June 27th 2023.
Broadcaster Melvyn Bragg has hit out at the BBC's portrayal of working class people, saying it is "miserable" and "in despair". The House of Lords Peer has now criticised the BBC for "underestimating" the "white working class".
In an interview with Radio Times, Lord Bragg said: “I did a book called Back In The Day, which was about my background – white working class. I wanted them to be represented. They’ve always been underestimated.”
He continued: “The BBC is probably to blame for this because they only want working class people if they are miserable on their book readings and things, but 70 to 80 per cent of the population comes from much the same background as I do. They’re massively underrepresented. I want to say, ‘Look, people like this, they worked so hard. And yet they came up from the mines. They came in from factories. And what did they do? They created a huge culture. That was completely unrecognised."
Lord Bragg raised the same issues in an interview with the publication in 2014. He said at the time: “I’m not a fan of the working class being mocked, including by some of our famous writers… even by those who came from it. All this ‘it’s grim oop north’ sort of stuff. Well, it was a joke once, but we’ve got to the stage where the working class has been turned into a cliche and it deserves a lot better.”
The author and presenter, most known for his work on BBC Radio 4's In Our Time, has held various roles at the corporation, having begun work there in 1961 as a trainee, before going on to present the likes of Read All About It and The Lively Arts, as well as The South Bank Show from 1978 to 2010. He is a staunch advocate for the white working class, and wants to ensure they are fairly represented by the BBC.
Lord Bragg's condemnation of the BBC's portrayal of working class people is a stark reminder that all voices should be heard and respected, regardless of their social background. The BBC should strive to fairly represent all people, and not rely on the same stereotypes and cliches.
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