[joe_000]

In nearly 50 years of the show there has only been one regular female companion from an ethnic minority background- Martha. Should this be addressed to reflect today's multi cultural society.

[mossy2103]

I would rue the day when Doctor Who is taken over by political correctness.

[greymarl]

I think political correctness is, and should be, pretty much irrelevant to Dr Who - when we have aliens running around all over the place, does it really matter what colour skin the Dr's companion has? I really hope not.

[joe_000]

Yes it does if you're from an ethnic background. That's why other programmes and organisations have active policies for this. It's not as If minor characters haven't represented certain minorities. What would be the reasoning for emphasising this then.

[CoalHillJanitor]

Fine, so let's bring in Clyde and Rani. Sorted.

[taliesin]

Originally Posted by joe_000

In nearly 50 years of the show there has only been one regular female companion from an ethnic minority background- Martha. Should this be addressed to reflect today's multi cultural society.

Ethnic Minority? Minority to where? If the Tardis, a machine that can travel to any point in time and space, were to land in 18th Century Beijing and the Doctor met the Daughter of an English Christian missionary preacher and decided to invite her aboard the Tardis as his new companion would this meet to your criteria?

Obviously what your saying is that Doctor Who in the course of it's 50 years (with a 16 year hiatus) of televised adventures has only ever cast one non Caucasian actor to be the Doctor's permanent companion.

This is a valid point, however I think whoever is cast in a future role as the Doctor's companion should be done so on their ability to act and not on how good looking they are or chosen because their ethnic background ticks the right boxes.

[joe_000]

Interesting.

[owlycherries]

Originally Posted by taliesin

Ethnic Minority? Minority to where? If the Tardis, a machine that can travel to any point in time and space, were to land in 18th Century Beijing and the Doctor met the Daughter of an English Christian missionary preacher and decided to invite her aboard the Tardis as his new companion would this meet to your criteria?

Obviously what your saying is that Doctor Who in the course of it's 50 years (with a 16 year hiatus) of televised adventures has only ever cast one non Caucasian actor to be the Doctor's permanent companion.

This is a valid point, however I think whoever is cast in a future role as the Doctor's companion should be done so on their ability to act and not on how good looking they are or chosen because their ethnic background ticks the right boxes.

BIB. I think that will always be a significant factor in casting the companion, sadly.

[Benjamin Sisko]

Don't forget, we had Mickey as a regular recurring character throughout Series 1 & 2. DW has also had quite a few characters of different sexualities also. (Vastra, Jack, etc.)*

Also, given the Mels incarnation of River, it wouldn't be impossible to have either the 12th or 13th Doctor's actor to be from an ethnic minority.

I agree with Owlycherries though. The leads will always have to have some degree of attractiveness due to the preference on looks in television and movies.

[davrosdodebird]

Please feel free to ignore the OP COMPLETELY.

Not 2 weeks ago a BBC investigation found Doctor Who was one of the most inclusive shows on Tv in terms of LGB characters, and its not as if we've had nothing but white people on the show. That said, the majority of this country is white, blacks and ethnic minorities havent and arent being ignored, and any push to force more characters/ actors onto the show for no reason but political correctness is racism against white people.

*let the PC explosion begin*

[Sophie ~Oohie~]

Lets keep PC out of it thanks. I don't want it to get ruined after some genius decides to have a female lesbian black Doctor.

[Elphie_Lives]

Originally Posted by Sophie ~Oohie~

Lets keep PC out of it thanks. I don't want it to get ruined after some genius decides to have a female lesbian black Doctor.

Want a female lesbian black Doctor now.

Though if the Doctor should ever be female, she should continue to have flirtations with women (Vastra/Jenny/Doctor threesomes!) as the male Doctor has flirted with men.

[mossy2103]

Originally Posted by Sophie ~Oohie~

Lets keep PC out of it thanks. I don't want it to get ruined after some genius decides to have a female lesbian black Doctor.

You forgot the obligatory disability .....

[saladfingers81]

Nice of this thread to pop up just as the gay agenda one was finally grinding to halt. I can't even be bothered to beyond pointing out the obvious fact that Doctor Who is one of the most progressive and inclusive shows on TV.

[Sophie ~Oohie~]

Originally Posted by mossy2103

You forgot the obligatory disability .....

That depends. Black, female and in a wheelchair just to be PC, no way. White, male and horribly disfigured after the regeneration went wrong, maybe.
But I don't think that's anything to do with wanting it to be inclusive.

[Verence]

To really wind up the Daily Heil the next Doctor should be a left wing disabled black female lesbian muslim illegal immigrant who cheats on her benefits and avoids paying tax

[CarlLewis]

They should bring back the old style daleks who couldn't move up stairs.

This could be used as a way of showing the lack of wheelchair access in this country.

[bp2]

This thread is a joke. I think it is a nonsense to judge equality based on numbers of people. For example if we do base equality on numbers of people autistic people for example (I am on the autistic spectrum) will have a field day. There is probably no autistic CEOs shall we just make an autistic person who is not qualified to be a CEO a CEO of a company just because it seems more equal. I have no issues with Doctor Who in terms of inclusiveness and equality recently Dyslexia was mentioned in the silurian episode and mental health problems were highlighted (in my opinion very well) in the Vincent Van Gogh episode.

[Lulz77]

In fairness, we've just had a ginger companion.

[Verence]

Originally Posted by Lulz77

In fairness, we've just had a ginger companion.

I think that Amy would arguably count as the fourth ginger companion

Turlough
Mel
Donna
Amy

[Steve9214]

This thread it total rubbish.
Noel Clarke was a fine actor in who, as was Naoki in Torchwood.
OK - in the 1960's, '70's and '80's there were no main characters, but they didn't exactly have big pool of talent to choose from did they ??

IIRC there were rumours on DS forums about acting ability (particularly expensive special effects shots/ green screens) and why Martha Jones was only a main companion for one season.

If you want to see results of "inclusion over ability", just one word...... ORTIS (Channel 4 athletics).

Never mind the incompetance just see the skin colour !!

[pajs1000]

Originally Posted by CoalHillJanitor

Fine, so let's bring in Clyde and Rani. Sorted.

Nice one mate!

[BeerCups]

Originally Posted by mossy2103

You forgot the obligatory disability .....

so a female lesbian black disabled doctor?

[Verence]

Originally Posted by bp2

This thread is a joke. I think it is a nonsense to judge equality based on numbers of people.

Originally Posted by Steve9214

This thread it total rubbish.
Noel Clarke was a fine actor in who, as was Naoki in Torchwood.
OK - in the 1960's, '70's and '80's there were no main characters, but they didn't exactly have big pool of talent to choose from did they ??

IIRC there were rumours on DS forums about acting ability (particularly expensive special effects shots/ green screens) and why Martha Jones was only a main companion for one season.

If you want to see results of "inclusion over ability", just one word...... ORTIS (Channel 4 athletics).

Never mind the incompetance just see the skin colour !!

I would imagine that most of the posters in this thread, myself included are extracting the Michael

[PrinceGaz]

Originally Posted by BeerCups

so a female lesbian black disabled doctor?

An old female lesbian black disabled doctor, please. The recent doctors have seriously under-represented older people.