The TV drama was praised but bosses must ensure black characters are supported by an environment “reflective” of their background.
TV detective Luther “doesn’t feel authentic” because he has no black friends and doesn’t eat Caribbean food, a BBC diversity boss has suggested.
Idris Elba plays detective Luther in the critically-acclaimed BBC drama of the same name, which has ran for five seasons since 2010.
Elba was praised by BBC creative diversity chief Miranda Wayland for playing a “really strong, black character lead” during the MIPTV conference..
She added though that by the second series, she was questioning the character’s authenticity.
Ms Wayland said that TV bosses must ensure that black characters are supported by an environment and culture that is “absolutely reflective” of their background.
She said: “When it first came out, everybody loved the fact that Idris Elba was in there. A really strong, black character lead. We all fell in love with Luther. Who didn’t, right?
“But after you got into about the second series, you were kind of like ‘okay, actually he doesn’t have any black friends, he doesn’t eat any Caribbean food, this doesn’t feel authentic’.
