Returning showrunner Russell T. Davies confirmed that he planted "a couple of misleading things" about the identity of the actor who will next play Doctor Who.

We now know that our next Doctor Who will be played by Ncuti Gatwa of Sex Education fame and this is being framed explicitly as not a diversity hire.

Simply the best actor walked into the room.

I'm aware that all this comes with it. I think if you're six, you don't care. And that's genuinely the fundamental reason for me.

Because I watched it when I was six, I'm here making it. So six-year-olds watching it now will be making it in 50 years' time.

Having said that, I think once cast, those things are very important. I think diversity and representation are very important.

As Davies himself demonstrated, misdirection is one tool employed in public relations so we can't be sure this is true.

But it is smart.

Casting diversity, especially in sci-fi, has sadly become complicated and mired in the mistakes of Star Wars, Star Trek and their aggressive defenders.

Some recent Star Wars and Star Trek titles have improved diversity in those franchises but otherwise been embarassingly awful.

Instead of acknowledging the truth, everyone who doesn't enjoy them or appreciate the gutting of their respective canons has been miscast as a bigot.

That endears precisely no-one to those franchises or the important cause of improving diversity in entertainment.

Simultaneously in US politics we saw some try to argue that you either supported Hilary Clinton, because she's a woman, or you're a bigot.

Again, not endearing.

In our view Jodie Whittaker and Chris Chibnall's first season of Doctor Who was for the most part, excellent television and fundamentally Doctor Who.

But the earth had been salted with regards to diversity, and that was a major hindrance.

So we view this "we just hired the best person" from Davies as politically astute.

Further we previously heard that they had settled on another actor for the role, but Ncuti's audition was better.

It was our last audition. It was our very last one. We thought we had someone, and then in he came and stole it.

I'm properly, properly thrilled. It's going to be a blazing future.

We wouldn't be surprised if the name of this actor is revealed at some point and they might not share Ncuti's race, gender and / or sexuality to reinforce this idea of just the best person hired.

Returning to Davies' statement we particularly love this line:

I think if you're six, you don't care.

It subtly but powerfully communicates the fact that bigotry isn't inherent or natural. It's learned.

Now we're wondering what a world run by six year olds would look like.

Ncuti Gatwa will debut as the fourtheenth Doctor Who in 2023.

Jodie Whittaker's final episode as the thirteenth is scheduled for October.

[ Main Image: Russell T Davies. Credit: BBC via Twitter. ]

References

BBC News. Ncuti Gatwa: BBC names actor as next Doctor Who star. BBC.

Cremona, Patrick (May 10, 2022). New Doctor Who casting wasn't about “diversity and representation”, says writer. Radio Times.

Morris, Lauren (May 9, 2022). Russell T Davies confirms he planted Doctor Who red herrings. Radio Times.

Wikipedia. Doctor Who (2022 specials). (viewed May 11, 2022)