Animal welfare group PETA has sent a letter to the BBC urging them to make the 16th incarnation of the Doctor in the upcoming Doctor Who reboot openly vegan. The campaigners argue that for a character who has always championed kindness over cruelty, choosing compassion for animals by going vegan would be the natural next step in the Doctor's evolution.
PETA's Argument for a Vegan Doctor
In the letter, seen by the Mirror, PETA Vice President Elisa Allen writes: "For decades, the Doctor has travelled the universe defending the vulnerable, standing up to bullies, and challenging injustice wherever it appears. Going vegan is a natural extension of the compassion, curiosity, and moral courage that have always defined the character." She also points out that animals feel pain, fear, joy, and love in the same way that humans and Time Lords do, making the shift entirely in keeping with the Doctor's character.
Allen adds: "As the Doctor often reminds us, small actions can have enormous consequences. So as the series prepares for a new era, don't just change the face—change the plate. Because in the Doctor's own words, we're all stories in the end. What better story than one where kindness truly is universal?" She also quips: "In a world with an abundance of delicious vegan foods – even jelly babies and custard creams – there's no need for so much killing."
History of the Doctor's Diet
The fourth Doctor, played by Tom Baker, was famous for liking jelly babies. Both David Tennant's 10th Doctor and Jodie Whittaker's 13th had a deep love of the humble custard cream. However, Matt Smith's Doctor was partial to fishfingers—which he paired with custard—and also ate a burger in an American diner, while Christopher Eccleston's ninth Doctor ordered a steak and chips in a 2005 episode. From the classic series, the sixth Doctor, played by Colin Baker, adopted a vegetarian diet in the 1985 serial The Two Doctors after his companions were nearly eaten by a psychotic alien butcher, but later went back to consuming meat.
Previous Suggestions and Current Context
This is not the first time PETA has made this suggestion for the iconic BBC sci-fi show. Allen notes: "When we first proposed this several years ago, it felt like a bold idea. Now, as the show enters a new chapter, it feels like an idea whose time has come." PETA also highlights that vegan foods have a smaller carbon footprint than meat and dairy industries, which produce greenhouse gases contributing to the climate crisis. According to PETA, every person who goes vegan saves the lives of approximately 200 animals per year, reducing their own risk of heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers, and obesity.
Allen suggests that a vegan Doctor would resonate with younger audiences: "A vegan Doctor is the next logical step; one that resonates with younger audiences increasingly concerned about animals, their health, and the future of the planet."
Doctor Who's Future
Last month, it was announced that BBC1's planned Doctor Who Christmas special for this year had been scrapped, and the drama is being put out to tender, a process that will see different production companies compete to win the contract to make it. No new episodes are likely to air until at least 2028. However, new director general Matt Brittin is a firm fan of the sci-fi series and this week gave a commitment to its future on the BBC. "That's a show that has regenerated multiple times in its 60-plus year history, and we'll do so again," he pledged. BBC Studios has declared it will be bidding to continue as the producer of Doctor Who going forward. Chief executive Tom Fussell said: "We've been the producer for 60 years and we want to be the producer for another 60 years so we will be going for that tender with gusto. We are in it to win it."
