{"id":15083,"date":"2022-05-10T13:14:42","date_gmt":"2022-05-10T11:14:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1642062"},"modified":"2022-05-10T13:36:12","modified_gmt":"2022-05-10T11:36:12","slug":"new-doctor-who-casting-wasnt-about-diversity-and-representation-says-writer","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/new-doctor-who-casting-wasnt-about-diversity-and-representation-says-writer\/","title":{"rendered":"New Doctor Who casting wasn\u2019t about \u201cdiversity and representation\u201d, says writer"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Patrick Cremona\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 10 May 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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The weekend\u2019s exciting announcement that Ncuti Gatwa will replace Jodie Whittaker as the next Doctor<\/a> on Doctor Who<\/a>\u00a0was a groundbreaking one \u2013 with the Sex Education<\/a> star set to become the first non-white actor to take on the iconic role on a regular basis.<\/p>\n

But speaking on the red carpet at Sunday night\u2019s BAFTAs, returning showrunner Russell T Davies said that the casting wasn\u2019t just about \u201cdiversity and representation\u201d.<\/p>

\u201cSimply the best actor walked into the room,\u201d he told RadioTimes.com<\/a> and other press. \u201cI\u2019m aware that all this comes with it. I think if you\u2019re six, you don\u2019t care. And that\u2019s genuinely the fundamental reason for me.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause I watched it when I was six, I\u2019m here making it. So six-year-olds watching it now will be making it in 50 years\u2019 time.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Dave Benett\/Getty Images)<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

He added: \u201cHaving said that, I think once cast, those things are very important. I think diversity and representation are very important.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do want to reassure anyone you can just sit down and watch a fantastic 45-minute episode of Doctor Who with Doctor Who fighting the monsters as ever. I\u2019ve always had things to say in my dramas, and I always will and that\u2019s why it\u2019s a good drama, but it\u2019s all new territory.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what\u2019s exciting. We have had Jo Martin, who was a fantastic female Doctor who\u2019s been wonderful. All respect to her, so we\u2019re not trumping over that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n