Analysis reveals significant progress, but diversity underrepresentation remains despite movements such as Black Lives Matter

Disabled representation in TV improved across nearly all genres, although underrepresentation persists in myriad key diversity pillars, according to the Creative Diversity Network’s latest Diamond report.

The ninth iteration of the analysis of representation in UK broadcasting found that despite signs of positive change in some areas of diversity, ethnicity representation had seen a stark backward step. Past increases in the representation of Black creatives off-screen have stalled, suggesting initial commitments following the Black Lives Matter Movement did not lead to “embedded, structural change”.

In disability representation, the contribution to off-screen roles from people in this group grew from 8.9% to 10.9% in 2025.

This is double the 5.2% figure for off-screen roles recorded in the 2019 report, with the CDN reporting it representation has been growing steadily since. Disabled industry workers are best represented in children’s programming (12.2% of the overall workforce) and drama (11.4%). However, current affairs representation has decreased from 9.3% to 7.8%.

On-screen representation climbed from 9.3% in 2024 to 11.3% in 2025, with entertainment best represented with 14.3%, followed by factual entertainment (13.6%) and children’s programming (11.3%).

Although CDN noted the progress, progress has steadily improved, disabled people remain underrepresented in the industry (10.9% for off-screen roles) compared to the national workforce (16.9%).

CDN revealed improvements in representation in TV have been driven by increases in the proportion of contributions from those with learning and cognitive disabilities, a long-term illness or condition and mental health conditions. However, over the past five years there has been little change in the off-screen contributions from those who are deaf or hard of hearing or those with musculoskeletal conditions. 

Ethnicity representation

Diamond, which tracks data from between 1 January and 31 December 2025, revealed the proportion of contributions made by Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups decreased in 2025 both on and off-screen. Despite a sustained period of increased representation among cast and crew, between 2021 and 2024, off-screen representation is now the same as it was in 2021 (13%).

The proportion of overall contributions made by Black people has decreased from 4% in 2022 to 2.7% in 2025, below the national workforce benchmark of 5.2%.

In off-screen roles, Diamond found that contributions from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic writers has significantly expanded from 6.5% to 21.3%, over a five-year period. For Black writers specifically, contributions peaked at almost 9% in 2024 after a fourfold increase from 2022. While this figure eased to 6.1% in 2025, screenwriting is one of the few off-screen areas where Black representation exceeds the national workforce estimate of 5.2%.

In contrast, representation by Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups is very low head of production roles, with fewer than 3% of contributions in 2025. Representation is also low and below the workforce benchmark of 17.9% in series producer (10%), executive producer (11%), director (11%), and producer (12%) roles.

Gender 

Broadly, women are well represented in off-screen roles, accounting for 53.6% of positions compared with the national workforce (48.6%). Women remain underrepresented in senior creative roles, however. The percentage of contributions made by women in senior roles is the same in 2025 (50%) as it was in 2019, although this follows a dip to a low of 45% in 2022.

In directing, women make up 26.4% of the workforce almost half the workforce benchmark. This remains relatively unchanged since 2019. Representation among writers improved to 41% for women in 2025 but also remained below the workforce benchmark.

Women make up just 35% of on-screen contributions, the worst represented across the genres, but make up 60.5% of the off-screen and 56.3% of on-screen contributions in current affairs.

Paul Moore, chair of CDN and ITV’s group communications and corporate affairs director, said that while the industry should commend areas of progress, the report reveals the “risk of complacency” in “assuming the job is done” in improving diversity.

“The real power of Diamond lies in its ability to look beyond headlines and track changes over time to expose where progress has stalled or drifted backward. For example, the recent decline in Black representation suggests that initial commitments made following the Black Lives Matter movement did not lead to embedded, structural change,” he said.

“The proportion of female directors has stagnated over the last five years, and contributions by individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have musculoskeletal conditions has remained flat for the same period.

“I am deeply encouraged by the industry’s continued resolve to drive progress, create fairer pathways for development, and build a stronger, more inclusive future for us all.

“This latest report spotlights that even during a period of profound structural change across the UK television landscape, evidence-based action is yielding results, such as the increase in disabled representation, higher numbers of female writers and a significant expansion of contributions by black, Asian and ethnic minority writers.

“But Diamond shows us the risks…assuming the job is done when we see initial improvements and then shifting our gaze rather than maintaining momentum. At CDN we will continue to work with our partners across the industry to remain focused on ensuring the UK television workforce truly reflects the richness of our society.”