Lorraine Kelly warns working-class voices are vanishing from TV

In the UK, Lorraine Kelly, a prominent television presenter and host of the show Lorraine, expressed deep concerns regarding the representation of working-class individuals in the television industry. On March 14, 2025, during a conversation with Cathy Newman on Times Radio, Kelly discussed her personal journey within the media landscape and how it has drastically changed over the years. She highlighted that during her early career, opportunities were available for individuals like her, who came from a working-class background. Kelly was able to emerge as a significant voice in the industry, thanks to being given a chance in the 1980s by Bill Ludford at TV-AM. However, she lamented that the current state of the media landscape has become increasingly vanilla, with a focus on gender and racial diversity often overshadowing the need for socio-economic diversity. Kelly articulated that many young talents from working-class backgrounds face higher living costs and increased barriers to entry in the industry. Consequently, she believes that working-class voices are not just marginalized but almost actively excluded from television narratives. Furthermore, she recounted her childhood in Glasgow, living with her family in a one-bedroom home, and the pressure to pursue higher education. This experience underscored her recognition that the media does not connect with working-class audiences as it should, emphasizing the importance of representing their views in broadcasting. Kelly indicated a growing concern that the fear amongst executives to take risks on potential talent has led to a homogenous media environment which fails to capture the breadth of society's views. She argued that giving chances to diverse individuals needs to be seen as valuable, with a focus on their capabilities rather than their backgrounds. During her tenure as a television personality, she has observed a significant decline in opportunities for working-class people to break into the industry, especially at prestigious platforms based in London. With less than 10% of the workforce in creative sectors coming from working-class backgrounds, Kelly is advocating for more initiatives that would create opportunities for individuals from varied economic backgrounds. At the 2024 TV Baftas, she called for action to support working-class talents seeking to enter the television space, stressing financial support and the necessity for opportunities that extend beyond London. These remarks coincide with broader discussions about diversity in the media sector, with prominent figures such as BBC Chairman Samir Shah also advocating for more representation of northern working-class individuals. However, Kelly remains concerned that the genuine voices of working-class people – who significant viewership relies on – continue to be sidelined in favor of more visible, but less diverse narratives. Therefore, her staunch advocacy for socio-economic inclusion represents a pivotal moment for both the industry and society, as it forces a necessary dialogue about who gets to tell stories on national television.