The problem with having a female Doctor now, after 50 years and 11 male actors in the role, is that it would mess with the coherency of the series. It would be akin to dropping the TARDIS's police box design for that of a Welsh dresser, or a refrigerator. I'm not convinced the audience would accept it.
Having said that it wouldn't stop me from watching, providing the actress cast was capable of pulling it off.
I suppose in a show like Dr. Who, the fiction allows for any possibility. So the Doctor could be a woman....if any producer decided the best policy was to create a gimmick for gimmick's sake. But I'm afraid I wouldn't be watching....
....And that's not sexism, that's good taste. I wouldn't watch Miss Marple if she was played by a man, either.
I'd have no problems whatsoever if either Olivia Colman; Maxine Peake or Sheridan Smith became the first female Dr Who as they have all proved on countless occasions they can do both comedy and dramatic scenes very very well.
And quite frankly any of those three will probably be a superior "actor" to the next Doctor anyway.
The problem with having a female Doctor now, after 50 years and 11 male actors in the role, is that it would mess with the coherency of the series. It would be akin to dropping the TARDIS's police box design for that of a Welsh dresser, or a refrigerator. I'm not convinced the audience would accept it.
Having said that it wouldn't stop me from watching, providing the actress cast was capable of pulling it off.
I have to say, everytime I here rumours about the Doctor being female I instantly say to myself, NO WAY!, you can't have a female Doctor? it just wouldn't work?. However; I believe this is something we should all prepare ourselves for, try and get used to the idea because I think it's something that will happen in the future, maybe not for the 12th, but certainly sometime after that.
Here are 3 reasons why I think it would work:
1. Susanne Jones (The Doctor's Wife)
2. Alex Kingston (River Song)
3. Catherine Tate (Donna Noble)
I don't think any of these would do it but I do think it shows that a female Doctor has plenty of potential if done right.
If the Doctor was female, I personally would like to see Susanne Jones in the role, just from her performance in 'The Doctor's Wife'. Who would you choose and why?
It would be good to hear all your ideas and opinions on this.
But you don't give any reasons why you think it may happen fairly soon! You have just given examples of actresses who you think could do it. What makes you think a female doctor is likely?
Perhaps a more interesting question would be "what if The Doctor was always played by a woman?"
There's a list here of women who could have played each incarnation to date. I must admit I'm quite keen on some of the suggestions, especially Honor Blackman. If The Doctor was female from the off it wouldn't be an issue.
I'd like to roast this particular chestnut over an open fire (clever eh?). It's been done to death.
My usual comment: it won't happen because it's a risk they simply don't have to take. What showrunner would risk their reputation on something they just don't need to do? If it worked it would be business as usual for the already successful show. If it didn't then it would be their career on the line. There's just no incentive.
This seems to crop up on the board often, perhaps the mods should just pin one so everyone else can pile in?
I don't have any issues with a female doctor although if it was Catherine Tate, Miranda Hart or someone whose biggest role was in Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of frickin Crisps, I would struggle. At least the companion would <you pray> have to be a proper friend, instead of a 'will they, won't they' love interest. Although if they could get Gillian Anderson, who does after all live in the UK and have experience of being 'stuck' with one character, I will walk over broken glass to be the love interest.
I'd rather see a black doctor than a female doctor though, think it would have more dramatic potential (female doctor they would milk for laughs - see the breasts comment above - and awkward 'gay' moments - "why Rose, do you like my new form?")
But you don't give any reasons why you think it may happen fairly soon! You have just given examples of actresses who you think could do it. What makes you think a female doctor is likely?
TBH it's not something that's definintely going to happen, but I just think it's a possibility, plus, Steven Moffatt has never dismissed the idea.
I have no issue at all with a female doctor, but I don't want a female doctor while Steve Moffat is showrunner, simply because the way female characters have been written/portrayed under his stewardship is my biggest issue with the show over the last few years.
But, with the right showrunner, a female doctor could be great.
I think that they will lose a awful lot of viewers if they have a female Doctor.
Amen. My friends and I have been watching and collecting all of the DVDs/Blu-Rays for the last two years. We have talked about this and, if The Doctor regenerated as a woman, we would stop watching the show and stop purchasing the product. It would be the "Jump The Shark" moment for us. Nearly everybody I know feels the same about this.
Heck, all of the spin-offs centered around a strong female protagonist. Also, for the last two years, Doctor Who has almost always centered around the strong female Amy Williams (yes, her name is Amy Williams since she married Rory Williams) to the point where she was the one introducing the show with a long voice over here in the U.S..
Doctor Who current-female-centric. Why take out the only decent male character left in the show?
If you want to, take River Song and spin her off into her own show, but leave The Doctor as British, Male, Hyper-Intelligent, Hyper-Competent and eccentric. That is how he has always been and that is how we like him.
I agree with people saying that it wouldn't be good after 50 years.
There's some great actresses who would do a brilliant job and if they'd had a female along the way, the fourth of fifth doctor then it may have worked.
But, because we're now fifty years and 11 male actors later would it not be too jarring to suddenly have them a female just for the sake of it?
Just like James Bond, The Doctor is a male character and has been for 50 years. He will never become a she. It won't happen, neither should it happen.
This is exactly right, The Doctor is a male character it's as simple as that. I also don't buy into the 'it should be a black actor' because it should be the right actor, not some decision based on cultural diversity. If a black actor is the best man for the job fantastic, but there is no way HE should ever be played by a woman.
Joanna Lumley played the Doctor a few years ago.... albeit in a Children In Need special. However, given that the 2005+ Series remains non canon to the original, there is nothing to stop another series being produced featuring a female Time Lord, the character Romana having already been set up and subject to a regeneration (Mary Tamm -> Lala Ward).
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Having said that it wouldn't stop me from watching, providing the actress cast was capable of pulling it off.
....And that's not sexism, that's good taste. I wouldn't watch Miss Marple if she was played by a man, either.
And quite frankly any of those three will probably be a superior "actor" to the next Doctor anyway.
Pulling what off?
Oh, I see.... sorry!
But you don't give any reasons why you think it may happen fairly soon! You have just given examples of actresses who you think could do it. What makes you think a female doctor is likely?
If they had any sense they would !
Thankfully it will never happen.
There's a list here of women who could have played each incarnation to date. I must admit I'm quite keen on some of the suggestions, especially Honor Blackman. If The Doctor was female from the off it wouldn't be an issue.
My usual comment: it won't happen because it's a risk they simply don't have to take. What showrunner would risk their reputation on something they just don't need to do? If it worked it would be business as usual for the already successful show. If it didn't then it would be their career on the line. There's just no incentive.
I don't have any issues with a female doctor although if it was Catherine Tate, Miranda Hart or someone whose biggest role was in Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of frickin Crisps, I would struggle. At least the companion would <you pray> have to be a proper friend, instead of a 'will they, won't they' love interest. Although if they could get Gillian Anderson, who does after all live in the UK and have experience of being 'stuck' with one character, I will walk over broken glass to be the love interest.
I'd rather see a black doctor than a female doctor though, think it would have more dramatic potential (female doctor they would milk for laughs - see the breasts comment above - and awkward 'gay' moments - "why Rose, do you like my new form?")
This was an article from last year:
http://www.entertainmentwise.com/news/85972/Steven-Moffat-Drops-A-Female-Doctor-Who-Bombshell
And this one:
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s7/doctor-who/news/a401795/doctor-whos-steven-moffat-there-may-be-a-female-doctor-someday.html
It may not happen for a long time but I don't think we should be surprised if it it did.
But, with the right showrunner, a female doctor could be great.
I'd like to nominate Julie Walters for the part.
Amen. My friends and I have been watching and collecting all of the DVDs/Blu-Rays for the last two years. We have talked about this and, if The Doctor regenerated as a woman, we would stop watching the show and stop purchasing the product. It would be the "Jump The Shark" moment for us. Nearly everybody I know feels the same about this.
Heck, all of the spin-offs centered around a strong female protagonist. Also, for the last two years, Doctor Who has almost always centered around the strong female Amy Williams (yes, her name is Amy Williams since she married Rory Williams) to the point where she was the one introducing the show with a long voice over here in the U.S..
Doctor Who current-female-centric. Why take out the only decent male character left in the show?
If you want to, take River Song and spin her off into her own show, but leave The Doctor as British, Male, Hyper-Intelligent, Hyper-Competent and eccentric. That is how he has always been and that is how we like him.
There's some great actresses who would do a brilliant job and if they'd had a female along the way, the fourth of fifth doctor then it may have worked.
But, because we're now fifty years and 11 male actors later would it not be too jarring to suddenly have them a female just for the sake of it?
This is exactly right, The Doctor is a male character it's as simple as that. I also don't buy into the 'it should be a black actor' because it should be the right actor, not some decision based on cultural diversity. If a black actor is the best man for the job fantastic, but there is no way HE should ever be played by a woman.