Sir Lenny Henry criticises the show’s diversity?
Sir Lenny Henry has criticised hit BBC One show Doctor Who for a lack of diversity in recent seasons.
The comedian – who is set to appear in the sci fi show’s upcoming New Year special – has claimed that TV bosses “would rather have a dog do Doctor Who than a black person” during an interview with London’s Colourful Radio.
“Why have we never had a black Doctor Who? They would rather have a dog do Doctor Who than a black person. There’s no black people in Doctor Who,” he said (via The Sun).
!["The Long Song" Photocall](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/lenny-henry-1576231133.jpg?crop=0.798xw:0.583xh;0.100xw,0.0174xh&resize=480:* ""The Long Song" Photocall")
“When [former head writer] Russell T Davies was doing Doctor Who, there was so many black people in the show,” he continued, before adding: “I rang up and said, ‘There are too many black people in the show — put in some white people, it’s getting embarrassing’.
“Discussing how he thinks television can become more inclusive going forward, the 61-year-old said that the only way to achieve authentic representation is to make changes behind the scenes too.
“We’re still a long way away. The ‘in’ group who are in charge of everything are getting complacent. They’re mistaking pro-black for anti-white.
“People have to stop being upset when racism gets called out. Not everyone is racist, but when we hear monkey chants at football matches somebody is doing it. Somebody has to take responsibility for it.”
When Jodie Whittaker returns for her second season as The Doctor in the New Year’s Day two-part special ‘Spyfall’, Henry is set to play a morally ambiguous tech guy.
“We don’t know what side he’s on but there’s something going on,” Henry teased, before adding: “I’m so glad they didn’t make me wear tentacles, I get to wear a tuxedo.
“Doctor Who returns on New Year’s Day on BBC One in the UK and BBC America in the US.