Neighbours criticised for being 'too white'

Melbourne, July 18 : Popular Australian TV soap Neighbours has been labelled "too white" by black and Asian viewers in Britain.

According to a report by the nation's racial equality chief, ethnic viewers felt that they were being under-represented in some of Britain's most popular shows.

Even BBC's comedy programme The Vicar of Dibley starring Dawn French was criticised for being "all white''.

Other popular shows like BBC's Eastenders and ITV's Coronation Street have also been condemned for stereotypical characters such as Asian shopkeepers and black single mums.

Equality and Human Rights Commission chairman Trevor Phillips said many of Britain's major broadcasters remained "hideously white" when choosing programs.

"I don't think anybody here is saying British TV is racist,'' News.com.au quoted Phillips, as saying.

"There are minority faces on TV, but it's that we're not quite getting it right, because we do not really have any minority decision makers.

"White people who live next door to Asian neighbours will see a representation of an ethnic minority family and they will say, 'I don't think so, it doesn't ring true with the people I know','' he added.

ANI