Doctor Who fans around the world, listen up! Besides Jodie Whittaker rocking the favourite Time Lord character, we get to watch LGBTQ+ representation and characters "from across the spectrum" in season 11.
Confirming the news to Digital Spy in Cardiff last month, executive producer Matt Strevens said, "Since the show came back in 2005, I think Doctor Who has been amazing at blurring the edges of sexuality and being quite gender fluid about the characters and relationships."
While Whittaker will be at the center of the TARDIS, with new showrunner Chris Chibnall in charge of the series, the new members of Team TARDIS comprises The Chase's Bradley Walsh and Hollyoaks alumni Mandip Gill and Tosin Cole.
Furthermore, Strevens weighed in that LGBTQ+ representation will continue in the new series, though it's not made an issue of "in any way". The former Who showrunner Russell T Davies was remembered during the conference while he also hinted that there will be LGBTQ+ representation among the main cast of season 11.
"I'm not going to say if any of our characters are or are not at this point. But it is part, I think, of the DNA that Russell re-imbued into the show... There will be characters from across the spectrum."
Since the show started attracting fans over the years, Doctor Who never really had to be defined by one particular character building. A number of LGBTQ+ characters, including most notably Captain Jack Harkness and Bill Potts, played by John Barrowman and Pearl Mackie respectively, had entertained us on the show. "There are LGBT characters within the show. Obviously, last year we had Bill in the show. in terms of sexuality, it's often not necessarily a thing you go into in a Doctor Who story," Chris Chibnall commented.
The show is already making buzz as the most-liked doctor is all set to come back with Jodie Whittaker its 13th Doctor. She will be the very first woman to essay the role of The Doctor in the show's 55-year history.
The new Doctor seems more fierce than ever in the trailer broadcast. "I think now is the time to show children – boys and girls – that your role models and your heroes on the screen don't all look the same," Whittaker claimed.
Agreeing, Chibnall said, "As a boy, who's become a man, I find that idea really difficult – that boys and men can't look up to women. It's like, you've got your mum, I've got my sister, I've got my aunt, I work with brilliant women. It's just absurd."
Whittaker added, "I didn't come into Broadchurch saying, 'I'm playing Beth Latimer as woman'!
"No one's saying to Jon Hamm, 'Did you play Mad Men as a man?' It's a weird question!"
Whittaker (35) is overjoyed to be a part of the series and said that the experience was “overwhelming, as a feminist” to become the next Doctor. “I’m beyond excited to begin this epic journey – with Chris and with every Whovian on this planet. It’s more than an honour to play the Doctor. It means remembering everyone I used to be, while stepping forward to embrace everything the Doctor stands for: hope. I can’t wait,” Whittaker was quoted by the BBC.
Well, get ready for more adventures in space and time. Doctor Who starts on October 7 on BBC One.
Feature Image Credit: Radio Times
Read More Stories By Ria Das
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