Elsewhere in his speech, Graham spoke out in support of public service broadcasters, saying they should not be taken for granted.
He said of critics of the BBC: “Don’t they realise that without the BBC we will lose our competitive advantage over US markets? That British stories set in British communities and featuring British characters are protected by the licence fee and could perish without it?”
Elsewhere, Graham suggested that the new Labour government should give culture an active role in this promised national renewal – and not just keep it at a distance, in its own silo on the fringes of policy-making, as so often happens.
He added: “Creativity and arts subjects have been systematically removed from the English education system over the last 15 years.”
“Almost half of all drama teachers have disappeared from state schools since 2010. The number of hours for music and dance has been drastically reduced.
“That’s why it’s so important that we all remind the new government of its promise to bring creative subjects back into the core curriculum. All of us – here, on TV, not just in the arts.”
A A spokesman for the UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said the government was “fully committed” to strengthening the contribution that “all people, everywhere, can make to our national story” and an inquiry had been launched into giving young people greater access to creative education.
“British storytelling on television must reflect the full diversity of people, communities and experiences in the UK,” they said.
Graham also addressed artificial intelligence (AI), a controversial topic in the industry, saying it cannot replace the creativity of writing.
While acknowledging the threat posed by artificial intelligence, he added that audiences are likely to reject art that is not created by human creativity.
“Despite all of AI’s so-called efficiency benefits and the very real threat to jobs, I firmly believe that it will actually be audiences who reject its interference in writing, content creation and art.
“The reason you cry when you hear a Taylor Swift song is because of the connection that comes from knowing that someone else has felt the same way you did. It makes you feel less alone in your pain.”
