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Lady Benjamin. Icon

I've been trying to write about this all day. I've changed some of the spelling, but the sentiments expressed in this are unchanged - and dangerously naïve.

There should be cultural diversity monitoring within all broadcasting companies making sure that producers, writers and directors are actively practising cultural diversity before programmes, where applicable, ever get to the screen. This will ensure that programmes, such as the fantasy "Gormenghast", where there was no cultural diveristy in any part of the programme, never get to our screens.

I'll admit that my reaction to this is skewed by the fact that I enjoyed Gormenghast, and I was impressed by the extent to which the production adhered to Peake's drawings. It would have been hard to move away from that without running the risk of claims of stereotyping or tokenism.

The danger is the phrase "where applicable". It would be unusual to see a production of Mansfield Park with a predominantly African-American cast, for instance, and I doubt that anyone would propose doing so (although a re-setting of the same plot in a different environment could be plausible and enjoyable). The context of Gormenghast is a fantasy world, where the only reference is Peake's drawings. Nonetheless it is a fantasy world that is definitely England. Look at the amount of flack received by Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves for its shoehorning of a "moor" into the plot.

On the other hand, maybe it's a sensible move. Maybe the UK should have more prime time news readers who don't have English as their first language. More homosexuality in financial journalism. Or a sit com about a family that just sits and watches television all day.