The BBC has responded to Doctor Who being branded ‘thunderously racist’ by an academic, insisting it frequently introduces black characters.
A new collection of essays called Doctor Who and Race damn the popular sci-fi series for never casting a black or Asian actor as the Doctor and being dismissive of black companions.
The BBC has fiercely denied the claims however, which also provoked the ire of Doctor Who’s fanbase who branded them ‘ridiculous’ and ‘groundless’.
The BBC said: ‘Doctor Who has a strong track record of diverse casting among both regular and guest cast. Freema Agyeman became the first black companion and Noel Clarke starred in a major role for five years [Mickey Smith].’
The essays suggest that primitive cultures are portrayed as ‘savages’, with the anthology’s editor Lindy Orthia saying: ‘The biggest elephant in the room is the problem privately nursed by many fans of loving a TV show when it is thunderingly racist.’
The BBC insisted that it casts on acting ability regardless of ethnicity.
A spokesperson added: ‘Reflecting the diversity of the UK is a duty of the BBC, and casting on Doctor Who is colour-blind. It is always about the best actors for the roles.’
Fans expressed their anger on Twitter, with one writing: ‘Stop trivialising the problem of racism with BS like this’, while another added: ‘I have never heard anything so ridiculous in my life!!!’
