3. Joy As Resistance: The Impact of Desmond’s

At the peak of its success, Desmond's was bringing in 5 million viewers, had 71 episodes, and for a long time, this was Channel 4's longest-running programme, until 2026, where comedy quiz show Sorry I Didn't Know secured a seventh series and its tenth year on air, making it the longest-running black-led comedy on British TV.

As well as the show's commercial success, writers who worked on Desmond's later went to work on EastEnders, Emmerdale and Coronation Street.

Trix established a training ground for up-and-coming black creatives in TV on the set of Desmond's.

Yet despite the proven popularity of the show, there hasn't been a black British sitcom with the same longevity since.

So Desmond's ended

in 1994.

It's now 2025.

There's not been a black British sitcom with the same longevity, the same kind of cultural reach, the same mainstream audience.

Why do you think that is?

I think that is because ultimately the broadcasters used to have once every 10 years.

that they had a black series it's only 10 years after desmond finished at the hand of crouches all right and before that was no problem before that it was loved our neighbor right so it's always a 10 year cycle for some reason i have no idea new generation coming through new game you know cultural gamekeepers that came to it oh we've got to do a black thing because actually it says so i'm here And I think that's the thing.

The other thing is that they never championed the actors in it.

You know, like No Problem, right? No Problem had phenomenal actors in there.

And The Real McCoy, which was a comedy sketch show.

If that was a white comedy sketch show, all those comedians in there would have had their own shows and gone on to become household names.

The only person that has become that is Mira.

And now she's Dame and she deserves all what she's got, really, to be honest with you.

I think she's a phenomenal woman.

And that's why we're not champion.

We're not taking up, you know, even Michaela.

Americans have gone come here whilst they were procrastinating here you know I will destroy you got enough plaudits people still procrastinating over here the Americans just went you know Jane Fonda got up there and said it's the best thing she's seen on TV since and she's been around so we are not supported that's the thing you know we should be nurtured like other talent but we're not because actually that's not how they see us And also, I think there's a big...

It goes down to even how they see the BBC, even see working class.

I hate EastEnders.

I hate the look of it.

I hate the way that they see working class people.