Jason Watkins says the lead role in 'McDonald and Dodds' was consciously given to a black actress in order to reflect modern society.
Jason Watkins
The 53-year-old actor stars alongside Tala Gouveia in the new ITV detective drama, and Jason has admitted the lead role was "purposely" given to a black actress.
He told the Daily Mail newspaper: "You've got a black female officer and this white guy - it's a good thing, showing our society now in the format of a traditional programme.
"It is purposely done [putting a black character in] and I think that it's important."
Jason - who played Prime Minister Harold Wilson in the third series of Netflix drama 'The Crown' - also bemoaned the lack of diversity at big award shows, such as the BAFTAs and the Oscars.
He said: "Coming back off the Oscars, we in this show have had an opportunity to join the debate.
"I'm a member of BAFTA and we are very concerned about diversity but people need to make programmes that reflect our society and the body of diverse people in it.
"Colour-blind casting - we are making a gesture towards it and that's deliberate."
Jason said that in the long term, he hopes to see an increasing amount of diversity on TV screens.
Reflecting on the current landscape in the TV and movie industries, the award-winning star added: "You have to take risks but if you make something good people will watch."
Meanwhile, Tala has revealed what attracted her to the new ITV show.
The actress shared: "[McDonald] is a great female lead and as a young woman of colour, is the boss of a middle-aged white man.
"That's partly what drew me towards it. It's a little bit different and not necessarily the representation I have seen growing up or watching detective shows."
Tagged in Jason Watkins