Scots author AL Kennedy against female Doctor Who


Kennedy, who has just published her first Doctor Who novel. said the character had always had a “guy vibe” and that she would be “surprised” if the role changed gender. She said the character, currently played by Glasgow-born actor Peter Capaldi, would be turned into “something else” if a female actress was ever cast.
Kennedy – who realised a long-held ambition when she was asked to write a new story for her favourite Doctor, as portrayed by Tom Baker in the 1970s – said Tilda Swinton was the only actress she could think of who could possibly do justice to the role.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdAppearing at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, the Dundee-born author said she was equally opposed to suggestions Sherlock Holmes be played by a woman, saying she was keener to see new stronger female fiction characters created instead.
She said the BBC had finally agreed to let her write a novel after “begging for a very long time” and described Baker as “the one and only true Doctor”.
One member of the book festival audience suggested Kennedy herself would make a good Doctor and asked whether she thought there would ever be a female Doctor.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdShe said: “As a heterosexual woman I have an interest in that. He is a big fundamental part of who I fancy. He is who he is. He has kind of got a guy vibe. He just has a sort of hopeless, undomestic, dozy, dreamy guy kind of eccentricity. I would be surprised if he changed gender. Build something else iconic and wonderful and marvellous for women.”
Doctor Who’s showrunner, Paisley-born Steven Moffat, has refused to rule out casting a female actress in the main role.