A TV and radio presenter has blasted the BBC for ‘treating their staff like pets’ and confirmed he has quit his role.

Nihal Arthanayake, 54, has opened up about how he feels in his workplace and claims there’s a ‘lack of diversity’ at the broadcaster. 

The journalist first joined the BBC in 2002 when he became the co-host to BBC Radio 1’s Asian Beats show and has several different roles since.

The BBC presenter spoke candidly in a video on Instagram and said: ‘So today I walked into the BBC building in Salford and I was struck yet again, not for the first time, just how few black and Asian people work in that building.

‘And one thing that people have to understand is that when you walk into an environment where you just don’t see anybody that looks like you, that has an effect.

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TV and radio presenter Nihal Arthanayake (pictured) has blasted the BBC for ‘treating their staff like pets’ and confirmed he has quit

Nihal Arthanayake, 54, has opened up about how he feels in his workplace and claims there’s a ‘lack of diversity’ at the broadcaster

‘Since I called them out on it, well over a year ago, it seems like ain’t a damn thing changed.’

In the caption, Nihal revealed he would be leaving the BBC in September and elaborated on his concerns. 

The journalist penned: ‘I remember calling out BBC North on the lack of diversity in the building I worked in. 

‘I remember speaking to some of the black and asian people who worked there and I kept hearing how isolating it was for them (not all obviously). 

‘It just struck me again today. It also reminded why I ll be leaving in September. Have pondered whether to press ‘share’ on this, but as I am leaving anyway…’

The journalist shared a message he received from someone else who has worked at the BBC in another post.

It read: ‘I’m not sure the BBC is a place for people of colour I feel we get treated like ‘pets’, that we should be so grateful, despite grafting for our positions, & dare we speak out…’

With the message, Nihal penned: ‘Not sure I can disagree with these sentiments from someone who DM’d me about their experience of working at the BBC.’

The BBC presenter spoke candidly in a video on Instagram and said: ‘So today I walked into the BBC building in Salford and I was struck yet again, not for the first time, just how few black and Asian people work in that building

In the caption, Nihal revealed he would be leaving the BBC in September and elaborated on his concerns

In the caption he revealed other former or current BBC colleagues had reached out to him. 

Nihal wrote: ‘Had so many dms from people of colour who have worked or are still working at the BBC.

‘BBC North is not an inclusive environment for people of colour. I am not the only one who thinks that.’

A BBC spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘We’re sorry if anyone feels this way, as creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels they belong is a big priority for us and we know we have further to go. 

‘Whilst we’re proud of the diversity of the BBC, we remain committed to continuing to build a workforce that fully reflects and represents the whole of the UK.’

The BBC also shared that the proportion of employees from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds increased at the BBC last year and make up 17.2% of all employees at the broadcaster.

It aims to achieve its target of 20% by March 2026.

Back in 2023, Nihal told a journalism diversity conference an ‘overwhelmingly white’ working environment was affecting his mental health.

‘It’s really affecting me that I walk in and all I see is white people.’

His colleagues’ response when he told them this was to reply defensively that they were not being racist, he claimed as he said that was missing the point.

The journalist shared a message he received from someone else who has worked at the BBC in another post

In the caption he revealed other former or current BBC colleagues had reached out to him

Speaking at the Journalism Diversity Fund (JDF) conference at BBC Media City in Salford, he said: ‘I’ve seen a lot of people leave this building because they couldn’t deal with the culture.’

He also said others found they had to try to be a certain type of person to progress with the broadcaster, adding: ‘If you want journalists to progress, they have to be who they are.

‘I don’t think there’s a single Muslim involved in the senior editorial processes’ at BBC Radio 5 Live, he added.

He went on: ‘The hardest thing is to walk into a room, look around and nobody looks like you.’

The presenter made the comments in an on-stage interview with Jo Adetunji, editor of The Conversation, at the JDF’s annual equality, diversity and inclusion conference organised by the NCTJ, which trains new journalists.

Last year, Nihal revealed he had left his role at BBC 5 Live after eight years. 

He now hosts interviews on Sunday’s Headliners with Nihal Arthanayake and sometimes features on BBC Radio 4’s Loose Ends.