose in a stunning look

Getty Images

Kim Kardashian’s wedding dress moment goes viral: Hollywood’s new leading lady?

Kim Kardashian is back in a wedding dress, but this time, it’s strictly for the cameras. The 44-year-old reality star and entrepreneur was recently spotted filming a wedding sequence for All’s Fair, an upcoming legal drama from acclaimed producer Ryan Murphy.

Dressed in a strappy white gown and flowing veil, Kim was seen holding hands with co-star Matthew Noszka on a Malibu beach. The scene even included a dramatic kiss, with Noszka all suited up in pastel blue dipping her for the moment. While the images set social media abuzz, this isn’t the start of a new marriage for Kim—it’s just part of her latest acting role.



This marks Kim’s second collaboration with Murphy after her role in American Horror Story: Delicate. Over the years, she has taken on smaller acting roles, including film cameos and voice work. However, All’s Fair signals a bigger step into scripted television, featuring an all-star cast that includes Naomi Watts, Glenn Close, and Sarah Paulson. The series reportedly centres on an all-female team of divorce lawyers in Los Angeles, with Kim not only acting but also serving as an executive producer alongside her mother, Kris Jenner.

Keep ReadingShow less
Anthony Mackie wants Shah Rukh Khan as the next Avenger: ‘He’s the best!’

Anthony Mackie names Shah Rukh Khan as his top pick for the next Avenger, sparking excitement among fans

Getty Images

Anthony Mackie wants Shah Rukh Khan as the next Avenger: ‘He’s the best!’

Hollywood star Anthony Mackie, who steps into the iconic role of Captain America in Marvel’s Captain America: Brave New World, has his sights set on Bollywood legend Shah Rukh Khan joining the Avengers. During a recent chat with influencer Kevin Zingkhai, Mackie didn’t hesitate when asked which Bollywood actor he’d pick for the superhero squad. “Shah Rukh Khan, no doubt. He’s the best!” Mackie declared, sparking excitement among fans of both Marvel and Bollywood.

Shah Rukh Khan’s global appeal has already found its way into the Marvel universe. A song from his film Swades was featured in Deadpool 2, and in 2018, Marvel executive Stephen Wacker stated that if the studio ever created Indian content, SRK would be a must-have. More recently, The Marvels director Nia DaCosta also praised Khan, calling him a “legend” and expressing her desire to work with him.

Keep ReadingShow less
Chiranjeevi faces backlash over sexist comment about 'grandson and family legacy'

Chiranjeevi shares a moment with Ram Charan in a recent Instagram post

Instagram/alwaysramcharan

Chiranjeevi faces backlash over sexist comment about 'grandson and family legacy'

Megastar Chiranjeevi has found himself in hot water after making comments that many have labelled as sexist during a recent public appearance. Speaking at the pre-release event of Brahma Anandam, the actor expressed his desire for a grandson, sparking a wave of criticism online for what some called outdated and regressive views on gender.

Chiranjeevi joked that his home feels like a "ladies' hostel," with him playing the role of the warden, surrounded by granddaughters. He revealed that he often urges his son, actor Ram Charan, to have a boy to carry on the family legacy. "I keep telling Charan, at least this time, have a boy so our legacy continues," he said, adding, "I’m scared he might have another girl." Ram Charan and his wife, Upasana, welcomed their daughter, Klin Kaara, in June 2023.


The actor’s remarks didn’t sit well with many, who took to social media to call out the underlying gender bias. One user pointed out that such comments reflect a persistent societal mindset that prioritises male heirs over female children. "It’s disappointing to see someone of his stature perpetuate these outdated ideas," the user wrote. Another criticised Chiranjeevi for not using his influence to challenge stereotypes, saying, "Every child, regardless of gender, is a blessing and can carry forward a legacy."

Keep ReadingShow less