couldn't agree more. To cast a black actor in the role will always, at least for me, resemble some stunt casting, that of tokenism. Simply because the media and people like gaiman have pushed for it. It's a good headline but I will always be left wondering whether there was somebody better than the black man cast or if indeed the black guy was cast because he was the best or simply black.

Without the hooha, the speculation, the headlines, if a black guy was cast I wouldn't think any different. I would just have thought "Oh it's him! Wasn't he in such and such?" But i will feel it to be a difficult to fully accept a black man without thinking there's a sort of publicity agenda at foot.

This is why a female Doctor would be detrimental for me. Have they cast her just because she's female and she will make good headlines or was she ***really*** the best? Tokenism can prove very negative.

Then that's your problem to overcome. You can have tokenism in your guest casting, but not in casting the lead in one of the most prestigious shows in the Beeb's history.

There is no way any actor, of any ethnicity or sex, could be cast without being considered completely capable of the role. Given that, it's down to the preference of the casting director, just as much as picking based on bone structure, attitude, and being ginger is.

It is no different in using tokenism for guest casting than it is for main casting. I don't regard it as a problem. More a hidden thought. My point is that if people within forums, showbiz and media didn't keep going on about "time for a black actor" then hardly anyone would even care when a black actor is cast. Because of the over the top publicity that comes with the DW casting each time, it makes one wonder if it's all done based on the best or what is good for publicity. However you never have any human traits. Everything is clear cut and perfect for you. You have no prejudices, no preferences, no sense of wonderment or suspicion. So, I wonder if you are actually human or whether infact you are a being from another world?

Im sure they can broaden out from white male anglo saxon and not dilute standards!
Male anglo saxons arent the only good actors in the world..or the only timelords.
In 50 years you would expect SOME diversity, not just more of same.

The show has diversified. Asides from soaps, DW has the most number of ethnic actors in any UK drama. There is, quite rightly, no reason whatsoever why a black man can't play the timelord. But I wouldn't describe Peter Capaldi's booking as "more of the same" nor would I use that description for Matt either. The question we are all too afraid to ask though is "What is wrong with a white British male being cast for Doctor Who?" There are many on here that seem to feel disappointed about another white man getting the job. I find that baffling. Racism is more deep than just assuming a black man hasn't been cast because the show is racist. Not wanting a white man to play the role but pioneering for a black man is equally as racist.

Because Britain is more than white male anglo saxon.
It doesnt have to be black, as it doesnt have to be always white.
Anything different would be a welcome change representing the entire world instead of a corner of England.

I understand the frustration of Gaimen, who lives in America i believe, so might have a broader picture since ethnic minorities or indeed majorities are well represented as protagonists there.

You do know that Doctor Who is quintessentially a British show about an eccentric alien with a British accent? To make it "representative of the whole world" would no longer make it Doctor Who. In exactly the same way US sci-fi series' always have the threat or invasion focusing on the US, DW does the same for Britain. I have agreed that there is no reason why a black actor can not play the Doctor. It wouldn't bother me. It's the insistence and persistence of people saying "we should have a black man for a change" that are in danger of spoiling the show because they seem to be not appreciating or enjoying the show with a white man in the role. As said previously, Doctor Who has had since it's return a major black companion, a black male companion who is boyfriend to white female companion. There has been a bi-sexual male companion and several black and asian characters as guest stars. Not forgetting strong female characters throughout the entire 50 year old. The Doctor has been played by 55 year olds, 40 year olds, 30 year olds and 20 year olds. I'd say that's pretty diverse.

I agree its British.
But being British in 2013 is very different from being British in 1960.
There are many shades of being British and its glaring by omission that the show doesnt reflect that by having a Dr Who of mixed ethnicity.That wouldnt make it any less British.

So you support a forced black actor to take on the role? Absurd. Absolutely absurd. I'm off to speak to real people.

You blatantly choose to ignore the fact that major characters who are black have been cast in Doctor Who. So what's the point of discussing it if you continue to use the "but not casting a black actor to play the Doctor isn't representative of the Britain of 2013" line.

That's absurd. That's like saying if those suffragettes didn't make so much noise, that woman would have had the vote earlier. Or if all those black people had just kept themselves to themselves, we would have have a black president before 2009. The purpose of raising the subject is to get people used to the idea, which reduces the effect of that sort of reactionary knee-jerk.


Au contraire, mon frere. Where others see cut-and-dried facts, I embrace the wide rainbow of possibility. And I work damn hard to rid myself of prejudice, and re-evaluate the ones that I have. Instead of saying, "it can't be", why not say "why not?"

So many people work to build a coherent, consistent view of the world so they can feel comfortable in knowing where they are. I say screw that.

I don't understand why any actor (black or otherwise) would audition for a part they didn't want if offered.

A human being without prejudices is like a teapot without tea. I prefer to keep an open mind in life. I have no problem with the casting of a black actor unless it's for tokenism. I also think comparing Obama and Suffragettes to Doctor Who is bizarre. We are talking about a family TV show that evolves consistently. We are not talking about reality. If we were then my viewpoints and many others would be a lot different!

I agree.

I would like to think a black actor wouldn't like to play a role just because they were black either. (Unless of course they were playing a black person).