A male Doctor Who is an outdated idea. Exterminate it
- Publication: The Times
- Date: 2013-06-04
- Author: Ross Clark
- Page: 26
- Language: English
Much of the Universe has been scandalised by the suggestion that Doctor Who, following Matt Smith's retirement, might combine his next regeneration with gender-realignment surgery. Billy Piper, Helen Mirren and Joanna Lumley have all been suggested for the role.
But if the BBC is really committed to diversity it should go one step farther — and give the job to a Dalek. Why not? For 50 years these creatures have been demonised. They have been portrayed as warmongering cyborgs without an ounce of compassion, heartless shells equipped with no emotion other than the urge to exterminate all that passes before them. They cannot really be like this, not all the time. If they were 100 per cent nihilistic, how could they breed? And don't say they don't breed — their continued existence after 50 years of attrition through warfare and short-circuits is proof of that. Somehow, somewhere, maybe in nurseries on the planet Skaro, they must be bringing up young Daleks with the tenderness and love it takes a large-brained creature to become a fully functioning adult.
So why have we never been allowed to see the Daleks' softer side? It is sheer prejudice on the part of the BBC. The corporation puts on a great show of befriending minority groups, but then singles out one to be the focus of all our hate. Daleks have come to represent everything that individual viewers deep down might fear and despise: they are our migrants, our hoodies, our gypsies all rolled into one. If we treat Daleks in the foul fashion that generations of Time Lords have done it should come as no surprise that they behave so badly in return. Not once has the Doctor even attempted to extend the hand — or sink-plunger — of friendship.
Having Doctor Who regenerate as a Dalek would put that right in a flash. It would show that multiculturalism doesn't just exist on Earth. It would be Doctor Who's Barack Obama moment, demonstrating there is no limit to the heights to which a young Dalek might aspire. With a positive Dalek role model future series might then concentrate on more peaceful activities, such as intergalactic sport. The Doctor is running out of chances to regenerate. There have been hints that he can only undergo 12 regenerations, and the next will be the 11th. A Dalek might even save the series if, as I suspect, he is less likely than a human to run off to another role the minute he is made a better offer. If we are going to use a children's TV series as the template fora better and more equal world and few would doubt that we should do this — it is a case of having Time Lords make up with the Daleks either now or never.
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- APA 6th ed.: Clark, Ross (2013-06-04). A male Doctor Who is an outdated idea. Exterminate it. The Times p. 26.
- MLA 7th ed.: Clark, Ross. "A male Doctor Who is an outdated idea. Exterminate it." The Times [add city] 2013-06-04, 26. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: Clark, Ross. "A male Doctor Who is an outdated idea. Exterminate it." The Times, edition, sec., 2013-06-04
- Turabian: Clark, Ross. "A male Doctor Who is an outdated idea. Exterminate it." The Times, 2013-06-04, section, 26 edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=A male Doctor Who is an outdated idea. Exterminate it | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/A_male_Doctor_Who_is_an_outdated_idea._Exterminate_it | work=The Times | pages=26 | date=2013-06-04 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=18 May 2025 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=A male Doctor Who is an outdated idea. Exterminate it | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/A_male_Doctor_Who_is_an_outdated_idea._Exterminate_it | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=18 May 2025}}</ref>
