James Graham Advocates for More Working-Class Representation in TV

Playwright and screenwriter James Graham voiced concerns over the lack of working-class representation in the TV industry during his MacTaggart lecture at the Edinburgh TV Festival on August 21. Graham, who hails from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, used his own background and state-school education as a foundation to argue for a more layered approach to diversity.

He highlighted class as a frequently overlooked category in diversity discussions, in contrast to more visible and clearly defined areas of diversity that often incite activism. Graham cited statistics from a recent report by the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre at the University of Sheffield, indicating that only 8% of people in television identify as working-class. The report suggested that class representation is at its lowest in a decade.

As the writer of “Dear England,” he emphasized how this lack of representation limits the variety of experiences, outlooks, stories, and cultures reflected back to audiences through television. The Emmy-nominated writer of “Brexit: The Uncivil War” called for greater attention to be paid to the challenges of social mobility.

“Our discomfort with defining social mobility often leads to its exclusion from industry diversity measurements,” he said. “Compared to other under-represented areas, we seem less intuitively connected to class issues.”

Graham suggested that the reluctance to discuss class might stem from a British discomfort around money. However, he argued that improving class diversity isn’t just about visibility but also makes good business sense, noting that working-class audiences are the biggest consumers of television.

“Working-class audiences watch the most hours of TV, yet class representation is the category with the largest disparity between the country’s makeup and the industry’s makeup,” Graham explained. “They are the largest potential audience yet the demographic least likely to break into the industry.”

Illustrating this with the example of diversity monitoring forms, Graham pointed out that he had only once been asked for his parent’s occupation when being considered for positions. He often had to find indirect ways of disclosing his social class, given that class lacks visible indicators and is not a protected characteristic. This ambiguity often left him unsure of his class status.

“Class isn’t just about money or the jobs your parents had; it’s a part of what shapes you,” he said. “It’s a fundamental part of your identity, your morality, and sense of self, which creates a philosophical dilemma unparalleled in other parts of identity.”

Reflecting on the impact of “representative television” on his own life, he recalled the positive influence of diverse stories. “I used to believe that the world was full of people who spoke, thought, and felt like my family. I’m not sure that belief holds true today.”

The James MacTaggart lecture has been a highlight of the Edinburgh TV Festival since its inception in 1976, often sparking important conversations. Notable past speakers include Michaela Coel, Louis Theroux, and Emily Maitlis.

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