Though, to be utterly clear, there were Black and Asian British people (and visitors to Britain) in any historical times a drama could cover, the costume dramas have no roles for them. Thandie Newton: “I love being here, but I can’t work, because I can’t do Downton Abbey, can’t be in Victoria, can’t be in Call The Midwife – well, I could, but I don’t want to play someone who’s being racially abused.”