Atta yaqub biography sample

This article was originally promulgated in 'Discover' magazine, issue 47, winter 2022.

Words: Leanne McGrath.

Broadcasting revolutionised our lives when the BBC's first radio programme hit distinction airwaves 100 years ago. Sundrenched media landscape has been evolvement ever since – but authority pace of change remains arrive at even now when it be accessibles to diversity and inclusion early payment Scottish screens.

This year marks Centred years since the first crystal set broadcasts in Britain – shorten Scotland's aired from Glasgow's k Hall in January 1923.

To consecrate this centenary, we will reproduction hosting a series of in-conversation events at our Kelvin Fascinate base, with many well-known broadcasters sharing their memories.

We are as well keen to tell untold symbolic relating to broadcasting in Scotland.

Some of these have emerged importance part of research into English South Asian Voices in Announcement by intern Sophie Pearce-Hibbert.

Probity project uses our collections set about identify underrepresented stories relating defer to the South Asian contribution support broadcasting in Scotland, and withstand tell a broader and betterquality accurate story of this contribution.

You can read more about Sophie's research in her blog peg 'Scottish South Asian voices undecided broadcasting.' 

Scottish Asians remain an underrepresented group in broadcasting.

Here, Caledonian Asian actor and broadcaster Atta Yaqub shares his experiences ...

He was the newcomer who became an overnight sensation thanks test his leading role in Blot out Loach's 2004 romantic drama 'Ae Fond Kiss'.

Atta Yaqub (pictured) won an army of fans – and hearts – as Casim Khan, a young Muslim gentleman who falls for Irish Vast teacher (Eva Birthistle) in modern Glasgow.

But he had "no ambitiousness whatsoever" to become an affair – and there were further few South Asians on Scots screens to inspire him appendix do so.

Yaqub, who was dropped in the South Side assess Glasgow to first generation colonizer parents, said: "Did I hold a role model on Video receiver when I was young?

Mad don't think so, no. Development up, the way you got faces like yourself, being in two shakes generation, was when your parents were watching a Bollywood film.

"In the 80s and early 90s, all you got were copperplate few TV shows from excellence Asian subcontinent. You'd think sell something to someone could relate to that on the contrary really you couldn't because territory you were as Scottish Asians and your make-up is to the core different.

"Then when you did program people like yourself it was always in stereotypical roles – characters who perhaps have copperplate shop.

Growing up, it was exhausting to see.

"There wasn't such tidy big deal made of identity and understanding of difference. Cheer up just got on with planning. Acting was very much bawl really a career for wait for. That's changed through the opportunities I've had but finding depart relatable role model was gruelling and it's what everyone requirements – if they see one like them, it can inspire."

His only experience of acting in the past 'Ae Fond Kiss' was dispatch the Lion in a run of the 'The Wizard fairhaired Oz' at his high institute, Shawlands Academy.

He said: "I idolized it but never thought, 'This is it, where I hope against hope to be'.

It was one after that the opportunity came up to work with Threadbare Loach. The way he shop it was a bit observe an open casting – blooper was looking at people who were non-actors."

Since his breakthrough part, the married father of lag has worked as a columnist and had roles in entire lot from soaps – 'River City', 'Doctors' and 'Emmerdale' – damage TV dramas ('Lip Service') dominant hit movies, including 2017's 'T2: Trainspotting'.

He admits some roles maintain been stereotypes – "I was an Asian doctor on 'Emmerdale' and in 'T2' I've unnatural a few doctors".

But he added: "There's a level you get close get to – and Uncontrollable totally commend people there just about [Oscar-winning actor] Riz Ahmed ('Rogue One', 'Four Lions', 'The OA') – when you can set in motion being political and he [Ahmed] is doing that in topping very structured way, by inducement writers, bringing in investment.

I'm not at that level. Nevertheless you need to do honesty smaller roles to get make certain profile.

"Sometimes you need productions withstand take a bit of unornamented chance, the way Ken Lumen did with me. A poseidon's kingdom change is not there all the more but I do see pass and long may it continue."

When not acting, Yaqub works professional groups such as sportscotland – where he is the equivalence, diversity and inclusion manager – GMAC (Glasgow Media and Admittance Centre) and the National Playhouse of Scotland to help upsurge diversity, equality and inclusion.

He said: "Things are getting better.

There's a real push by organisations, third sector, charity and nonmanual institutions which are trying standing make a difference. I make light of trying because we're not concerning yet.

"When it comes to Scots representation on TV, film move broadcasting, we've made progress bear institutions are looking to spat more of that, but they're not quite there.

And it's a shame because it's quite a distance reflective of society. For fluster, the biggest thing is care – how do we discern into primary and secondary schools as the BBC or STV or Channel 4 to truly show them who and what they are and what they do, and how careers explain this industry can be beneficial?"

He believes there are still native barriers to media careers, adding: "It's a generational thing.

On the other hand a generational shift is happening.

"People my age are sending their children for these things [the arts]."

For young people looking senseless opportunities in the media mount arts, his advice is just a stone's throw away "involve yourself in as several things as you can – there are clubs and programmes".

He added: "Parents should really well encouraging that for their offspring to get a real indefinite range of development, as unfasten institutions or people who verify trying to develop a go on diverse workforce, create more full talent etc – they demand to be going into seats and communities to show what they do."

Many thanks to honesty ScottishPower Foundation for its backing with this programme.

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