Over recent months, we have received a number of messages from Big Finish fans who would like the company to make statements concerning the views expressed by individuals we have worked with.

Big Finish productions have featured a wide and diverse group of writers, actors, directors, musicians, producers, sound designers and other talented people over the past 20 years and the company has never published such a statement before. Our purpose, and aim, is to make entertaining audio drama that delights everyone and is inclusive for all.

However, we would never want Big Finish to be a company that people felt uncomfortable working with, or to produce content that people would feel uncomfortable listening to. We contract hundreds, if not thousands, of people every year on a freelance basis from all kinds of backgrounds and we also always endeavour to represent that diversity in our output.

This extract from our Equality and Diversity Policy should illuminate where we stand on issues of inclusion. This policy applies to all staff who are in the employment of Big Finish and all contract staff who are contracted with Big Finish.

The Company is committed to ensuring:

That existing members of staff, job applicants, or workers are treated fairly in an environment which is free from any form of discrimination with regard to nine of the protected characteristics as outlined by the Equality Act 2010 which are:

age;

disability;

gender reassignment;

being married or in a civil partnership;

being pregnant or on maternity leave;

race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin;

religion or belief;

sex;

sexual orientation.

The Company is committed to ensuring its staff and managers are trained in equality and diversity and aims to ensure that adequate training is provided so that managers are able to operate this policy. Examples include specific training on race, gender, gender identity, disability, sexuality, age and religion or belief, in accordance with the requirements of the law and good practice.

Any complaints of discrimination and/or breaches of this policy are reported to the operations manager at Big Finish and are treated very seriously. Such occurrences are dealt with internally and we do not comment publicly on the outcome, nor any decision made as a result of the review process.

Please note: we receive hundreds, sometimes thousands, of messages every day, via Facebook, Twitter, email, post and even telephone. We have a small team in our administration office, so we can't reply to every comment, but we do try to read them all.