John Barrowman Proposes a Female Doctor Who

[Rachel_Sandford]

While in Glasgow promoting Robinson Crusoe and The Caribbean Pirates pantomime, John Barrowman, who plays Captain Jack Harkness in both Doctor Who and Torchwood proposed that the next time the good Doctor regenerates, she should be a lady.

“I think a female doctor might work, you never know,” said Barrowman. “The audience might not like that. I know there's a lot of young girls and women who would love that... I think that maybe they should go out on a limb next time and try it. That always stirs things up a little bit and makes things exciting and it's nice to see different things and challenges happen like that.”

Barrowman believes that having a female Doctor would be no big thing saying “Listen, if Captain Jack can be an omni-sexual time agent and an assistant to the Doctor, why can't we have a female Doctor?” Barrowman asked. Then later added “Put me in a dress and I'll be the female Doctor.”

The actor revealed, however, that his first choice for a female Doctor would be Catherine Tate, who has already appeared in 17 episodes of the show as Donna Noble. During the interview, Barrowman said Tate would make a “lovely Doctor.”

This is not to say that Barrowman is unhappy with the current Doctor, though. “Matt has put his mark on [the character] and rightfully so,” said Barrowman. “and he's a wonderful Doctor, but my Doctor will always be David (Tennant).”


Robinson Crusoe and The Caribbean Pirates will be staged from December at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre.

 

[Vipersan]

..No disrespect to the female gender ...but mr Barrowman is wrong ...
Perhaps he doesn't realise how deep rooted this British Icon of the small screen is rooted in the history of TV with Dr who fans ...
The answer is NO ...
I'm sure Dr who fans will agree ..this is one role not open for change or debate ..
I don't care how politically incorrect I might sound on this issue ...but our Timelord has always been a man ...and should remain so ..
The recent inclusion of stronger and more pro-active female companions ...and daughters of companions has been a much needed breath of fresh air since the Doctor returned to our screens ...and I fully support this ...
But having been a fan since William Hartnell first brought this regenerating ...enigma to our screens in all his guises and varying temperaments ....I will never accept the last Timelord ...played by a woman.
If it ain't broke ...why try to fix it.
VS

 

[Topper]

I totally agree VS, too much of everything having to be PC these days. It would never work, but as always in these matters when viewing figures fell, they would have the fallback of exploiting her sexuality to try to attract a different type of audience, but I doubt even then that I would watch it, it wouldn't seem right

 

[sonnetpete]

I concur with you both. I can't see the Dr ever being a woman. However, reading views on another forum, someone has suggested he could be regenerated as a black person. I quite like that idea and the proposition that the part should go to Idris Elba (Luther). I think he'd be brilliant as the Dr.

 

[Vipersan]

I concur with you both. I can't see the Dr ever being a woman. However, reading views on another forum, someone has suggested he could be regenerated as a black person. I quite like that idea and the proposition that the part should go to Idris Elba (Luther). I think he'd be brilliant as the Dr.

I agree Pete ..
Skin colour isn't an issue ...
..after all we've already given him a Northener persona ..in the form of Chistopher eccleston..
I seem to remember there was even a joke thrown in when referencing why the Dr regenerated as a Northener...
His reply being ..why not ....all planets have a North and South ;)

..my issue is with regenerating as a female ...
Taken in context ...He is the last of his species ...and as such deserves a little reverence...the least of which is _not messing with his sex_

For me its just a question of ..too much messing with the central character...and unacceptable changes..

You could never replace Scrooge with a woman..

and more recently ...
How about remaking the movies and books with Harriette Potter..

Or Freda Baggins ...
I'm sure Sam would be pleased ...but I certainly wouldn't

Nuff said ..
VS

 

[PaulR]

Well, disregarding the fact that we have already had a female Doctor of sorts (Joanna Lumley in The Curse of the Fatal Death - 1999) I also think it would be wrong.

I also suspect that regenerations keep the same gender as shown by the regeneration of Mels into River Song in the episode Let's kill Hitler. This also, incidentally, shows us that a black Doctor is entirely within the realms of possibility. Having said that I think that Idris Elba would be unable to give the time commitment needed and would probably be too intense anyway.

 

[Mickha]

This is often proposed, by the over PC brigade, but instead of having a female Doctor Who why don't they just write a new series, involving the return of Roamana, a female time lord that appeared in a series of episodes with Tom Baker.

 

[Channel Hopper]

This is often proposed, by the over PC brigade,.

Or someone that has been written in to the series as an immortal, omni-sexual (?) and would gladly put on a dress to finish off the character once and for all.

 

[sonnetpete]

Or someone that has been written in to the series as an immortal, omni-sexual (?) and would gladly put on a dress to finish off the character once and for all.

Good Lord, you're not suggesting casting Paul O'Grady as the Dr??

 

[Lazarus]

Doesn't Barrowman himself have a self-confessed pinkish tinge?

 

[Vipersan]

Sexual orientation isn't at issue here ...
Tom Baker ...who for me was one of the definitive incarnations of the Dr ...portrayed an excellent Timelord manifestation ..
But never felt the need to put on a dress ..
The Dr is and should remain male... Timelord is by definition Male ...
Certainly River would make an excellent Time-lady- ....and I would be happy to see her in a spinoff series ..
Just don't mess with the Doctor.
rgds
VS

 

[Channel Hopper]

Certainly River would make an excellent Time-lady- ....and I would be happy to see her in a spinoff series ..

Not another spin-off series, it's becoming Trekky already

 

[Lazarus]

It's becoming confusing, that's for sure. SWMBO was a great fan but is left cold by current plotlines.

Bring back the Zarbi.

 

[Robbo]

I agree. don't think a female Doctor Who would be good, just seems wrong somehow, and would lose its appeal.

I liked David Tennant, but admit every time the Doctor regenerates, I seem to like the current one best, though Matt is wierd.

 

[PaulR]

It's becoming confusing, that's for sure. SWMBO was a great fan but is left cold by current plotlines.

A friend of mine used to watch Doctor Who but she has sadi a similarthing that she can't get into ther current stories.

Then again she, like me, is probably waaaay outside the intended demographic.

Bring back the Zarbi.

Mechanoids anyone?

 

[Channel Hopper]

Nah, the original Sea Devils, the original master and Katy Manning of course.

Off topic, Jon Pertwee served out part of his conscription on HMS Hood during the war, and the Royal Navy bent over backwards to help out in the Sea Devils episodes.

 

[Lazarus]

Ah, yes: Leading Seaman Goldstein.

Early typecasting.

 

[sonnetpete]

....Mechanoids anyone?

.....oh, go on then, but I couldn't possibly eat a whole one.

 

[Vipersan]

[video=youtube;M4lEt8LU3Vk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4lEt8LU3Vk&NR=1[/video]

Couldn't resist ..
hope it embeds ok ...
I remember hiding behind the sofa as a child ...and having nightmares about Daleks ..and Cybermen
rgds
VS

 

[Lazarus]

Quelle fromage, VS - Not a Zarbi to be seen.

IIRC, the Beeb "lost" those particular Episodes. Pity.