Main cast remains conventionally white British (Neil Dudgeon as DCI Barnaby, Nick Hendrix as DS Winter, Fiona Dolman, Annette Badland), preserving the show's classic dynamic. However, producers intentionally increased ethnic diversity in guest roles to nearly 37% BAME actors across recent seasons including 22, explicitly to 'represent modern Britain' following 2011 backlash over the show's prior all-white portrayal of English villages.

This shift prompted some audience complaints labeling specific episodes (e.g., Happy Families, Witches of Angel's Rise) as 'woke' or featuring 'PC casting,' with IMDb reviews noting 'heavy PC woke casting' and 'preachy' social elements, though others defend it as correcting past homogeneity. No race/gender-swapping of core characters, no creator-stated activist intent beyond diversity quotas, and minimal LGBTQ representation without prominence. The diversity feels incidental to plots rather than narrative-driving, resulting in minor progressive influence amid backlash but not dominating quality or reception.