Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies has dismissed critics who accuse the sci-fi series of being 'too woke', describing them as 'online warriors' with whom he has no time. Speaking to BBC Radio 2, Davies said: 'What you might call diversity, I just call an open door.'
The series returned last week with Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor and Varada Sethu as his companion, marking the first time both leads have been played by minority ethnic actors. Davies, who also created Queer As Folk and It's a Sin, added: 'Why limit yourself? Why breathe in the exhaust fumes? Why be toxic? Come over here where the life and light and air and sound is.'
Sethu addressed the 'wokeness' claims in an interview with Radio Times, stating: 'I just think we're doing the right thing if we're getting comments like that. Woke just means inclusive, progressive, and that you care about people.' Gatwa told the same publication that the casting reflects 'progress, in terms of how we reflect the societies that we live in'.
Unconfirmed reports have suggested Gatwa may leave the show and that the BBC could axe Doctor Who, but the corporation has said any decision on a new series will be made after the current one concludes.
