Paterson Joseph

Personal context

Summary

Paterson Joseph is a British actor and writer known for Peep Show, Green Wing, Neverwhere and The Leftovers, as well as his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company. His work as a writer and performer repeatedly brings forward black British history, including his play and novel about Charles Ignatius Sancho and his children’s book about Black historical figures. He has spoken about racism and the lack of diversity in British television and theatre, and has described black history as overlooked; in a 2025 interview, he said he was proud to be “woke” and voiced concern about attacks on arts funding for queer and transgender themes. He has said his aim in telling Sancho’s story was not political, and has described himself as “not a polemicist.”