The Stage

King to be Channel 4’s head of diversity

Published Friday 9 January 2009 at 17:35 by Matthew Hemley

Former Labour MP Oona King has been appointed head of diversity at Channel 4.

In her role, Channel 4 said King, who is currently senior policy advisor to the prime minister on equalities and diversity, will “champion diversity across all Channel 4’s activities, both on and off-screen”.

The broadcaster said she will work with external suppliers to ensure that similar standards and policies are applied across all production and business activities on behalf of Channel 4.

King will report directly to Channel 4 chief executive Andy Duncan when she takes up her new post in the spring.

Channel 4 announced its intention to appoint a head of diversity when unveiling its Next on 4 strategic blueprint last year, which also included initiatives designed to renew Channel 4’s commitment to reflecting social diversity on and off-screen.

Duncan said: “Oona has an impressive mix of experience. Her appointment signals our ambition to take the lead in helping broadcasting better reflect the diversity of modern Britain. I’m very hopeful that she can play a pivotal role in improving portrayal, attitudes and working practice, not just at Channel 4 but right across the industry.”

King said that Channel 4 had been an “amazing platform for diverse voices and perspectives from across British society for more than a quarter of a century”, but added: “There’s more work to be done to connect and reflect social minorities within mainstream broadcasting, and I’m very much looking forward to this challenge.”

King, a broadcaster and writer, was the MP for Bethnal Green & Bow from 1997 to 2005, and her diaries were published by Bloomsbury in 2007.