‘People can see themselves in a piece like this’: Great Expectations actor hits back at claims casting people of colour in period dramas is ‘woke’ and argues it is ‘accurate to the time’

Great Expectations actor Ashley Thomas has hit back at claims that casting people of colour in period dramas is ‘woke’ and said it is simply ‘accurate’ to the time.

Ashley, who stars as Jaggers in the BBC’s upcoming adaptation of Charles Dickens’ novel, said he thinks the casting choices set this version apart from ones before it.

The rapper, also known as Bashy, said viewers will be able to ‘see themselves’ in the production where they might have been previously ‘excluded’ from the cast.

He said a shifting in attitudes opened up the opportunity for him to play accomplished lawyer Jaggers, who has previously been portrayed by the likes of Robbie Coltrane and David Suchet.

Ashley told The Times of the casting: ‘[Producers] have really thought outside of the box, people can see themselves in a piece like this where they may have been excluded previously, just because of the nature of the way the world was at the time.’

Inclusion: Rapper Ashley, also known as Bashy, said viewers will be able to ‘see themselves’ in the production where they might have been previously ‘excluded’ from the cast

The cast also includes Olivia Colman as Miss Havisham while Fionn Whitehead stars as Pip, and Shalom Brune-Franklin takes the role of his love interest Estella.

Ashley hit back at claims the casting was ‘woke’ and said it instead shows what London was like at the time as society boasted a ‘melting pot of different cultures’.

He added: ‘You had people from Asia, Africa and the Caribbean, even before the Windrush era.

‘I think it is important that these shows show that representation. I don’t think it’s about being ‘woke’. It’s just about being accurate to the time.’

Ashley went on to say how important representation is – whether it is someone’s race, sexuality or religion – and said showing it on screen makes projects more true to real life.

The show’s writer Steven Knight also said the problems in Dickens’ novels are ‘timeless’ and simply follow the ‘human condition’, rather than being political.

The casting in Great Expectations comes after Netflix’s Bridgerton was highly praised for its a diverse cast, while Dev Patel recently starred in 2019’s The Personal History of David Copperfield.

It comes after it was revealed that the BBC has injected an anti-colonial message into its adaptation of Great Expectations.

Cast: Ashley stars as Jaggers in the BBC’s upcoming adaptation of Charles Dickens’ novel alongside Shalom Brune-Franklin as Estella (pictured) and Olivia Colman as Miss Havisham

Message: It was revealed the BBC has injected an anti-colonial message into its adaptation, with Magwitch (Johnny Harris) set to describe the Empire as having been ‘built on the lies of privileged white men’

Written by Peaky Blinders creator Stephen, the novel has been given a new twist, referencing the British Empire in some moments.

In one scene, criminal Magwitch, one of the central characters, describes the Empire as having been ‘built on the lies of privileged white men’, The Telegraph reported.

Asked by the newspaper if he is concerned about upsetting traditionalists, Stephen said: ‘It’s everyone’s right to react in the way they want to react.

‘But I would say that the book exists, it is still there. This is not an attempt to say the book is wrong or this is better.’

Set in the 19th century, the 1861 novel has been adapted into a slightly more modern drama which creators hope will attract new audiences to it.

The show’s lead actor, Fionn Whitehead, expressed his hope that the BBC’s dramatisation will make the canonical novel ‘more accessible for younger people’.

The actor, who is no stranger to period dramas having previously starring in Dunkirk, plays orphan Pip, the novel’s protagonist.

He said of the Empire while promoting the show: ‘The Empire was a horrible thing which involved a lot of British people going out and enslaving, pillaging and destroying a lot of cultures around the world.

Stars: It comes after the show’s lead actor, Fionn Whitehead, expressed his hope that the BBC’s dramatisation will make the canonical novel ‘more accessible for younger people’

Adaptation: Still set in the 19th century, the 1861 novel has been adapted into a six-part costume drama which creators hope will attract new audiences to it

‘It was powered by greed. If there’s anyone walking around believing that the Empire was a great thing they are kidding themselves.’

Great Expectations also stars The Split star Rudi Dharmalingam, 41, who plays Jagger’s assistant Wemmick, while This Is England’s Johnny Harris, 49, portrays escaped convict Magwitch.

Adult Material actress Hayley Squires, 34, also plays Pip’s sister Sara Gargery as Killing Eve actor Owen McDonnell, 49, takes on the role of her husband Joe Gargery.

The highly-anticipated six-part drama will be arriving on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from next Sunday.