Sun columnist Kelvin McKenzie has recommended a new role for Keith Vaz, as the latest victim in Midsomer Murders.
The tongue-in-cheek suggestion came during a television discussion on Thursday night about a row that has broken out over the lack of ethnic minority characters in the long-running ITV murder mystery series.
The tale began earlier this week when Brian True-May, the show's co-creator and producer, said in a magazine interview that it would not work if there was any racial diversity in Midsomer, the fictional, picture postcard area of England where the show is set.
He said: "We just don't have ethnic minorities involved, because it wouldn't be the English village with them. It just wouldn't work.
"Suddenly we might be in Slough – we're the last bastion of Englishness and I want to keep it that way."
Mr Vaz, who is chairman of the Labour Party's ethnic minority task force as well as MP for Leicester East, said he was "appalled" by Mr True-May's remark.
"The decision to exclude ethnic minorities from ITV's Midsomer Murders programme not only misrepresents modern Britain but also dismisses the valuable role ethnic minorities play in enriching our country," he said.
"Television should cater for the widest possible audience. ITV's neglect to fully represent ethnic minorities in its programming is shocking and surely damaging to its reputation.
"I am encouraged to see the channel features an ethnic minority family in Emmerdale, but what about its other dramas?
"It is time the bosses at ITV ensured programming properly reflects modern British society, including quintessentially English villages."
But when the issue was raised on BBC1's Question Time on Thursday night, panellist Mr McKenzie gave Mr Vaz's comment short shrift.
The controversial former Sun editor said: "You can only be sure there's a race storm when Keith Vaz says something.
"So this is my answer. The casting director of Midsomer Murders hires Keith Vaz and, like the 222 white people who were murdered before, he meets a grisly end."
He received rapturous applause from the audience.
Co-panellist Baroness Warsi, who previously claimed that Islamophobia had become socially acceptable, begrudgingly supported Mr McKenzie's remarks.
She said: "However much it pains me to say this, I'm going to have to slightly agree with Kelvin."
Mr Vaz would not comment on Mr Mackenzie's suggestion when contacted by the Mercury yesterday.
Mr True-May has been suspended by production company All3Media for his comments, pending an internal investigation.
In a statement, ITV said: "We are shocked and appalled at these personal comments by Brian True-May which are absolutely not shared by anyone at ITV."
Midsomer Murders began in 1997, and so far stretches to 14 series.
It starred John Nettles as Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby until the latest series, in which Neil Dudgeon takes over, playing his cousin, Detective Chief Inspector John Barnaby.
Jason Hughes is the latest loyal sidekick Detective Sergeant Ben Jones.
 |  |
Tottenham Hotspur UK security and terrorism St Petersburg Rob Brydon Shola Ameobi Belarus
No comments:
Post a Comment