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Jason Hughes and John Nettles from 'Midsomer Murders'
Midsomer Murders producer/co-creator Brian True-May did an interview with the Radio Times in which he defended the lack of ethnic diversity in his rural England-set detective drama. Today (March 15), his controversial statements have resulted in his suspension from his show’s production company and a sharp rebuke from the network ITV.
“We don’t have ethnic minorities involved,” True-May told Radio Times. “Because it wouldn’t be the English village with them. It just wouldn’t work. Suddenly we might be in Slough… And if you went in to Slough you wouldn’t see a white face there. We’re the last bastion of Englishness and I want to keep it that way.” (Slough is the most ethnically diverse area of England outside of London.)
He added: “I’m trying to make something that appeals to a certain audience, which seems to succeed. And I don’t want to change it.”
ITV, the network on which Midsomer Murders airs in the UK, released a statement via a spokesman: “We are shocked and appalled at these personal comments by Brian True-May, which are absolutely not shared by anyone at ITV.
“We are in urgent discussions with All3Media, the producer of Midsomer Murders, who have informed us that they have launched an immediate investigation into the matter and have suspended Mr. True-May pending the outcome.”
Airing since 1997, the popular series has followed DCI Barnaby through his investigations of heinous killings in the small towns and villages in fictional Midsomer. The show returns Wednesday in the UK with its longtime star John Nettles replaced with Neil Dudgeon, who plays the cousin of the original DCI Barnaby.
True-May’s comments have drawn support in some corners. The Daily Telegraph‘s Cristina Odone writes, “In his defense, Brian True-May, the creator of Midsomer Murders — now suspended, needless to say — argued that the series depicts English village life as it is, rather than it ought to be. But in an industry that jealously guards its right-on image, this is tantamount to sticking two fingers up at the bosses. True-May doesn’t seem to understand that it is up to the media to create a version of rural life that matches their worldview.”
Representing a different view, The Stage‘s Scott Matthewman writes, “There is an argument, I suppose, that the Midsomer world is lost in time anyway: take any episode, and cars and mobile phones are the only items likely to date it to a specific year. It is an old-fashioned series set in an old-fashioned world, and any sense of realism goes out the window when you realize that more people have been killed in the sleepy hollow of Badger’s Drift than could ever have lived there in the first place.
“But the fact remains that the series is set in the present day, and while Home Counties villages may have a predominance of white residents, having some residents who do come from ethnic minorities does not make those villages any less English.”
Where do you fall on the spectrum: do you agree or disagree with Brian True-May’s comments?
7 Comments
Midsomer Murders are free to cast whoever they want according to the needs of the show, but True-May’s suggestion that “Englishness” is a quality restricted to only those Englishmen who happen to have white skin is offensive bollocks. Since he doesn’t seem to be aware how insidiously nasty a comment that is, I’m glad ITV are taking action.
I love the ‘true English village ‘ feel of Midsomer Murders, however I do feel that Mr. True-May’s comments were racist. I cannot be sure that his intent was to be malicious, but I feel they are racist nonetheless.
I do not know if Mr. True-May is racist but I know that I am not, and still totally defend his comments and view of how he want his series to be presented, given its location etc etc.
All this talk of “immediate investigation” and suspending Mr. True-May are absurd, offensive and way too P/C.
Where oh where are we going as a nation? The fact that this man has expressed an honest opinion has caused so much confusion and derision from some quarters. My father fought for the freedom to express myself honestly and without malice. Now it seems that a white person in UK is wrong whatever he/she does or says. We are doomed it seems as a race. Sorry if I offend my many now white pals and colleagues but this is the way it seems to me….regards to ALL HUMANITY…….William
I have been watching these shows on Netflix.
They are wonderful. I’ve really been enjoying them.
Twisting plots, beautiful scenery, great characters…they have everything TV today is lacking ….
It really is a loss that there are no more new episodes!
I think Mr. True-May is Fabulous!
The funny part is that when you watch a TV series that old in America you can tell the fashions are out of date, but watching this show the fashions seemed very current! Goes to show that they had a classic look or we are behind over here in the USA.
Oh and I second Bebe….there’s actually been more racism here in the states due to Equal Opportunity, hiring people just for #’s, not hiring on the basis of aptitude but on the basis of colour etc…seems like this is the way they are going. There are plenty of shows representing the multi-cultural aspects of Britain and some of them are excellent. This show was something different and was good for what it was.
People just love to ruin a good thing….jealousy i guess.
Please do not change anything in this series. Midsomer Murders is unique with its own charm and interesting characters. We have purchased all the CDs of this series except for the latest, 19. We have just started watching the series again from the beginning because they are so entertaining. The suttle humor and interaction between characters is top notch.