London Socialist Historians
Media Release
16th September
Contact Dr Keith Flett 07803 167266
Historians say Government rules on TV ‘Britishness’ must reflect realities of ordinary life
The London Socialist Historians Group, which organises the socialist history seminar at the Institute of Historical Research, has said that Government plans to make sure ‘Britishness’ is reflected on TV amount to little more than promotion of whimsical versions of what Britain is and has been like.
The historians say that British TV and film has had a strong record of producing films focused on social realism and the often tough realities of life for ordinary people. Films like Ken Loach’s Kes(1970) and TV series like Our Friends in the North(1996), reflected British life in the 1960s and 1970s.
Overtime though a good deal of such ‘challenging’ programming has not continued to be commissioned as broadcasters adapted to Government complaints about ‘left-wing’ bias.
The historians say that new Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries will have to accept that if Ministers want more ‘British’ content on TV it will consist in some part of programmes that reflect realities they would prefer to ignore.
LSHG Convenor Dr Keith Flett said, ‘Dixon of Dock Green may be the Tories preferred vision of British policing but it was neither historically accurate or appropriate for modern audiences. If Ministers want ‘Britishness’ they’ll have to accept that much of the content will be controversial, at least to them
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