BBC will spend £100m over three years to ensure 20% of its off-screen workforce is from minority or under-privileged groups and create 'inclusive' content 

The BBC has announced that it will spend £100 million of its TV budget to increase diversity and produce inclusive content over the next three years. 

It has vowed that 20 per cent of all its off-screen talent for its new commissions will come from under-represented groups.

Director general Tony Hall described the move, which will apply from April 2021, as a 'big leap'.

He said: 'The senseless killing of George Floyd - and what it tells us about the stain of systemic racism - has had a profound impact on all of us.

'It's made us question ourselves about what more we can do to help tackle racism - and drive inclusion within our organisation and in society as a whole.

'This is our response - it's going to drive change in what we make and who makes it. It's a big leap forward - and we'll have more to announce in the coming weeks.'

Under the plan, 20 per cent of off-screen talent, which may mean crew, writers, producers or directors, on all new network commissions has to be diverse.

All new BBC commissions will also need to meet two of three criteria. 

They are: Diverse stories and portrayal on-screen, diverse production teams and talent, and diverse-led production companies. 

The BBC will be setting out further plans in other production areas in the coming weeks. 

The cash injection will support diversity and inclusion across all genres of the BBC's TV content, including children's, education and current affairs. 

The corporations claims it is 'the biggest financial investment to on-air inclusion in the industry', adding that 'the media industry is not changing fast enough'.