Lorraine Kelly expresses concern over working-class people being ‘left behind’ in TV industry: ‘Does worry me’
Lorraine Kelly has argued people from working-class backgrounds get “left behind” in the TV industry.
The Scottish presenter, 65, opened up on her thoughts about the issue as she touched on how the entertainment world could do more to “level the playing field”.
“Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s absolutely right that everybody gets a chance,” she told Cathy Newman on The Ladder show podcast.
“It shouldn’t matter what colour you are, what age you are, all of these things. It’s all about can you do the job? Do you deserve a chance?
“Let’s level the playing field. But I do think sometimes working-class people get left behind.
“And it’s so silly because, the majority of my viewers and my readers are working-class people.
“Not all of them, but a lot of them are and their voice is really, really important.
“It’s kind of like taking the nation’s pulse in a way and it does worry me that that doesn’t happen.
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“Which is why I really try to always give encouragement to anybody, but particularly working-class kids all over the country.”
It’s not the first time Kelly has shared her stance on diversity in the TV world.
Last year, she blasted the lack of opportunities for working-class people after sharing how she was told she would “never make it” on TV due to her Glasgow accent.
The presenter claimed it is “almost impossible” for people from working-class backgrounds to get into the TV industry.
“The high cost of living and working now makes it almost impossible for working-class kids from the rest of the country to accept a job in London,” she commented.
“That has to change. There also needs to be more opportunities outside of London.
“We quite rightly have stressed the importance of diversity in recent years, but that also has to include young working-class people who understand and can relate to the vast majority of our viewers.”
Speaking to The Mirror, she continued: “It is in all of our interests to make sure they have the opportunity to have their voices heard.”
The publication reported how Kelly revealed a TV executive had told her she wouldn’t have a career on TV because of her accent.
“I was told by the boss of BBC Scotland that I would never make it in TV because of my working-class Glasgow accent,” she recalled.