Keeping the English countryside white

[sp1814]

Brian True-May the producer of long-running TV hit Midsomer Murders has been suspended after claiming part of the show's appeal was an absence of ethnic minorities

Could this be true? Are there people who will only watch a show if they can be guaranteed an 'all white' cast?

I can't believe that's true. I mean, Downton Abbey wouldn't exactly be realistic with a Muslim housemaid, but I've seen episodes of Poirot and Marple with black characters without feeling the need to switch channels.

Leaving aside this chap's right to air his views (and I disagree with his suspension), SHOULD there be programmes that exclude actors from ethnic minorities?

Should the ban be extended to other minorities (the disabled, gays etc)?

http://www.dailyrecor...ities-86908-22991244/

[rov1100]

I bet there would be many complaints if violence and muggings in London showed all black faces?

[stokemaveric]

i never thought midsomer murders was very realistic anyway....no blacks and no knife crime....

[sp1814]

rov1100

Of course there would be complaints...because not ALL muggers are black. In the same way that not all paedophiles are white.

It would be tantamount to racial stereotyping, wouldn't it?

[askyourgran]

I enjoy Midsummer Murders, and quite honestly never noticed there were no obligatory ethnic minorities in it. These are stories set in a rural English village, and as such, what we are used to watching. Brian True May put it quite bluntly that he wrote the series and that he had no intention of changing the format. Good on him. I wouldn't have been convinced if a gaggle of burka wearing women walked across the screen during the traditional English summer fete.

[DaisyNonna]

Andy, I am old and would use a suitability filter before speaking but always try to be polite. Try it yourself.

[andy-hughes]

I am polite!

[sp1814]

askyourgran

Your talking about an extreme and unlikely plot development. What this producer was saying is that he would never have a SINGLE black face on the show.

So no matter how talented a young black or Asian actor is - Brian True-May would not have him on the show.

Been thinking about it and I've changed my mind - it's probably right that he was suspended.

[andy-hughes]

I return to my original argument - this silly man has been adopting this policy - to which he is fully entitled uinder his remit as producer of a ficational TV series - and suddenly felt the need to make social commentary about the society in which we live, which has led to the exposure of his bizarre unreal, and rather unpleasant views on ethnic minorities.

No-one would argue that Russell T Davies holds sway on the number of Cybermen who wander about Cardiff - but if he started saying that he wouldn't employ actors of colour because it's unrealistic, then he would find himself in a similar situation.

A ludicrously extended version of the argument, but the point relains valid.

If you are the producer of a highly popular and long-running tv drama, but your knowledge of ethnic distribution in rural England is sketchy at best, and elitist at worst, then the best thing to do is get on with your job, and leave the media interviews to people who are better qualified - they wouldn't be hard to find!

[anotheoldgit]

pixi-

/// why is this strange? are you not secure enough in your sexuality to call another guy attractive? ///

No as much as the PC brigade would wish us to voluntary 'Bat for the other side' I don't think I am bothered thank you, I am quite secure in my own sexuality.

But as regards calling another guy attractive?

I can visualise it now, I am standing at the bar with my chums, and one of them introduces his male relative from out of town, I then say to the group "Tom's relative is 'attractive' isn't he?

"Is that tumble weed I can hear drifting in the wind"? (a deathly silence ensues)

No, a good looking chap maybe, but never attractive..

[Zeuhl]

PMSL

So Old Git, you can imagine saying to your chums in the bar

<>"Tom's relative is a good looking chap isn't he?>>

And that wouldn't produce the sound of 'tumble weed'?

You would probably use similar judgement criteria to decide the man is 'good looking' as I used to decide three of my associates are 'attractive'.

I thought you might have had a better argument than semantics and word selection.

[sp1814]

AOG

It's a oddity that women can refer to another women as beautiful or sexy without anyone questioning their sexuality, but (straight) men cannot.

Very peculiar.

[andy-hughes]

sp1814 - actually, on the occasions in my office when a woman has referred to the attraction of another woman, they have almost always needed to provide a similar 'qualification' to the statement, of the 'I'm not gay but ...' variety.

I don't bother - people who know me well enough for me to care what they think know my orienation, and the rest can think as they wish.

[Zeuhl]

Old Git

Seems like you have a gay old time down in your bar commenting on all the 'good looking' chaps.

are you allowed to mention it when you think a chap fills out his flannels in a 'good looking' way - or that a chap is particularly 'good looking' when he slips off his blazer.

I think you may have been hanging around with the 'wrong sort' all these years and not even noticed.

:-)

[anotheoldgit]

Was there any complaints regarding the all black 'Crosby Show' or the more recent 'Ladies Detective Agency'

The country is in financial meltdown, we are at war in Afghanistan, there as been thousands of lives lost in earthquakes and the aftermaths, and the Middle East is in crisis.

Yet a nothing situation such as this is blown out of all proportion.

Oh for those days when we could speak our mind, didn't have to look over our shoulder before we spoke, didn't constantly have to walk on broken glass, use any word without first checking if it wasn't on the 'no,no' list. have a joke without first checking if it would offend any particular group, read an official notice or form without having first to trawl through numerous strange languages before finally finding the English text.

Oh, those Midsomers days, before they became Midsomer Madness days.

[jackthehat]

So you are, in fact, missing your right to offend people with impunity ?

Nice...............:o(

[Zeuhl]

C-O-S-B-Y Show

Bill not Bing :-)
.

[Kromovaracun]

"Oh for those days when we could speak our mind, didn't have to look over our shoulder before we spoke, didn't constantly have to walk on broken glass, use any word without first checking if it wasn't on the 'no,no' list. have a joke without first checking if it would offend any particular group, read an official notice or form without having first to trawl through numerous strange languages before finally finding the English text. "

Or, more concisely:

Oh! For the days when nobody challenged what I said...