Only 5.3% of Actors in U.K. TV Commercials Are Minorities

The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising, is trying to encourage ethnic diversity in British advertising, in a bid to avoid the controversy over the under-representation of minorities in advertising that dogs the U.S. ad industry.

Retailer Marks & Spencer's campaign from Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R features people from a range of ethnic backgrounds and different nationalities.

An IPA study released recently shows that people from black, Asian or other minority ethnic groups appeared in only 5.3% of U.K. TV commercials over the last year, even though they make up 13% of the population.