Whilst the vast majority of people seem very happy with the casting of Jodie Whittaker as the 13th Doctor in Doctor Who, it seems clear that others are, well, less pleased. In fact, so disgruntled are some at the next iteration of the Doctor being female, that they’ve complained directly to the BBC about it.
The BBC hasn’t revealed just how many complaints it’s had over the casting, but it has gone to the trouble of posting an official response. As filed on its Complaints website, the BBC acknowledged that “some viewers contacted us unhappy that Jodie Whittaker has been cast as the new Doctor”.
It replied:
Since the first Doctor regenerated back in 1966, the concept of the Doctor as a constantly evolving being has been central to the programme. The continual input of fresh ideas and new voices across the cast and the writing and production teams has been key to the longevity of the series.
The Doctor is an alien from the planet Gallifrey and it has been established in the show that Time Lords can switch gender.
As the Controller of BBC Drama has said, Jodie is not just a talented actor but she has a bold and brilliant vision for her Doctor. She aced it in her audition both technically and with the powerful female life force she brings to the role. She is destined to be an utterly iconic Doctor.
We hope viewers will enjoy what we have in store for the continuation of the story.
The BBC Complaints website is here.