Strange behaviour by the BBC's publicity people

I’ve never watched Eastenders and to quote the late Bruce Boa when he appeared as Mr Hamilton in Fawlty Towers, “don’t reckon I ever will either”. For those who do, I wonder how many if any, would have noticed that tonight’s episode features an entirely black cast? Not so now as rather strangely, the BBC have triumphantly announced this ‘landmark’ (their word not mine) before its screening. They go on to say that Patrick (played by Rudolph Walker) will discuss what it was like living as a black man in 1950s Britain and the racism he had to contend with.

Maybe the BBC should take a long hard look at their own publicity department and consider that when Rudolph Walker and the others appearing in tonight’s episode describe their occupation, they simply say ‘actor’. Publicity of the sort shown here by the BBC is patronising to the talent of the actors concerned.


nick