Last year, the BAFTAS made the headlines for all the wrong reasons as not one actor of colour was nominated. After understandable uproar, this year is a massive improvement. In the acting categories, there are 16 nominees from ethnic minority backgrounds but leading this is Noel Clarke who has been praised for “bringing diversity to British screens”.

The announcement on Instagram reads, “We are very excited to announce that actor, producer, writer, and director Noel Clarke will receive the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award at the 2021 #EEBAFTAs. From his very first TV appearance over two decades ago in the ground-breaking Channel 4 series, Metrosexuality, Noel Clarke has played a pivotal role in bringing diversity to British screens in front and behind the camera and pushing under-represented talent and stories to the forefront of cinema and television.”

Clarke will be receiving the Outstanding Contribution To Cinema award on April 10th but has already taken to Instagram to say, ‘Thanks for all the support and the people that helped me along the way.”.

The Bulletproof actor first hit our screens on Kidulthood in 2006 and hasn’t stopped since. Continuing his on-screen journey he starred in the sequels Adulthood and Brotherhood before co-founding his production company Unstoppable Entertainment.

Noel is also rumoured to play protagonist in new ITV drama, Viewpoint and his police series with Ashley Walter, Bulletproof has been renewed for a fourth season.

[Image Source: Shutterstock & Sky]