The BBC is failing to ensure diversity in its employment practices, broadcasting watchdog Ofcom said yesterday as it called for a “step change” across the industry.

The regulator said the broadcaster “should lead the way” in reflecting the make-up of society but was failing in a number of areas.

Just 6 per cent of senior jobs at the BBC are held by people from an ethnic minority background.

This would suggest that ethnic minority employees are less likely to be promoted than other staff, Ofcom cautioned.

As for female representation, the BBC ranked fourth overall when rated against Channel 4, ITV, Sky and Channel 5 owner Viacom.

Ofcom also found that the BBC employs 8 per cent more men than women over the age of 50, with older men generally more likely to be employed by the broadcasters than their female counterparts.

The BBC was recently forced to publish details of its top earners, which revealed that two-thirds of its stars raking in more than £150,000 are men.

Ofcom also found that half of disabled people feel under-represented by broadcasters.

Responding to the report, the BBC said it had set itself targets for 2020, adding: “Figures we’ve already published in 2017 show we have increased our representation across the board including in our female, LGBT, BAME and disability workforce.”

Shadow culture secretary Tom Watson said: “The most shocking fact is that just 3 per cent of the broadcasting workforce has a disability, compared with 18 per cent of the population.
 
“Our television represents who we are as a nation and those who work on and off screen should represent the whole country, not just part of it.”