BRITAIN’S GOT Talent judge Alesha Dixon is not telling us anything we don't know when she says that women of colour are still being discriminated against by television companies.
Newsreader Moira Stuart is the obvious example. She has been relegated to a demeaning role as Chris Evans' sidekick on his BBC Radio 2 breakfast show.
For once I'm not dissing Chris Evans or my broadcasting mentor, BBC radio Controller Bob Shennan. At least they are astute enough to appreciate Moira's talents enough to offer her that gig when she was unceremoniously dissed from her television role as Britain's premier newsreader - irrespective of colour. But it defies logic that this national treasure (which I am sure everybody will agree that Moira is) is no longer a regular on prime time TV.
Moira of course is not the only one. We have seen black women come and go on our telly screens. DJ Elayne went from presenting Top of the Pops to the relative obscurity of presenting Sista Talk on my online channel Colourtelly, where she displayed all the skills of a consummate broadcaster. For my money no other presenter on telly has her charm and charisma, not to talk of skill. Not Jonathan Ross or any of those stars. So why is she not on telly? Is it because she is black? We just can't prove it.
The same goes for Trish Adudu. What a great sports presenter she was for Channel 5 when they first started. And why has the comic genius that is Angie Le Mar not had her own TV show to knock the spots off French and Saunders?
Black women have got talent. We done know that already. But big up Alesha for reminding us. Sistas have got so much talent it's scary. If only the Prime Minister realised that. If he were to become the first leader of this country to utilise the talents inherent in women of African origin, he would find a way out of the economic mess we find ourselves in. Look at history. The black woman has been in sorrow's kitchen, licked out all its pots and still she stands stronger and predominant despite the ignominy of prejudice. But if Britain does not appreciate her talents, there are many new channels coming out of West Africa that will. WATCH THIS SPACE.