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Lenny Henry
Lenny Henry has called for new laws to boost the “appalling” 5.4% of minority ethnic people in the TV industry. Photograph: Sarah Lee for the Guardian
Lenny Henry has called for new laws to boost the “appalling” 5.4% of minority ethnic people in the TV industry. Photograph: Sarah Lee for the Guardian

Lenny Henry to explore racial diversity as guest editor of Today programme

This article is more than 9 years old
Actor given Radio 4 platform after vocal criticism of broadcasting industry for lack of minority ethnic people on and off screen

Lenny Henry, the actor and comedian who has recently been a vocal critic of broadcasters for failing to put more people from ethnic minorities on air, is to be given a platform to explore diversity as one of the Today programme’s festive-season guest editors.

His Radio 4 programme on 30 December will feature interviews with people who helped to break down racial barriers a generation ago, and ask what progress is still needed in fields such as broadcasting, business and sport.

Henry, who is also a writer and producer, will examine how comic book characters are changing, the enduring appeal of jazz, and what constitutes the black literary canon.

Earlier this year Henry called for legislation to increase the number of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people both on screen and behind the scenes. Giving the annual Bafta television lecture, he said people from minorities now account for just 5.4% of the broadcasting workforce, which he described as an “appalling percentage”. He said structural change was needed and called on the industry to adopt the regional model introduced by the BBC to increase TV production outside London. Henry met the BBC’s director-general, Tony Hall, in March and told BBC News: “This has opened the door to a conversation. I think that ring-fencing for BAME is on the table … it’s the beginning of something.”

In his Bafta speech Henry said that in BBC1’s Luther, Idris Elba’s character, John Luther, “has no black friends … you never see Luther with black people – what’s going on?”

The other Today guest editor from the world of popular culture is Tracey Thorn, half of Everything but the Girl and author of a well-received memoir. She will pay tribute to Kate Bush’s live comeback this year, delve into young adult fiction, and consider how the internet can be a positive force for teenagers.

PJ Harvey, one of last year’s guest editors, came under fire from conservative commentators for broadcasting a monologue by Julian Assange, while the BBC was criticised for rejecting Sir Tim Berners-Lee’s request to let an atheist deliver Thought for the Day.

Other choices this year are former Bank of England governor Mervyn King, and Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, the former high court judge who was appointed in July to lead an inquiry into allegations of historical child abuse but stood down seven days later following claims about a potential conflict of interest.

The run of guest editors will start on Boxing Day with the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, who will look ahead to parliament’s 750th anniversary.

He will discuss reshaping the house for the digital era with Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, interview Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and speak to personal hero Roger Federer about motivation and pushy tennis parents.

Jamie Angus, the editor of Today, said: “This year’s crop has reached the very top in politics, finance, the law, and entertainment. The breadth of their experience and the diversity of their interests will provide a real treat for the listeners.”

Previous guest editors have included Professor Stephen Hawking, the Duchess of York, David Hockney and Jarvis Cocker.

More on this story

More on this story

  • Media could learn from business world on diversity, says UK culture secretary

  • Lenny Henry’s Today edition takes on ‘devil’s avocados’ with diversity agenda

  • Lenny Henry's guest editing of Radio 4's Today: how Twitter reacted

  • Lenny Henry calls for law to boost low numbers of black people in TV industry

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