Actress Sally Phillips has accused the BBC of employing a "heinous" percentage of female comedy writers, warning she may never work for the broadcaster again.
The 56-year-old star exposed the low proportion of women working behind the camera during an appearance on the Girls On Film podcast, where she was asked what has changed for women and underrepresented groups in screen comedy.
Phillips, who co-created and co-wrote the comedy sketch show Smack The Pony, acknowledged that while more women are performing and producing comedy, the industry remains heavily dominated by white men. She pointed out that only 11 per cent of all television comedies are directed solely by women, while at the BBC that figure drops to eight per cent.
Commenting that her honesty would jeopardise her relationship with the broadcaster, Phillips remarked: "I’m never going to be employed by the BBC again." She added that if directors married to BBC commissioners are removed from the statistics, the corporation's figure falls further to just three per cent.
Addressing writer numbers, Phillips noted that mixed writers' rooms account for around 17 to 18 per cent of television comedies, but solo pieces written by women are a lot lower. She highlighted that women of colour direct only 4.5 per cent of comedies, despite their work performing disproportionately well, and urged the industry to commission more work written and directed by women in general and women of colour in particular.
Disparity in Television Comedy
The actress explained that white men dominate comedy because individuals outside that group are not given opportunities or the chance to fail. Phillips is widely known for co-creating Channel 4's female-led sketch series Smack The Pony and playing Tilly in the BBC sitcom Miranda, which was created by comedian Miranda Hart.
The BBC, established as the public service broadcaster of the United Kingdom, produces television, radio, and online content. Despite the success of female-led projects, Phillips stressed that structural barriers continue to limit opportunities for female writers and directors across major network comedy output.
The comments follow Phillips recalling the "horrible" abuse directed at her 21-year-old son Olly after he featured in her 2016 BBC documentary, A World Without Down's Syndrome?. She shares Olly with her ex-husband, shipping director Andrew Bermejo.
Phillips released the documentary to highlight her family life and explore the unique joys and challenges of raising a child with Down's syndrome, a genetic condition associated with learning difficulties and distinct physical characteristics. However, she revealed that viewers posted online abuse targeting her son after the programme aired.
Abuse Following Down's Syndrome Film
Speaking to The Sunday Times, a British national newspaper, Phillips stated: "Olly has definitely been bullied online, and I feel like people with Down's Syndrome are more sensitive." She explained that individuals with the condition are more sensitive to grief while also experiencing great joy, adding that creating a safe social media environment would benefit everyone.
Phillips expressed strong skepticism about digital platforms, adding that she does not think "anything good has ever come out of social media." When asked if she would consider filming a follow-up documentary, the actress admitted that the previous film "cost her."
While she remains uncertain about producing another television documentary, Phillips affirmed her determination to continue writing comedic and dramatic projects that feature people with Down's syndrome.
