He held the nation captivated as Tommy Lee Royce in Happy Valley, and after a gripping ending to the BBC One crime drama after three series actor James Norton has hit out at Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's plan for students in England to study maths until the age of 18. Actor James Norton has told The News Agents podcast that, in order to open up the arts to children across the country, we should not "follow Rishi Sunak’s advice and make everyone take maths through to A Level."
He stated that the government should instead "nurture arts and humanities" and ensure children are introduced to theatre at an early age. While speaking to the podcast hosts Emily Maitlis and Lewis Goodall, James was asked "how do we open up the arts for children across the country?"
He said: Well, first thing you do is you don't follow Rishi Sunak’s advice and make everyone take maths through to A Level and you nurture arts and humanities all the way through school and allow kids to take on courses which aren't necessarily as practical and vocational."
READ MORE:
He added: "I guess, making sure that they are supported and there's outreach programmes from centres of excellence in London and then in other big cities, and they get out to those schools, and they introduce kids to theatre at an early age and so there's an awareness. And then it's youth theatres and I mean, I was so lucky I grew up in North Yorkshire and every summer holidays, I did a youth theatre, it was called Livewire and it was great. I went to Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough for work experience one summer and so there was stuff there."
James, 37, stressed the importance of preserving the UK’s cultural heritage and spoke of Happy Valley’s success around the world. He told Emily and Lewis: "This country's got such a cultural heritage and to waste that... talk about us standing on the world stage right now.
"I mean, the way shows like Happy Valley travel over to America, it's amazing. I feel so proud when I go over there, and random people come up to me on the street and talk to me about Hebden Bridge… They watch it with subtitles on, but they love it. And it's an amazing advert for this country. So, I think we need to keep nurturing the arts."
Listen to the full interview on The News Agents podcast on Global Player.
READ NEXT:
Davide makes declaration to Ekin-Su after tearful Dancing on Ice exit as upset viewers switch off
Vanessa Feltz's fiance breaks silence on their heartbreaking split for first time
Corrie spoilers with Carla in danger from killer Stephen and Max is sentenced over terrorism charge
Corrie fans delighted by rare sighing of 'missing' characters
