Midsomer Murders to Introduce More Ethnic Minorities
Andy Bloxham, Telegraph (London), February 8, 2012
Jo Wright, the producer of the ITV programme, said the next series would “continue to develop and evolve as a drama”.
Her comments come after her predecessor lost his job after saying non-white characters had no place in the show.
The producer, who has also worked on the BBC drama 55 Degrees North, said: “I strongly believe Midsomer Murders should represent its audience and, alongside some of the core characters, we have the opportunity to introduce a range of characters from different backgrounds within the films in the next series.”
Her comments to The Radio Times come a year after her predecessor, Brian True-May, was suspended after making remarks perceived as racist. Mr True — May said the show was “the last bastion of Englishness” and “wouldn’t work” if ethnic minorities appeared on screen.
Anthony Horowitz, the award — winning writer who helped create the show, later defended Mr True-May, saying that it made perfect sense that villages in the fictional county of Midsomer should have no black faces. Mr True-May left his job at the end of the last series.
Next week’s episode, the start of the show’s 15th series, sees the Hong Kong-born actress Natalie Mendoza, 33, featuring prominently. The episode will be broadcast on ITV1 on Feb 1 at 8pm.
