Cornwall MPs urge TV shows to depict local culture

Ministers are calling for depictions of Cornwall to be realistic rather than idealistic

Ministers are calling for TV programmes to show the "true Cornwall" rather than be "adverts for second home owners".

Steve Double, MP for St Austell and Newquay, spoke on Monday during a debate on the Media Bill, which aims to update broadcasting laws.

Cornish MP George Eustice suggested that as a national minority, the Cornish should feature more on the BBC.

The BBC said it was committed to accurately showing Cornwall's "distinctive" heritage.

Mr Double noted the increased interest in Cornish culture and history following the success of TV programmes such as the BBC's Poldark.

However, he said programmes should "present the picture of true Cornwall and our history, our heritage and culture".

"What we don't want is programmes which I could perhaps describe as adverts for more second home owners that just present the sort of picture postcard, idealistic view of Cornwall."

He argued more could be done to reflect the Cornish in its TV and radio programmes.

The BBC period drama Poldark was filmed in Cornwall and concluded in 2019

Mr Eustice agreed and said recognition of Cornwall's special status by the BBC could lead the public broadcaster to "approach local radio" differently.

He said: "At the moment it just treats it like it is any old other part of England."

The Cornish were recognised as a national minority by the government in 2014, with the aim of giving the regional identity special protection.

A BBC spokesperson said: "Cornwall has an important and distinctive cultural heritage, and the BBC is committed to ensuring that this is accurately portrayed in our content."

They pointed to the commissioning of the BBC's first Cornish language (Kernewek) programmes for BBC iPlayer, which were written and produced by Cornish filmmakers.

They also said Radio Cornwall's An Nowodhow (the News in Cornish) has been moved to a prime Friday breakfast slot and and the organisation is working with Screen Cornwall and Cornwall Council to support the next generation of local talent.

On one of the challenges that residents in the county are experiencing, the spokesperson said: "We've also covered the topic of housing in Cornwall from a number of different angles and are committed to fair and impartial reporting on the subject."

In Monday's discussion, culture minister Julia Lopez confirmed that culture and heritage were "directly addressed" in the updated public service remit for TV.

This meant that Ofcom had to ensure that public service broadcasters reflected different local areas across the UK, she said.