BBC to host conference to examine authenticity of British drama

On Monday December 6, the UK's leading television drama professionals will come together at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta) in London to tackle one of the key issues in broadcasting today: just how credible is output for television drama?
The BBC, this year's Chair of the Cultural Diversity Network (CDN), is hosting the conference, entitled 'Is This Really Me?'
Hosted by Mark Lawson, presenter of Radio 4's flagship arts programme 'Front Row' and of BBC Two's 'Newsnight Review', the debate will examine whether television drama in the UK is authentic and how successfully it reflects the diversity of modern life in Britain today.
The panel includes: Jane Tranter, Controller of Drama Commissioning, BBC Television; Corinne Hollingworth, Head of Continuing Series, ITV; John Yorke, Head of Drama, Channel 4 (soon to move to the BBC); Lennie James, actor & screenwriter; Carol Harding, drama producer & writer; Mahmood Jamal, drama producer & writer; Peter Salmon, Chair of the CDN for 2004, and the BBC's Director of Sport.
Salmon said: "The aim of the Cultural Diversity Network is to change the face of television so that it truly resonates with the audience.
"The most successful programmes are those that manage to capture the mood and reflect the social map of their time, so we're bringing together a rich variety of contributors who will help drive diversity forwards."
(GB)