Tom Watson MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, commenting on Ofcom’s report into broadcasting diversity, said:

“Today’s report proves that British broadcasting has a diversity problem.

“Women and people from BAME backgrounds are underrepresented, particularly in senior roles, but the most shocking fact is that just 3 per cent of the broadcasting workforce has a disability, compared with 18 per cent of the population.

“Data can be an important driver of change, but that data needs to be comprehensive. The huge gaps in diversity data that Ofcom have found are unacceptable, but we also need to collect data that paints a broader picture, and that means collecting data on social class too.

“Our television represents who we are as a nation and those who work on and off screen should represent the whole country, not just part of it.”