The Creative Diversity Network (CDN) has released its seventh annual report, “Diamond: The Seventh Cut,” offering a comprehensive analysis of diversity in UK television. The report draws on the Diamond diversity monitoring system, which tracks data on diversity contributions across various roles and genres, both on and off-screen. This year's report, covering August 2022 to July 2023, represents the largest data sample to date, with 1.27 million contributions analyzed.
Overall, the report reveals that contributions from Black, Asian, and other minority ethnic groups, women, LGBTQ+, and transgender individuals are at or above national averages. Representation among disabled people and those over 50 has improved year-on-year but remains below workforce and population estimates. Specifically, contributions from disabled individuals have increased, with off-screen representation rising from 5.8% to 8% and on-screen from 8.2% to 8.7% between 2019/20 and 2022/23. However, this still falls short of the national workforce estimate of 17%.
CDN has announced plans to further refine its data collection methods, including adding questions about ethnicity, religious affiliation, and socio-economic background to the Diamond questionnaire. CDN expressed concerns that the current economic downturn could disproportionately impact workers from lower socio-economic backgrounds, disabled people, and those from ethnic minorities.
Despite overall progress, significant disparities persist. Disabled people remain underrepresented across nearly all genres and roles, both on-screen and off-screen. Similarly, while contributions from Black, Asian, and other minority ethnic groups are above census figures, specific groups like Asians (including East Asian, South Asian, and other Asian backgrounds) contribute less than half of the national workforce estimate (3.2% compared to 6.4%).
Gender disparities are also prominent, particularly in senior roles. Although women make significant contributions in production-related roles, they are underrepresented in key creative roles such as writers and directors. For instance, women comprise only 29% of directors and 36.9% of writers. Additionally, craft roles exhibit stark gender imbalances, with lighting and sound dominated by white men, and hair and make-up overwhelmingly occupied by women (95.8%).
CDN Chair Paul Moore acknowledged the mixed results: “Although for many in our industry change is frustratingly slow, it’s encouraging that ‘Diamond: The Seventh Cut’ shows that in general, diversity on and off-screen is either at or above the population as a whole or continuing to improve for most under-represented groups. However, when you drill down through the data it’s very concerning to see that there are still roles and genres where progress has stalled or even gone backward.”
Industry leaders from major broadcasters have responded to the findings, emphasizing their commitment to diversity and inclusion while acknowledging the need for continued effort. Tim Davie, Director General of the BBC, stated: “Diversity is a priority for the BBC. Diamond provides a clear indication of where the whole industry must focus its efforts to improve representation. Just last week, we strengthened our commitments to diverse contributions off-screen and authentic representation on-screen. We will be unrelenting in seeking and delivering change. It is something we must all get right.”
Similarly, Alex Mahon, CEO of Channel 4, highlighted the importance of authentic representation across all platforms: “While we have seen good progress since Diamond reporting started, the latest report has shown that for some groups of people, representation remains short of the reality of the world around us. At Channel 4, we are committed to creating opportunities for anyone, regardless of background, to see themselves represented or forge a career in the industry.”
Other leaders, including Carolyn McCall of ITV, Sarah Rose of Channel 5, and Cécile Frot-Coutaz of Sky, echoed the sentiment that while progress has been made, substantial work remains. They emphasized their commitment to fostering inclusive environments that accurately reflect the diversity of the UK population.
Miranda Wayland, who assumed the role of CEO of CDN on September 1, expressed optimism for future data enhancements: “CDN’s role is to provide our partners with the most comprehensive set of diversity data and work with them to tackle barriers to inclusion and representation. I’m pleased to be able to announce that going forward, we will expand the data Diamond collects by adding new questions on ethnicity, religious affiliation and socio-economic background.”
The report also underscores the need for more targeted industry initiatives, which have proven effective in increasing diversity among TV show writers. Moore noted that similar approaches could help address imbalances in other roles, suggesting that continued focus on specific underrepresented groups could drive broader industry change.
The commitment from industry leaders to address these challenges and expand their efforts is promising, but the report serves as a reminder that representation must be more than a goal—it must be an ongoing, collaborative effort that permeates all levels and roles within the industry. By prioritizing underrepresented voices and continuing to enhance diversity data, the industry can build a television landscape that not only reflects the rich diversity of the UK but also ensures equitable opportunities for all those who work within it. The path forward is clear: sustained dedication, transparency, and accountability will be essential in shaping an inclusive future for UK television.