She says it is ‘absolutely right that everybody gets a chance’ but calls for a ‘level playing field’
Lorraine Kelly has voiced concerns that working-class people are being “left behind” in the television industry, as broadcasters prioritise other aspects of diversity.
The Lorraine host, 65, who comes from a Scottish working-class background, built her career from local journalism before working for the BBC and later becoming a reporter for TV-am.
During an interview on The Ladder show and podcast with Times Radio presenter Cathy Newman, Kelly was asked whether socioeconomic diversity was being overlooked in discussions about representation in the entertainment industry.
‘Working-class people get left behind’
Kelly responded: “I couldn’t agree with you more. Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s absolutely right that everybody gets a chance.”
She emphasised that hiring decisions should be based on talent rather than background:
“It shouldn’t matter what colour you are, what age you are, all of these things. It’s all about: can you do the job? Do you deserve a chance?”
However, she expressed concern that working-class people were often excluded from opportunities.
“Let’s level the playing field. But I do think sometimes working-class people get left behind.”
She pointed out that this was particularly frustrating given that many of her viewers and readers come from similar backgrounds.
“Not all of them, but a lot of them are, and their voice is really, really important.”
“It’s kind of like taking the nation’s pulse in a way, and it does worry me that that doesn’t happen. Which is why I really try to always give encouragement to anybody, but particularly working-class kids… all over the country.”
Financial barriers and opportunities outside London
Kelly has been vocal about the need for better access to opportunities for those from less privileged backgrounds.
At the 2023 TV BAFTAs, she called for action to help working-class people break into the industry and urged for more opportunities outside London.
Reflecting on her own experiences, she said: “I don’t think they would have the same opportunities that I had, and a lot of it is financial.”
She recalled the financial difficulties she faced when she first moved to London for work:
“When I went down to London and they gave me the job… it’s so expensive. It’s so obvious, isn’t it? You’re cutting an awful lot of people out. I honestly wouldn’t have been able to afford to live in London, but for the fact that TV-am helped me.”
Kelly has previously spoken about the challenges she faced early in her career, including being told she would never succeed on television because of her Scottish accent.
Despite these obstacles, she has become one of Britain’s most recognisable TV personalities.
Recognition for 40 years in broadcasting
Last year, Kelly was honoured with a special BAFTA award for her “outstanding contribution” to broadcasting over four decades. Her career has spanned major events, including her coverage of the Lockerbie bombing, since she first joined TV-am in 1984.
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She was informed of her BAFTA recognition live on air by Good Morning Britain host Susanna Reid during her weekday show.
The industry needs more socioeconomic diversity
Kelly’s comments come amid wider discussions about the lack of working-class representation in television.
At the weekend, BBC chairman Samir Shah told The Times that the broadcaster needed “more variety” and “diversity of thought”—including more staff from “northern working-class” backgrounds.
According to the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre, fewer than 10% of people working in the TV, video, radio, and photography sectors in 2023 came from working-class backgrounds.
At the 2024 Edinburgh TV Festival, Countdown star Carol Vorderman and This Is England playwright and Sherwood creator James Graham also called for more working-class voices and stories in the industry.
With prominent figures like Lorraine Kelly speaking out, the issue of class representation in television is gaining increasing attention. However, whether broadcasters will take meaningful steps to address these disparities remains to be seen.
