Some Physician Who followers have complained to the BBC over the ‘inappropriate’ and ‘anti-male’ inclusion of a transgender character on a current episode.
Final month the primary in a sequence of three specials starring David Tennant and Catherine Tate because the Physician and his companion Donna Noble hit screens.
The pair had been reunited after initially starring within the franchise for 4 seasons between 2005 and 2010.
Within the episode, titled The Star Beast, viewers had been additionally launched to Donna’s daughter Rose, performed by Heartstopper’s Yasmin Finney.
Whereas many followers of the long-running programme praised showrunner Russell T. Davies for the inclusion of Rose, who’s transgender, and her related storyline, some took subject and complained to the nationwide broadcaster.
The BBC has now revealed it obtained 144 complaints from viewers, whose primary subject with the episode was it being ‘anti-male’ and having an ‘inappropriate inclusion of a transgender character’.
Nevertheless, these numbers made up a tiny proportion of the viewers who tuned in, with greater than 7.6 million individuals watching the episode.
Forward of it hitting screens, Russell anticipated backlash and mentioned he knew there have been some individuals ‘filled with absolute hate, and venom, and destruction and violence who wish to see that form of factor wiped off the display screen fully’.
Addressing those that held these beliefs, he declared at a press occasion earlier than the episode’s launch: ‘Disgrace on you and good luck to you in your lonely lives.’
The episode additionally noticed the introduction of Meep (performed by Miriam Margolyes) who corrected the Physician after they mechanically assume the extraterrestrial’s pronouns, and as an alternative knowledgeable they simply used the particular article, the Meep.
In a while within the episode, the Physician additionally revealed their gender identification, saying they had been ‘female and male and neither and extra.’
Quickly after tuning in a single fan wrote on social media that they had been ‘in tears as Russell T. Davies eviscerates the idea of binary gender’.
Another person shared on X, previously Twitter: ‘Okay that Physician Who, slay. The non-binary illustration on BBC on was so great to see in a time of such hatred from each the federal government and bigger society in direction of the LGBTQIA+ neighborhood! Thanks Physician Who.’
Russell additionally beforehand mentioned that homophobia and transphobia occurred when it was one thing ‘you’ve by no means seen earlier than’.
‘You possibly can mood that response and alter it whenever you introduce these photographs to individuals fortunately and usually and calmly after they’re younger. Then it simply turns into regular.’
In the meantime David was just lately seen sporting a Tardis pin badge within the colors of the transgender flag throughout a number of current TV appearances.
Requested concerning the badge, the proceeds from which go to LGBT+ homeless charity the Albert Kennedy Belief, he informed Angle: ‘It’s simply one thing that I believe is moderately beautiful and necessary and fits what Physician Who’s all about.’
Metro.co.uk has contacted BBC and representatives for Russell T. Davies for remark.
The ultimate Physician Who particular, The Giggle, airs on Saturday at 6.30pm on BBC One.
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