BBC’s lack of black game show hosts is a sign of institutional racism, says Repair Shop host

Jay Blades, host of The Repair Shop, has claimed that the BBC’s lack of black game show hosts is a sign of institutional racism.

Mr Blades would like to host a game show of his own, and said the failure to hire black presenters for entertainment programmes “keeps the institution white”.

Speaking to Radio Times about his experience of working for the BBC, Mr Blades said he had held discussions about career opportunities.

“I’m fortunate. Someone asked me, ‘What shows do you want to be doing? Do you want to do Strictly?’ Do you want to do this, do you want to do that?

“I said I’d like to do a game show, as a a black person has never been a primetime game show host. That’s an institutionally racist organisation doing something that keeps the institution white. Plain and simple. The more you hide it, the less you are able to deal with what it is,” he said.

Asked how his request for a game show hosting job had been received, Blades said: “They’re still working on it. I had someone say to me, ‘We did have a black guy once do a game show. It was called Jungle blah blah blah…’ I said, ‘I’m just going to pause you there.”

In fact, the BBC’s Saturday night game show, The Hit List, has two black presenters: husband-and-wife team Marvin and Rochelle Humes.

A BBC spokesperson said: “The BBC is committed to representing all audiences across the UK and we are proud to have a diverse mix of talent hosting our game shows and quizzes.

“Most recently, Clive Myrie has been appointed as the new Mastermind host, Rochelle and Marvin Humes are currently hosting the third series of The Hit List, previously Ore Oduba hosted daytime quiz Hardball, and Alison Hammond co-hosted Saturday night game show The Time It Takes.”