2023 also marks the 60th anniversary of the iconic British science fiction series Doctor Who. It’s all part of beloved and brilliant showrunner Russell T Davies’ plan to take the show in a radical new direction! The upcoming episodes will feature an array of diverse characters, including transgender and non-binary individuals, showcasing the show’s commitment to inclusivity. As the wildly popular animated show returns for a new season next month, fans of adventure await new exploits.
In another groundbreaking change for the long-running series, people of colour will make up the majority of the Tardis team. This shift is indicative of a larger reflection of society. Varada Sethu, who plays Belinda Chandra, said she was thrilled to be included in such a trailblazing cast. She mentioned that her time on the film was “whiplash-inducing,” since she was cast only two weeks before going into production.
The series has raised wide-ranging reactions, especially to its fearless approach to the kind of stories it tells. One particularly controversial scene in which David Tennant’s Doctor forms an infatuation with Sir Isaac Newton upset viewers on both ends of the spectrum. Sethu outdatedly, but passionately, defended the show’s fairytale turn. They said, “Woke simply means inclusive, progressive, and that you care about people.” At its heart, Doctor Who is kindness, love, and doing the right thing.
Russell T Davies, who is coming back as showrunner, complimented the on-screen chemistry between Sethu and Ncuti Gatwa, who will be reprising his role as the Doctor. Davies punningly quipped, “God, does those two have some chemistry.” He hinted that their creative spark will really come through in the modern-day season.
Sethu’s artistic journey started in India where she was born before her family settled in the countryside of the north-east of England at a young age. She had her first screen role in Boom, an episode of Doctor Who. On top of all this, she starred in Jurassic World Dominion, Annika and Strike Back. She emphasized that sense of equality both in her personal dealings with Gatwa, as well. “We truly are on equal footing in how we engage with one another,” she said. Russell was looking for someone who could challenge them and not be intimidated by this omnipotent creature.
As Doctor Who prepares for Fiftieth Anniversary specials, fans are in for quite a treat. It’s a tall order, but it delivers on both fronts — providing fun and engaging stories while subverting societal norms. As for Gatwa himself, it’s easy to see how excited he is about this new direction. He quipped, “Check it out, guys! We get to be inside the Tardis. We’re going to fuck so many people up!