BBC responds as presenter Nihal Arthanayake slams lack of diversity within broadcaster: ‘Nothing has changed’
BBC presenter Nihal Arthanayake has criticised the corporation for its lack of diversity, revealing he will leave in September.
The 54-year-old journalist posted a video from his car expressing frustration at the minimal presence of Black and Asian staff at BBC Salford.
“So today I walked into the BBC building in Salford and I was struck yet again, not for the first time, just how few Black and Asian people work in that building,” he said.
He explained that entering an environment “where you just don’t see anybody that looks like you” has a significant impact.
Arthanayake noted that despite raising these concerns over a year ago, “it seems like ain’t a damn thing changed.”
The presenter shared an anonymous message from a BBC colleague stating: “I’m not sure the BBC is a place for people of colour.
“I feel we get treated like ‘pets’ that we should be grateful, despite grafting for our positions and dare we speak out.”
Arthanayake posted this screenshot yesterday, commenting that he could not disagree with these sentiments. He revealed he had received numerous direct messages from people of colour working at the BBC who shared similar experiences.
In his Instagram post, he recalled speaking to Black and Asian employees at BBC North who described feeling isolated in their workplace.
He emphasised that BBC North “is not an inclusive environment for people of colour” and stressed he was not alone in holding this view.
The BBC responded to these criticisms with an apology, stating: “We’re sorry if anyone feels this way, as creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels they belong is a big priority for us and we know we have further to go.”
A spokesperson acknowledged that whilst the corporation is “proud of the diversity of the BBC,” they remain “committed to continuing to build a workforce that fully reflects and represents the whole of the UK.”
The broadcaster has set a target for 20 per cent of its workforce to come from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds by March 2026.
According to the BBC’s Annual Report and Accounts 2023/24, current figures show 17.2 per cent of all staff and 14.4 per cent of leadership positions are held by people from these backgrounds, representing slight increases from the previous year.
Arthanayake announced his departure from BBC 5 Live daytime programming last May after eight years, with Times Radio’s Matt Chorley taking over his slot.
He currently presents Headliners with Nihal Arthanayake on Sunday evenings, which is also available as a podcast, and occasionally hosts Loose Ends on BBC Radio 4.
The Essex-born journalist previously worked on BBC Radio 1 from 2002 to 2014.
In November, he spoke about how working in an “overwhelmingly white” environment at the BBC had affected his mental health.
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“It’s really affecting me that I walk in and all I see is white people,” he said at the time.
The corporation has highlighted its BBC Embrace network for staff from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds as part of efforts to create a more inclusive culture.