Comedy Citizen Khan is to move to a pre-watershed slot on BBC1, a move its creator said showed the corporation is taking the need to increase ethnic diversity onscreen seriously.
Citizen Khan switches from 9.30pm to 8.30pm for its third series, which returns to BBC1 on 31 October.
Writer and star Adil Ray said that gaining mainstream slots such as this was “more important than anything for the future of diversity” on British TV.
“I think the future for myself or newcomers coming into it is the mainstreaming of diversity. It’s absolutely key,” Ray added.
“Provided we are writing or performing at a high enough standard and are equals to those we work alongside then we really ought to be seen in those big slot times alongside the big champion primetime shows on BBC, ITV and Sky.
Ray - who received death threats after the first series launched two years ago - said the BBC had “made great strides if you look at gender representation ... to give them credit they didn’t mess around and I think probably the same thing needs to happen with diversity”.
When the comedy about self-appointed Birmingham community leader Mr Khan and his family launched in 2012 it aired at 10.30pm but as it has grown has been moved forward in the schedule each series.
Ray said Citizen Khan’s new timeslot also signalled “a desire to get to the families watching TV”.
He added: “For the future of BBC1 a lot of it probably depends on shows like this, I think that’s why talent shows and shows like Bake Off have worked – big events that families can watch together. I think there’s a desire for that to be the same for Citizen Khan.”
Family sitcoms such as 2.4 Children were once the mainstay of BBC1 but have not fared well in recent years, since the demise of My Family in 2011.
Ray said he had always seen Citizen Khan as a pre-watershed show.
“We’re very much a family sitcom. We naturally fall into that kind of bracket and I think that’s great. The kind of show we’re making it’s funny but it’s got heart ... and those kind of family relationships play well in that 8.30pm broader slot.”
A BBC spokeswoman said the decision to move Citizen Khan pre-watershed was because, “it’s a family comedy that feels the right fit for an 8.30pm slot and with the potential to reach an even broader audience in its third series”.
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