SCOTLAND’S literary canon is rarely represented on screen because TV commissioners are based down south, an MSP has said.
Joan McAlpine said the BBC repeated big-budget adaptations of the classics of English literature every few years – but ignored famous Scottish books.
She said Holyrood’s culture committee, which she convenes, had been told by industry figures that drama decisions “are really made in London”.
She said: “Our whole canon of Scottish literature, for example, is very, very seldom portrayed on television, whereas – much as I love Dickens – there’s been about three or four repeats.
“Every few years the BBC repeats a big-budget drama version of the classics of English literature.
“But they don’t usually – ever, actually – reflect the Scottish canon. And that’s something that comes up all the time when you speak to the cultural sector in Scotland.”
Ms McAlpine also questioned whether BBC bosses should ask potential job applicants if they are Scottish in order to "ensure diversity".
She made the comments as Kevin Bakhurst, director of content and media policy at broadcasting watchdog Ofcom, gave evidence to MSPs on the culture committee.
He agreed that “where commissioners are based and who they talk to – and how easy it is to pitch to them – is a really important part of improving portrayal and representation”.
However he said that while having the “right people” based in Scotland is “really important”, it wasn’t for Ofcom to decide where staff should be based.
He added: “The BBC is in a better position to make those kind of decisions and they should be.”
Responding to the question as to whether job applicants should be asked if they are Scottish, he said: “Oh, I don’t know. That’s opening a can of worms. I think you better put that to the BBC rather than to us.”
Ms McAlpine said it wasn’t just the BBC failing to represent Scotland – pointing the blame at Channel 4 too.
She said a list of recent “Scottish productions” had included a show in which TV gardener Alan Titchmarsh followed in the footsteps of Winnie-the-Pooh creator A A Milne, visiting Sussex and Harrods toy department in London.
Green MSP Ross Greer also raised concerns over the BBC’s failure to adequately represent working class people.
Mr Bakhurst said social background was “one of the hardest things to measure”, but insisted broadcasting bosses are focused on improving representation.
He added: “It’s certainly one of the issues we will be looking at. We have all identified it as a significant area.”
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