Kidulthood star Noel Clarke revealed how he demanded producers ‘fix’ the lack of diversity on ‘day one’ of shooting a new TV project.
Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival, the actor said he immediately called in producers and insisted upon quick action.
While not revealing the name of the project, his comments come the same day ITV announced he would be starring in a gritty new police show called Viewpoint.
Mr Clarke said: ‘I’m on a job now which I can’t mention and I came in on day one and I’m the lead actor and I was like, ”The crew’s not diverse enough, fix it, fix it.”
‘I don’t care if there’s trainees, because this job’s trainees is the next job’s runner, then the next job’s assistant, then they’re a supervisor, then in five year’s time or three year’s time, we have more people in the business from different backgrounds; socio-economic, not just about colour.’
The Kidulthood star has regularly spoken out about racism and previously claimed many TV channels refused to back his hit Sky One show Bulletproof because it was led by two black actors.
All-star cast: Noel Clarke and Hollyoaks actress Bronagh Waugh are starring in a gritty new police show Viewpoint
Mr Clarke and Hollyoaks actress Bronagh Waugh will be starring together in Viewpoint – the first ITV drama to begin filming since the coronavirus pandemic.
The programme, which is headed up by Fleabag director Harry Bradbeer, follows a tense police surveillance investigation into a close Manchester community.
Filming has already started in Manchester and on Wednesday a dramatic fight scene took place on the city streets.
Doctor Who star Noel, 44, DC Martin King in the all-star cast, which also includes Black Mirror’s Alexandra Roach and Coronation Street’s Catherine Tyldesley.
The five-part series will explore the nature of surveillance and whether police can observe a community with objectivity and without an effect.
In the show, DC Martin King sets up his observation post in the home of single mother and secret voyeur, Zoe Sterling, played by Alexandra Roach.
Action: Filming has already started in Manchester and on Wednesday a dramatic fight scene took place on the city streets
Dramatic: Headed up by Fleabag director Harry Bradbeer, follows a tense police surveillance investigation into a close Manchester community
Mr Clarke and Bronagh Waugh (pictured in Hollyoaks) will be starring together in Viewpoint – the first ITV drama to begin filming since the coronavirus pandemic
Gritty: In the fight scene filmed on Wednesday, actor Dominic Allburn was seen wearing a mask and swinging punches
Plot: The five-part series will explore the nature of surveillance after primary school teacher Gemma Hillman goes missing
Zoe’s windows look on to Westbury Square and the home of missing primary school teacher Gemma Hillman, played by Tutenkhamun star Amy Wren.
She shares the home with boyfriend and prime suspect in her disappearance, Greg Sullivan, played by I May Destroy You actor Fehinti Balogun.
The series is based on an idea by Emmy award-winning director Harry Bradbeer and written with Silent Witness creator Ed Whitmore.
Exciting: Doctor Who star Noel, 44, DC Martin King in the all-star cast, which also includes Black Mirror’s Alexandra Roach and Coronation Street’s Catherine Tyldesley
Safety: Bronagh was seen wearing a rainbow mask during filming on Wednesday on the streets of Manchester
Violent: In the show, DC Martin King sets up his observation post in the home of single mother and secret voyeur, Zoe Sterling, played by Alexandra Roach
Other stars in the series include EastEnders’s Shannon Murray, Poldark’s Phil Davis, Broadchurch actor Marcus Garvey and Catastrophe’s Sarah Niles.
Executive Producer Lucy Bedford said: ‘Harry and Ed have crafted a compelling, tense, claustrophobic thriller that turns the spotlight on the observer rather than the observed.
‘With the incredible Noel Clarke and Alexandra Roach leading the cast, we are extremely excited to be back in production.’
Thriller: The series is based on an idea by Emmy award-winning director Harry Bradbeer and written with Silent Witness creator Ed Whitmore
Back to work: Other stars in the series include EastEnders’s Shannon Murray, Poldark’s Phil Davis, Broadchurch actor Marcus Garvey and Catastrophe’s Sarah Niles
Speaking out: It comes after lead actor Noel recently revealed he demanded more diversity on a set after he arrived to find an all-white crew
Diversity: Not revealing the name of the project, the actor said he immediately called in producers and demanded quick action
Back to normality? The drama is the first ITV has begun filming since lockdown began in March