MANY of the UK’s most popular drama, comedy and entertainment TV programmes have all been directed by men, according to a survey of women directors working in the country’s TV sector.
Say the organisers of the survey – which looked at a large sample of TV programmes broadcast over a ten-year period up to the end of 2012: “Analysis of programmes shows that the picture varies widely between programme genres, and is getting worse over time. Women are poorly represented directing drama, comedy and entertainment programmes; many of the most popular drama, comedy and entertainment programmes have never been directed by women. More factual output is directed by women, but here women directors mostly found work on programmes to do with body issues, food, or homes.”
The survey was undertaken by Directors UK.
Among the key findings… (figures relate to a sample of programmes broadcast during 2003-12, where specified figures for 2011-12 relate to just the last two years of the study):
Drama
* zero per cent of women directors have ever worked on many of what are deemed ‘popular dramas and entertainment shows';
* 13 per cent of all drama episodes were directed by women in 2011 and 2012;
* zero per cent of sci-fi/fantasy genre drama episodes were directed by women in 2011 and 2012; and
* nine per cent directed detective/crime serials in 2011 and 2012.
Entertainment and Comedy
* Eight per cent of all entertainment and comedy programmes featured were directed by women in 2011 and 2012; and
* 18 per cent of sitcoms and two per cent of game shows and panel shows were directed by women in 2011 and 2012.
Factual
* 50 per cent of all factual programmes (featured in the report) were directed by women compared to 69 per cent directed by men (the reason why greater than 100 per cent is because of programmes co-directed by men and women);
* 63 per cent of all programmes (featured in the report) about body and health were directed by women, compared to 50 per cent by men (ditto, the reason why greater than 100 per cent is because of programmes co-directed by men and women);
* 61 per cent of all factual programmes (featured in the report) about lifestyle and home were directed by women, compared to 72 per cent by men (ditto);
* 29 per cent of all programmes (featured in the report) about technology and science were directed by women, compared to 83 per cent by men (ditto); and
* 40 per cent of current affairs output (featured in the report) were directed by women, compared to 66 per cent by men (ditto).
Source: ‘Women Directors – Who’s Calling the Shots? Women Directors in British Television Production’, published by Directors UK, May 8 2014.
