Last episode of this season’s McDonald and Dodds is out tonight on ITV, 8pm. Had a blast working on this one. Directed by the brilliant Sasha Ransome.
@Jason__Watkins
@mammothscreen
@ITV
I saw a tweet yesterday asking what we as an industry can do concerning race so here are some thoughts. A thread... (I hope! I’ve never done a thread)
#BlackLivesMattter
@BAMEBAMEBAMEE
@matthaig1
Yes, but they haven’t actually closed anything officially. And have thrown small businesses and theatres under the bus. Meaning they won’t be able to claim on insurance. It’s disgraceful. I totally agree on the stance though. But he should close them!
Confirmed: Brand new detective drama McDonald & Dodds starts Sunday 1 March at 8pm on ITV.
Starring Jason Watkins and Tala Gouveia. Set in Bath, the detective drama pairs the wildly ambitious DCI McDonald with the shy, modest DS Dodds.
@Jason__Watkins
@TalaGv
To all: are you listening? Are you seeing? Are you being conscious? Let's try and ask ourselves and each other questions and learn to grow instead of just to blame. Did anyone actually get to the end of this thread?
Looks like Dodds is going to have to keep his eyes on McDonald around his chips and butter... 👀🍟
We hope you enjoyed tonight's episode of
#McDonaldAndDodds
, thanks for watching and see you next week for more!
My brave and brilliant friend and his incredible wife have made a documentary about the loss of their daughter Maudie. Please watch tonight at 9pm on
@ITV
.
And so it begins...Britain is breaking its promise of better bee protections by allowing a bee-killing poison banned in the EU to be used on our fields! Let’s build a massive buzz to stop this. Sign & RT:
So excited that I can finally share this news! Gonna be playing lead detective in
@ITV
‘s new series
#Invisible
with the incredibly talented and hilarious
#JasonWatkins
. Watch out Bath- here we come!
Massive thank you to
@TalaGv
for sharing this lovely behind the scenes pic from tonight's
#McDonaldAndDodds
- can't wait to see it! ❤️
(l to r, Jason Watkins, Tala Gouveia, Patsy Kensit, Rupert Graves, Cathy Tyson, Martin Kemp, Rob Brydon)
As women are talking about their experiences of walking alone we are living in a time were the only way we can see our friends or family is to walk alone and meet someone outside, in a park or on the street. No wonder we are feeling so freaked out.
#shewaswalkinghome
Are you telling your white male clients that ‘It is a bad time to be a straight white male right now?’ Are you putting this victim narrative into their heads? Are you causing outrage instead of change?
Actors: Are you part of the narrative of “its a bad time to be white in the industry right now” Do you honestly believe this? Are you seeing white faces disappear from screen and theatre? Are you feeling underrepresented? Do you feel entitled to the majority of roles? If so, why?
Are you in lighting? Do you know how to light darker faces? What do you do when you have a white person next to a black person in a shot? Do you light the black person and risk having the white person look washed out or do you prioritise the white person
@scorpioredhair
@SpotlightUK
I was always told to wait for professional work to put on showreels. So didn’t have one my first few years in the industry. I imagine the people applying for low budget shorts are most likely at the beginning of their journeys and applying so they have reel content. Tricky cycle.
Do you say “I have no idea what to do with your hair?” then start touching it without asking? (There seems to be a silent social arrangement whereby people think they can just touch black peoples hair without asking. We don’t like it. Something to be conscious about.)
@CastingAsst
Also the other way around. Why is she a ‘black prostitute?’ Is there a reason in the script that the drugdealer is black, the maid. Etc etc etc. Is the script trying to add diversity but adding to an already stereotyping and damaging narrative?
If you are directing a scene about race or a specific culture and your actor has some thoughts or concerns. Are you listening to them? Are you getting outside guidance on issues or cultures that you are unfamiliar with?
Vote now for
#BestDramaPerformance
in the 2025
#TVChoiceAwards
! 🎭Celebrate incredible talent behind the most talked-about moments in TV. From heart-wrenching scenes to gripping suspense, these stars left a lasting impression! 🏆 Vote to win tickets
Just a reminder that black people do not have ‘race cards.’ We do not have a trump card that can be used because of the colour of our skin. Calling out injustice is hard and never a game. So stop saying that. You know who ‘played’ a race card?
#AmyCooper
Make up artists:
Do you know how to work with different hair textures? Do you find yourself straightening afro hair because it is easier for you? Do you research trends? Have you researched the political and social influences of afro hair- not just the fashion?
@FionaCrossUK
Stop tokenism, representation of black people as gangsters/ drug addicts, and making black characters the supporters to white narratives. Cast minorities in all roles not just ‘colour specific roles’ from scripts. Stop eliminating black people from history in period dramas.
Casting:
This may seem obvious: Are you putting black people on screen? But which races are you casting in different roles? Are you looking at the bigger picture? Are you casting black people as maids and drug dealers and prostitutes constantly?
Have you said “they only got the part because they’re black” “They are just ticking boxes?” If you have been around people saying this, do you challenge them? Do you understand the danger of this narrative?
If you have a racist grandparent please challenge them. Don’t just say it was different in their day. They were there when MLK was shot. When Mandela was freed. We cannot expect the young to change but let the old hold poison in their hearts. It’s never too late to learn.
#BLM
You may feel like you are not the producer or writer or casting director so have no say in the matter but we are all involved from a reader who’s interning to the audience. So here are some questions for you...
Are the black characters that you are casting often there to facilitate and support the stories of white characters? Do they have a narrative of their own? In this show DO they matter? I think the aim is not to do colour blind casting but conscious casting.
Audience: What are you watching? Do you always watch shows that represent you? Do you feel represented? Do you feel excluded when you don’t see ‘yourself’ onscreen. And why?
Agents:
How many black clients do you have? Are you putting them up for only roles where race is specified? Are you putting them up for those that aren’t? What type of roles are you putting them up for? Are you putting them up for roles in positions of power?
Is Boris Johnson just saying phrases to feel out book titles? I quite like ‘Thems the Breaks’ but it’s a no for ‘Hasta La Vista Baby,’ please don’t come back.
Ideas?
#BorisJohnsonBookTitle
If you want a black man clean shaven, do you know the best products or equipment to use for sensitive skin or ingrown hairs?
Do you have a large selection of skin tone shades available? Do you look at what colours suit skin tones?
Can we stop using ‘being sensitive’ as a weakness? This numbing ourselves and glorifying the unemotional has led to so much pain and poverty and heartache in all areas of all lives. Let yourself be effected. Feel. Listen within. Be sensitive. It’s a super power.
Directors:
Do you have say in casting? Who are you casting? Are you at the point in your career where you have a choice about what you are directing? What stories are you telling?
Crew, ADs, anyone:
Are you in a position to hire people or make suggestions? Are you hiring people of colour? Also are you hiring women? (another one to think about)
Producers:
How many of your writers are from minorities? What about your script editors? What about your script readers? Are you asking yourself who these stories resonate with? What voices are being heard? Are you thinking about your audience?
Tomorrow the conservatives will want MPs to vote to stop boats of vulnerable people coming to the UK. Please write to your MPs and ask them not to vote for this bill. It is inhumane.