Lorraine Kelly says BBC would not give her job due to 'working-class accent'

Lorraine Kelly on Working-Class Representation in Media

TV presenter Lorraine Kelly highlighted the urgent need for greater inclusion of working-class voices in the media during her appearance on the BBC’s Desert Island Discs. Kelly, a national TV figure since the mid-1980s, shared her personal experiences with industry challenges.

Early Career Challenges

Born and raised in Glasgow and later moving to East Kilbride as a teenager, Kelly revealed she was “crushed” when informed she would be denied a BBC job because of her “working-class Scottish accent.” She eventually secured a position at TV-am, thanks to an Australian executive who didn’t recognize her accent.

Concerns About Opportunities

“I really worry about working-class people not being given the opportunity that I had.”

“We talk about diversity quite rightly, but there’s a whole raft of working-class people of all colours, all creeds, all religions, who are being left behind.”

Kelly emphasized that the barriers mainly come down to financial constraints, explaining that many young people cannot afford to live in London, where media jobs are centered. This financial hurdle keeps deserving candidates from entering the industry.

Kelly’s Call for Change

“Things have to change. I have been through so many regime changes in my life. For me this is just another one, but it’s seismic.”

She stressed the importance of opening doors for working-class talent to ensure a truly diverse and representative media landscape.

Author's summary: Lorraine Kelly urges the media industry to dismantle financial and accent-based barriers, advocating for authentic working-class representation and equal opportunities.

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Glasgow Times Glasgow Times — 2025-11-02

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