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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to hope that the next Doctor Who is female and not understand why this would be so terrible?

452 replies

findingme · 04/06/2013 10:05

My first AIBU - I have used advanced search and can't see an existing post on this so apologies if there is. I don't want to link to DM so please just google "Female Doctor Who" to look at the recent articles about this in the DM and newspapers.

It seems that it is a possibility and I can't understand why anyone would think this is a bad idea. AIBU?

OP posts:
treas · 04/06/2013 11:50

To be honest all they need to do to give the program a shake up is to return to the old format of having one story for a series.

Some of the stories from the last series would have benefitted from a bit more depth and character development.

LittleAbruzzenBear · 04/06/2013 11:51

Oh and Idris Elba is being considered. Now, he would be the fittest DW ever!

squoosh · 04/06/2013 11:52

Even I would watch Dr Who if Idris Elba was cast. Phwoar!

ImAlpharius · 04/06/2013 11:52

The Corsair being more than one gender is mentioned by Tom Baker originally.
I wouldn't like a female Doctor., he references himself as a Father and Grandfather, if you had been/could be more than one gender I don't think you would do that.

Anyway I have two people I would love and think would make excellent Doctors. Paterson joseph or Sean Pertwee.

blindworm · 04/06/2013 11:53

Colin Morgan was already in Doctor Who. He played Jethro in Midnight back in 2008. Bill Nighy played Professor Black in Vincent and the Doctor.
Though they were both quite small parts, and Karen Gillan and Freema Agyeman both had small parts before they came back as companions.

LittleAbruzzenBear · 04/06/2013 11:53

Good suggestions ImAlpha

noblegiraffe · 04/06/2013 11:55

Idris Elba couldn't do the whole manic dashing about thing, he's too big.

LadyClariceCannockMonty · 04/06/2013 11:55

'It's an established male role, just as Sherlock or Miss Marple or Poirot or Merlin have been.'

I must have missed all the episodes of Mr Marple that you watched, LadyB Grin (that emoticon is laughing with, not at, by the way).

WallyBantersYoniBox · 04/06/2013 11:55

Ahem can I just remind everyone that "M" in the James Bond stories was always a man.....

Yet Dame J totally rocked that role. Best M ever and brought so much more to round the character.

It's not about a feminist stance just about a change for me.

vintagecakeisstillnice · 04/06/2013 11:56

Wasnt there the same type of Hoo-Ha when Battlestar Galactica cast Starbuck as female, and it actually suited the role better. . .

squoosh · 04/06/2013 11:57

But Poirot, Marple and Merlin all come from books.

Wasn't the Doctor an alien dreamt up by BBC script writers? Surely that gives a bit more wiggle room.

FobblyWoof · 04/06/2013 11:57

From my understanding The Doctor has always had the ability to regenerate as anything (though my knowledge is limited).

I don't really think it has to be a feminist issue (though that incredibly stupid DM article almost made me want it to be).

I wouldn't want the producers to go with a female Doctor just because she's female, it has to be who is best. DP and I were discussing it last night and the only thing we'd be put off by is that it's kind of too late. If the fifth regeneration had been female (not that it would've been at the time) then it's very different to having had 11 men and then a woman. Could come across as gimmicky which would be doing it for the wrong reasons.

ImAlpharius · 04/06/2013 11:58

M is a job, not who you are, I would rather see a female 007 than Doctor.

Gender change can work, thinking of Starbuck in Battlestar Gallactica, Katee Sackoff is amazing in what was orginally a male role. But I don't think this would transfer properly.

CheeseStrawWars · 04/06/2013 11:59

The Fourth Doctor, Tom Baker, also referenced the Corsair as being both male and female. That was in 1979. Possibly influenced by Maggie T.

LOL at "Dr Who, is English and male and if possible, has got a sexy aura about him. Apart from keeping the programme true to its roots..."

Roots? I don't think William Hartnell was bring sexy back when he started out as the first doctor. Grin

heghog · 04/06/2013 12:00

but it would allow for an amusing regeneration scene- first thing DW always does is check out the new body. how would they handle the Doctor finding out (s)he has a pair of breasts? Grin

motherinferior · 04/06/2013 12:01

Why on earth shouldn't everything be a fight for feminism anyway?

RustyBear · 04/06/2013 12:02

"Love for there to be a companion from a different time or even planet"

Susan
Sara Kingdom
Vicki
Katerina
Stephen
Jamie McCrimmon
Victoria Waterfield
Zoe
Leela
K9
Romana
Adric
Nyssa
Turlough
Captain Jack
Madame Vastra
Strax

Any I've missed?

LadyBeagleEyes · 04/06/2013 12:02

Oops LadyClarice Blush
But you know what I mean.

ImAlpharius · 04/06/2013 12:02

I think there are places for feminist fights within Dr Who, the way female and male characters are portrayed.
I do not think the gender of the Doctor needs to be one of those battles.

LittleAbruzzenBear · 04/06/2013 12:04

More male companions would be good, shouldn't always be young girls for the Dads to look at.

needaholidaynow · 04/06/2013 12:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

peeriebear · 04/06/2013 12:06

Ooh Sean Pertwee as the doctor :) I like that idea!

peeriebear · 04/06/2013 12:06

And Rory has been the best companion in aaaaages.

motherinferior · 04/06/2013 12:07

'People who make everything a fight for feminism must be very unhappy with life'

I can assure you we're not. Not least because we don't do much housework Grin

motherinferior · 04/06/2013 12:08

And we have unladylike sex in rampant manner if we feel like it.