New report raises concerns about Black representation behind the scenes in British television
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While on-screen diversity remained stronger, Black off-screen contributions fell to their lowest level since 2021, according to the findings.
A new report on diversity in British television says commitments made after the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests did not produce lasting structural change for Black professionals behind the camera. The UK TV diversity report adds to longstanding concerns about opportunities for Black British actors and the BBC diversity debate over how Black life is represented on screen.
The Creative Diversity Network’s Diamond report covers programs completed between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2025. Deadline reported that the share of off-screen contributions from Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups fell to 13%, returning to its 2021 level.
The decline was sharper for Black professionals. Black people accounted for 2.7% of off-screen contributions in 2025, down from 4% in 2022 and below the national workforce benchmark of 5.2%.
The picture was stronger on screen. People from Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups made 23% of contributions, above the estimated 17.5% share of the national population. Representation reached 36% in scripted programs but stood at 20% in nonscripted television.
Progress also differed by genre. Off-screen representation in drama increased from 5.9% in 2020 to 18% in 2025. Comedy and factual entertainment had the lowest levels, with each recording about 11%.
The television representation findings were mixed for writers. Black writers’ contributions peaked at nearly 9% in 2024 before falling to 6.1% in 2025. Even after the decline, screenwriting remained one of the few off-screen fields where Black representation exceeded the national workforce estimate.
Across five years, contributions from women writers rose from 33.4% to 40.7%, while contributions from Black, Asian and minority ethnic writers increased from 6.5% to 21.3%. Disability representation also improved, although disabled people remained underrepresented.
Women continued to face barriers in senior creative positions. They accounted for 26% of director contributions in 2025, a share that has changed little since 2019.
Creative Diversity Network chair Paul Moore said the results showed why the industry cannot treat early gains as permanent. He said the decline in Black representation suggested that post-2020 commitments were not embedded across the sector.
The report concludes that targeted action can improve representation, but gains can reverse without sustained accountability. An updated Diamond monitoring system is scheduled to launch Sept. 30. The UK TV diversity report presents a mixed record of gains, reversals and unfinished structural work.