Rose Bruford College President, Sir Richard Eyre, has joined a host of figures from stage and screen to write an open letter to the most powerful broadcasting institutions in Britain, calling for ring-fenced funding for Black, Asian and ethnic minority (BAME) programming.

The letter comes on the back of statistics showing that only 5% of employees in the industry are BAME, despite making up 12.5% of the population and calls for a focus on quality programming;

“Let us be clear about how this ring-fenced money would work. It is about quality of programming, not quantity: money is only spent when quality projects are identified – not to fill a quota. The major broadcasters have already set targets for the number of programmes produced outside London, and in the nations.

To increase ethnic diversity we are asking you to look at what has worked before and extend it for BAME communities. Ring-fencing money would not only guarantee results, but also create a more stable space for BAME talent on screen and behind the camera.”

The letter was sent to BBC director general Tony Hall, ITV chief executive Adam Crozier, Channel 4 chief executive David Abraham, BSkyB chief executive Jeremy Darroch and Philippe Dauman, chief executive of new Channel 5 owner Viacom.

Please click here to read the open letter and view a list of signatories.