Sir Phil Redmond calls for 'urgent need to refocus' on working class representation in TV
Milestone event convenes top industry names and starts much-needed conversation on widening participation in television
How can we bridge TV’s class divide? What can be done to attract working class talent into the industry? And how could this critical time for public service broadcasting affect representation?
These were among key questions posed at a landmark conference devised by Lee Hardman and hosted at Manchester Metropolitan University aiming to stir debate on widening participation in the television industry to include more professionals from underrepresented backgrounds.
Jointly hosted by Manchester Met’s School of Digital Arts (SODA), Creative UK and Manchester City Council (MCC), and devised by Lee Hardman, ‘Is TV for the Working Class? – Bridging TV’s Class Divide’ drew together a powerhouse of creative and cultural leaders at a pivotal time in history for public service broadcasters.
Among industry leaders speaking at the event were Sir Phil Redmond, creator of Grange Hill, Brookside and Hollyoaks; Lisa Nandy MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport; Councillor Bev Craig, MCC Leader; metro mayors; and a host of industry representatives from grassroots organisations and major broadcasters BBC, ITV and Channel 4.
Lisa Nandy MP challenged the UK TV industry, with government support, to improve what she described as a “disgraceful” lack of representation despite being “the best in the world at TV”. Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester; Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire and Steve Rotheram, Mayor of Liverpool City Region, all acknowledged the importance of public service broadcasting while highlighting regional issues with the way the industry currently operates.
The event took place on UN World Television Day 2025, coinciding with renewed debate over the forthcoming BBC Charter renewal in December 2027, a milestone many industry leaders see as pivotal for addressing the lack of working-class representation in television.
It was held at Manchester Met, whose pioneering School of Digital Arts (SODA), launched in 2022 with the backing of Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), enabling the next generation of digital talent from all backgrounds to break into the creative industries. This sits alongside University initiatives such as First Generation, supporting students who are first in their families to go to university, plus multiple scholarship programmes established through generous donations from friends, alumni and staff, together with funding from the University.
Speaking at the event, Sir Phil Redmond, producer and screenwriter who became known for tackling tough and sometimes taboo topics with his work on Grange Hill, Brookside and Hollyoaks, said: “It’s important to have this conversation because it feels like I’ve stepped through a time portal back to the 80s, looking at the output on TV and the lack of representation of the vast majority of the audience.
“I seem to have been in this debate for 40 years now. When I started to make television, it was partly because I’d come up against the issue of the Oxbridge gang controlling television with no great working-class representation behind camera.
“We need to refocus, and we’re at a good point because it’s time to review the BBC and you can’t review the BBC without reviewing the entire broadcasting landscape, so this is a good moment to remind us what public service broadcasting should be.”
Professor Jill Griffiths, Head of the School of Digital Arts (SODA) at Manchester Met, said: “Having this conversation has been incredibly important because this is a pivotal moment in the future and role of our public service broadcasters, and widening participation and representation within the sector has been problematic for a long time.
“This is a moment where we can really make a difference. Bringing everyone together so we can discuss actions as a collective is powerful and allows us to take a much more holistic approach in how we tackle the issue.
“Widening participation is a key priority at Manchester Met and we want to ensure there is access, inclusion and opportunity for everyone to come into creative arts and tell their stories, which we support through initiatives such as our award-winning First Scholarship Programme , and other life-changing initiatives such as our Sony PlayStation Career Pathways Program, and the Tony Warren Drama Bursary.”
Abbie Lasledj, second year BA (Hons) Acting student at Manchester Met’s Manchester School of Theatre, is a recipient of the prestigious ITV Studios Tony Warren Drama Bursary. She said: “As a mature working-class student I put off auditioning for drama school for years, believing I was too old and couldn’t afford it. Imposter syndrome made me anxious about money and my background, but receiving the bursary and getting a place at Manchester Met was an incredible opportunity that’s been brilliant for my confidence.
“My experience at drama school has been amazing. I’ve even performed at the House of Lords, which is something I never thought someone like me could achieve. The conversations that took place at this event are so important – access to drama school and careers in TV should be open to everyone, regardless of background or social class. I’m proof that anyone with talent, ambition and the right support can do it.”
In her address, Leader of MCC Councillor Bev Craig highlighted the importance of looking beyond purely commercial gain. She said: “If we are only commissioning television that is assumed will be economically rich in its returns, we’re missing something around the role TV can play in being a social force for good, in allowing commissioning to take a bit more risk.”
Michelle Calame, Development and Partnerships Manager, Arts and Culture at Creative UK, added: “At present, less than 10% of film and TV creatives are from working class backgrounds. It is vital that we address this collectively – which is why widening access to the cultural and creative industries is a key priority for Creative UK.
“This event opened up essential conversations about why working-class voices are needed on our screens – and the obstacles we must dismantle together. Greater representation isn’t a ‘nice to have’. It’s essential for authentic storytelling, impactful content - and above all, a fairer, more equitable industry.”
The event concluded with a shared vision and call to action, reinforcing the industry’s commitment to improved representation and ensuring that people from a wide range of backgrounds are empowered to pursue careers in television.