A new BBC One drama chronicling the community’s fight against fascism in post-war Britain has stirred renewed debate over the casting of non-Jewish actors in specifically Jewish roles. 

Ridley Road, which has now gone into production, follows Vivian Epstein, a Jewish woman who rejects her middle-class upbringing to fight resurgent fascism in 1960s London. 

The four-part adaptation of Jo Bloom’s 2014 novel Ridley Road, written by Jewish actress Sarah Solemani, will also star Jewish actresses Tracy-Ann Oberman and Samantha Spiro. 

Other cast members announced this week include Aggi O'Casey, in the leading role, and Tom Varey, starring as Ms Epstein’s boyfriend. They will be joined by actor Eddie Marsan (Ray Donovan), who is not Jewish but will play the part of Soly Malinovsky, a Jewish taxi driver at the helm of the Jewish anti-fascist 62 Group.

Mr Marsan said he was “honoured” to play the part and warned of the surge of anti-Jewish racism. “In recent years antisemitism has re-emerged and now, more than ever we need to hear the stories of how normal men and women put their lives on the line to stamp out this cancer.”

But the comedian David Baddiel appeared to criticise a double-standard in the industry’s casting processes.  

“Most of the lead actors here, playing Jews, in a story about antisemitism, aren’t Jewish,” he said Friday.

“I’m fine with that. But it wouldn’t be fine for the BBC to cast like this with any other minority,” he said.

The practice of hiring non-Jewish actors to play Jewish characters has previously sparked debate. 

Last year, Maureen Lipman and Miriam Margolyes joined a group of artists in signing a letter condemning a musical for the practice, which they said was akin to “jewface.”

When approached by the JC Friday, Ms Lipman said “the debate goes on about how narrowly representative the part must be for the player.”

“I have often remarked that although the Moor of Venice can never be played white again, and Scarlett Johansson cannot play trans, it is common and accepted for Holocaust survivors and Tevye the milkman and even Shylock to be played by non-Jews of any race.”