BBC embroiled in race row after Carols from King’s broadcast

Viewers have complained to the BBC after its festive service Carols From King’s failed to feature a single non-white chorister.

None of the 13 singers on the programme, which aired on BBC2 on Christmas Eve, appeared to be from an ethnic minority.

The choir is made up of 16 boy choristers selected by their school, King’s College, and 14 undergraduates studying at Cambridge University.

One viewer told The Mail on Sunday: ‘All the young choristers were white. I’ve got mixed-race grandchildren and I was appalled.

‘I can’t believe that the King’s College School doesn’t have any black pupils who can sing.’

A spokesman for King’s said the line-up changed after some of the singers were forced to self-isolate due to coronavirus.

‘King’s College is a diverse community whose commitment to equality of access and wider participation is reflected in every aspect of College life,’ they said.

‘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.’

Viewers complained to the BBC after none of the choristers involved in Christmas Eve’s ‘Carols from King’s’ appeared to be of non-white heritage

The BBC said one of the adults shown in the service is of Japanese heritage. 

Carols From King’s has become a traditional and popular part of the BBC’s festive coverage, starting in 1954 as an offshoot of the longer A Festival of Lessons and Carols service.

The Cambridge Independent reported that the two choral scholars due to take part in the carols, which were recorded earlier in December, were forced to drop out after testing positive for Covid-19.

As a result there was a call up for six of The King’s Singers, an internationally renowned vocal group formed by Cambridge graduates, who filled their places at 48 hours notice.

The Rev Dr Stephen Cherry, dean of King’s College, said: ‘We are all hugely grateful to The King’s Singers for stepping up at the last minute. 

None of the 13 singers on the programme, which aired on BBC2 on Christmas Eve, appeared to be from an ethnic minority

‘King’s College Choir has been preparing for our Christmas broadcasts for months while following strict safety protocols, so it was particularly disappointing that the choral scholars couldn’t be with us for the filming.’

King’s has also been criticised previously for not admitting female members into it’s choir, with the decision not to said to be down to the ‘unique choral sound’ of boys and men.

British soprano Lesley Garrett said: ‘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.’

‘I’m not saying we should abolish boys’ choirs. I just think we need to work harder to give girls the parity of opportunity. In other words, equality.’

2020 was also the first time the service was recorded without a congregation.

One viewer told The Mail on Sunday: ‘All the young choristers were white. I’ve got mixed-race grandchildren and I was appalled. I can’t believe that the King’s College School doesn’t have any black pupils who can sing’

Dr Halima Begum, the CEO of the race equality think tank Runnymede Trust, said she was ‘disappointed’ that King’s ‘could not set an example for inclusivity’ for BAME students.

‘The Festival of Carols from Kings is an iconic service that is broadcast around the world each Christmas.

‘It is unfortunate this year that Kings School could not bring together a choir that contained any visible minorities.

‘I understand that Covid played a part in this, and it is important that we recognise that this is indeed an exceptional year in terms of the impact of the pandemic on our best-laid plans.

‘Clearly there is a concern that BAME representation in UK public schools mainly constitutes fee-paying students from overseas.

‘Given the tax breaks available to public schools, I trust that Kings is doing everything it possibly can to expand its scholarship offer to include working class children, whether BME or White.

‘In doing so, as an extremely important cultural and educational institution, Kings could set an example for inclusivity that resonates not just around the country but the entire world.’