A 77-year-old actor has accused television producers of resorting to "insulting" stereotypes when portraying older characters, saying broadcasters are prioritising younger audiences while underestimating the depth and complexity older viewers could bring to drama and comedy. The criticism comes as a new report from the Freeview channel network Great! finds millions of Britons aged 55 and over feel "left behind" by modern programming.
Chris Conil, who has appeared as an extra in shows including EastEnders, Silent Witness and The Bill, said ageing should be presented as "a chapter, not the final page" and called on writers and producers to give mature characters substantive stories rather than treating them as "grumpy, feeble or comic relief." "We are like fine wine, matured, but still with flavour. When you uncork us, there is anticipation, richness and character," he said.
The Great! network's report, titled "The Upper Third," found that roughly a third of the UK population is aged 55 or over — about 22 million people — and that more than a quarter (26 percent) of those respondents feel forgotten by today's TV producers despite being the heaviest television audience. The study reported that over-55s watch an average of three hours and 42 minutes of television a day. The research surveyed 2,092 people aged 18 to over 75, with additional research of 2,060 people over 55 conducted in August 2025.
The report said 85 percent of over-55s feel they are not portrayed positively on television, with that figure rising to 89 percent for women over 75. It also found that 63 percent of over-55s believe older actors in modern dramas tend to play "offensive," "doddering" or other stereotypical characters who are often the "butt of the joke." In a recent seven-day period, the five terrestrial channels reportedly screened just nine classic shows, representing less than 5 percent of total programming, the network said.
Great! is relaunching with an explicit focus on older viewers, offering channels including Great! TV, Great! Action, Great! Mystery and, from this month, Great! Christmas. The relaunch began at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 4 on Freeview channel 34 and features programming such as Rising Damp, Murder, She Wrote and the Carry On films. "Britain's most loyal TV viewers are 'not young', and so they're being routinely ignored by broadcasters," said Kate Gartland, marketing director for Great!. "Our core audiences are telling us loud and clear they feel left behind and want somewhere to watch their favourite shows — and that's exactly what we're giving them at Great!."
Conil, a former baker who later ran a retirement home and managed a hotel in East Sussex, has worked as a local councillor and commercial model and turned to acting in later life. He appears in a new series of adverts for Great! TV and pointed to recent projects that he sees as progress. He praised the BBC drama Happy Valley and the sitcom The Vicar of Dibley for strong writing that "appeal across generations," and called Netflix's adaptation of Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club novels a "good start" for creating substantive roles for mature actors.
The actor added that television can play an "integral" role in older people's lives, particularly for residents of care homes, where programming can help keep memories alive and foster social bonds. He urged producers to avoid patronising portrayals: "Give us characters with proper stories, not cardboard cut-outs. If you respect older viewers, they'll be loyal and spread the word. But right now, we're being let down."
Industry discussion about representation of older people on screen has grown as broadcasters and streaming services assess audience demographics and commissioning priorities. The Great! network has framed its relaunch as a direct response to the research findings and as an effort to restore classic and family-oriented programming that it says has been reduced on mainstream schedules.
The debate over how to represent ageing on television — whether through comedy, drama or reality formats — remains active, with advocates urging a wider range of roles for older performers and more programming that recognises older audiences' cultural and economic influence. Conil and Great!'s research both underscore a gap between viewing habits and on-screen representation that broadcasters may face pressure to address as networks reassess content strategies.