The BBC 2 broadcast Carols from King’s College in Cambridge has been accused of racism after failing to include minority communities during the Christmas eve. Observers noted that of the 13 singers none was from ethnic minority communities in the United Kingdom. All the choristers were selected by the King’s college in Cambridge.
Those who watched the songs complained to the BBC following failure of the King’s College to feature ethnic minorities. The programme was aired on BBC2 on Christmas Eve.
The choir is traditionally comprised of 16 boy choristers who are selected by their school – King’s College as well as 14 undergraduates students at Cambridge University.
‘All the young choristers were white. I’ve mixed-race grand children and I was appalled,” said one of the viewers.
‘I can’t believe that the King’s College School doesn’t have any black pupils who can sing.’
Responding to the concerns, a spokesman for King’s college indicated that the line-up changed after some of the singers went into isolation due to Covid-19. The spokesman also indicated that King’s College is a diverse community.
‘Sadly, the diversity of the College was not expressed in the televised service because a number of participants were required to self-isolate just before filming commenced following positive tests for Covid-19.’
The BBC indicated that one of the adults involved in the service was of Japanese heritage.
The Carols From King’s College has been broadcast by the BBC since 1954. King’s College has in the past received criticism for not admitting female members into it’s choir.
‘Every Christmas I sit down to watch Carols from Kings, which is broadcast around the world, and every year I wonder where the girls are,’ wondered British Soprano Lesley Garett.
Already there is a concern that BAME representation in United Kingdom public schools consists of fee-paying students from other parts of the world.
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