Laurence Fox blasts Channel 5 over Tudor drama

Actor and one-time Mayor of London candidate Laurence Fox hit out at TV present Anne Boleyn final evening, declaring ‘the diversity agenda is racism’.

The Channel 5 drama, which solid black actress Jodie Turner-Smith within the title position, had sparked debate forward of its broadcast.

But 43-year-old Fox – who's finest identified for taking part in DS James Hathaway in Lewis – additionally objected to Anne sharing a kiss with Jane Seymour on display screen.

He posted on Twitter: ‘Anne Boleyn was a straight white female.

‘Stick that in your diversity pipe. The Diversity agenda is racism. Pure and simple.

‘Only trans actors can play trans characters. Only gay actors should play gay characters. Actors apologising for playing limb different characters. (Anne Boleyn had 6 fingers on her right hand). But black actors can play white limb different characters.

Laurence Fox, an actor himself, said that Anne Boleyn was ‘a straight white female’

Jodie Turner-Smith is the primary black actress to play Anne Boleyn and has addressed the position

Kiss: During the primary episode, Jodie as Anne shared a young onscreen kiss with love rival Jane Seymour, performed by Lola Petticrew

Laurence Fox took to Twitter to offer his ideas on the Anne Boleyn Channel 5 drama

‘For the record, I think any actor of any sexual orientation, skin colour or body difference can play any character. Hence why it’s referred to as “acting”

‘But it has to be consistent, otherwise it’s simply discrimination.’

The three-part drama re-imagines the ultimate months of the doomed queen as she struggles to safe a future for her daughter and to problem the highly effective patriarchy closing in round her.

Many viewers praised Jodie for her ‘brilliant’ portrayal, however some had been left ‘unimpressed’ by the ‘historical inaccuracies’ within the script through the first instalment and claimed they had been ‘expecting more’ from the present.

One particular person mentioned: ‘Just watched the new #anneboleyn programme and i’m actually undecided but.

‘There are certain parts I love but certain parts that seem quite out of character. I’ll reserve judgement till i’ve seen it in its entirety however for now..i’m not sure.’

Thoughts: Jodie mentioned whereas some viewers would possibly discover it arduous to see her because the doomed second spouse of Henry VIII (pictured), she was positive others had been ‘finally ready’ to see her within the position

Candid: Jodie mentioned, ‘For a lot of other people who are finally ready to see the world in a different way, they’re going to see that it is a human story we're telling’

A distinct account put: ‘Really wanted to like this as I’m an avid Tudor period fan…..however after 30 minutes I’d had sufficient. Henry too feeble, the court docket felt very flat & boring and no depth to the characters. #disillusioned #AnneBoleyn.’

During the primary episode, Jodie as Anne shared a young onscreen kiss with love rival Jane Seymour, performed by Lola Petticrew.

The opening instalment additionally concerned racy intercourse scenes between Anne, performed by Jodie, and Henry VIII, performed by Mark Stanley, with one second seeing the doomed queen strangle her husband earlier than placing on a passionate show.

During the primary episode, it sees a pregnant Anne blindsided by the realisation that Henry has an eye fixed on one among her women, Jane Seymour, who ultimately goes on to succeed her as the Queen of England.

Last month, Jodie mirrored on being the primary black actress to be solid as Anne Boleyn in Channel 5’s three-part drama.

Speaking to Radio Times, The Queen and Slim star admitted that she knew it is likely to be ‘a stretch’ for some viewers to see her because the doomed second spouse of Henry VIII, however mentioned she was positive others had been ‘finally ready’ to see her within the position.

Jodie is the primary black actress to painting Anne, and he or she follows within the footsteps of Natalie Dormer, Claire Foy and Natalie Portman by taking part in the historic half.

She informed the publication: ‘It’s way more approachable and interesting to a recent viewers once you solid this fashion as a result of we're distilling this all the way down to a human expertise.

‘If you ask anyone to watch a film or to observe any art, you are asking them to suspend their beliefs.

‘I am aware it’s going to be a stretch for some individuals as a result of they'll really feel too distracted by that, however I believe for lots of different people who find themselves lastly able to see the world otherwise, they’re going to see that it is a human story we're telling, and an interesting one at that.’