Noel Clarke claims co-stars ‘never spoke up’ when he was left off film poster

Actor Noel Clarke has claimed his co-stars in 2019 film Fisherman’s Friends never ‘spoke up’ when he was the only major actor to be left off the film’s promotional poster.

The star played executive Troy in the film, alongside Daniel Mays, James Purefoy, David Hayman, Dave Johns, Sam Swainsbury and Tuppence Middleton, which focused on a group of Cornish fishermen from Port Isaac who were signed by a major label.

However, when it came to designing the poster, Noel was the only one not pictured from the named line-up above.

While sharing videos of black men being targeted on Twitter, with one showing a man being arrested and another of journalist Omar Jimenez being arrested while conducting a live CNN cross, Noel shared the poster from his flick.

Circling his name, while also drawing two arrows highlighting the space alongside David and Tuppence, he wrote today: ‘And I’ll just leave this here.’

He added: ‘And not one of these other actors spoke up for me and the fact I was not on here, being as well known as most of them.’

His co-star Sam responded to Noel’s claim, as he wrote ‘Sorry mate. Like you, this has only just occured to me.’

Fans reacted swiftly to Noel’s claim, as one fumed: ‘This is disgraceful!I actually haven’t seen this film and didn’t know you were in it (due to this very reason probably)but if I had known I would have 100% watched it as I have enjoyed so many things you have been in! I’m ashamed to live in a world where this is happening…. (sic)’

Another wrote: ‘Yours is the only name I even recognise on that list. Unbelievable.’

However, one suggested his role wasn’t ‘big’ enough to warrant placement, writing: ‘To be fair, your role isn’t as big as the actors pictured. If you were on the cover then the others from the record company should be too. It’s unfair but understandable.’

Metro.co.uk has contacted reps for the cast, as well as the film’s distributor Entertainment Film for comment.

Before sharing the movie poster, Noel wrote about racism in the UK, highlighting it wasn’t just a problem in the US – as protests continued Stateside after the horrific death of George Floyd this week while in police custody, with calls to charge police officers involved with his murder.

‘People on here acting like this is just a US problem. #Racism is prevalent here too,’ Noel wrote on Twitter. ‘Embedded in the fabric of society, the industry I’m in. Sometimes it’s hard to keep fighting, when whenever you speak up, your silenced or, labelled as aggressive, difficult or “Chippy”. (sic)’

He had also mentioned his Sky One drama, Bulletproof, the series he co-created and stars in as NCA Detective Aaron Bishop alongside Ashley Walters.

He wrote: ‘Just remember nobody wanted bulletproof, we were told #Bulletproof would never work or sell with two BLACK leads. NEVER. Look now.’

Metro.co.uk also contacted reps of Noel for comment.