The Stage

Equity demands more variety shows and TV drama

Published Monday 10 August 2009 at 17:09 by Matthew Hemley

Equity is calling on broadcasters and production companies to make more dramas and variety-led entertainment shows that employ professional performers, instead of filling schedules with talent searches like The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent.

The union argues that such series demonstrate audiences have an appetite for variety shows, but says television producers should draw on the talent of professionals rather than create formats in which members of the public provide the entertainment.

In a motion being submitted to the Trades Union Congress next month, the union says television producers have developed a “continuing reliance” on reality television formats to “attract large audiences”.

Equity’s motion criticises such shows for giving “young people the misleading idea that it is easy to get in to and succeed in the entertainment industry”.

“The public’s demand for high quality entertainment should be met by professional drama and light entertainment,” the motion adds.

If passed, the TUC will campaign for “more variety and light entertainment, comedy and original drama to be commissioned in the UK, drawing on the talents of professional performers”.

Martin Brown, Equity assistant general secretary for communications and membership support, said the motion was important in stressing how the performing arts “is not just a bit of fun, but a serious career for serious people”.

“Our members consistently say to us we don’t want reality TV and it’s replacing drama. We would always argue for more original drama and light entertainment rather than other sorts of TV because that is where our members get their work,” he said.

The motion being submitted to the TUC also demands production companies pay national minimum wage to those who make the finals of television talent shows.

For more on this story see this week’s edition of The Stage.