TW: Spoilers
Jo Martin – best known for her roles as Max McGerry from Holby City and Natalie Crouch in The Crouches – appeared in last year’s Doctor Who series as a past incarnation of the Time Lord and guess what? She is the first BAME actress to play the Doctor. Ever. With BBC producers introducing their first female Doctor in 2017, and now their first BAME Doctor, they certainly seem to be well on their way to diversify what has thus far been a highly liberal and male-dominated cast.
It is widely accepted that this incredibly popular British television show has seen thirteen Doctors come through the doors of the Tardis – officially anyway. And only one was female. If you then bring John Hurt and Jo Martin into the mix, that’s fifteen doctors. Two out of fifteen Doctors – 13.3%. Now that is poor. Whilst Doctor Who has certainly kept within diversity boundaries, providing a white, male-dominated cast, the BBC are certainly on their way to diversifying future shows. The future is beginning to look bright for female and BAME actors and actresses looking to take a hold of the Tardis, sonic screwdriver, and fez, and explore the galaxy.
Doctor, who?
Martin first made her appearance in ‘Fugitive of the Judoon’ as a previous incarnation of the Doctor; an eccentric and whimsical character whose constant evolution is enough to churn anyone’s stomach. But who would have thought this liberal show would finally take the leap and introduce their first BAME actress in 2020? 57 years after its launch in 1963.
“You’re probably a bit confused right now….Hello, I’m the Doctor.”
Dressed in a psychedelic shirt and blue coat, Martin immediately grabs the attention of her viewers onscreen, giving us our first glimpse of a BAME Doctor. No special characteristics were given to her character. No unusual or off-key traits that would seek to diversify this incarnated Doctor from her predecessors. It seems that Doctor Who producers are finally beginning to recognise the importance of onscreen diversity and culture – about time if you ask me.
Martin first appears on screen after Whittaker is shown to be unearthing The Tardis near an old lighthouse. Confused and exacerbated at finding what appears to be her Tardis buried beneath the Earth’s surface, she turns to face someone whose past is just as twisted and unconventional as hers – the Doctor.
Devoted Doctor Who fans were introduced to this centuries-old Time Lord as an unknown version of the Doctor hiding on Earth in a remote setting. Disguised as tour guide Ruth Clayton, the Judoon pursued her as a fugitive, forcing her on the run without her memory and Tardis for support.
Can we expect more of Martin?
Despite fans critical of where, or if, she belongs on the timeline, Martin is optimistic that this will not be her last appearance on the show.
“it’s a real waste of a costume because it’s so swaggy”
“I think there’s so much more story. What they set up opens up a world that we’ve not fully explored with Doctor Who yet.”
“And you don’t want to waste that costume. You know what I mean? That costume – it’s a real waste of a costume because it’s so swaggy, as they say. So I think that costume needs to get worn again by me.”
I mean, she’s not wrong.
When asked if she would be returning to the show in the near future, Martin hinted at a possible spin-off. “You can have a world of different spin-offs and things happening, and they’re all part of the same world.”
What’s next in Whoville?
In 2017, 54 years after the show first launched, producers finally introduced their first female Doctor – Jodie Whittaker. Whilst this casting choice certainly received its fair share of criticism, actors involved in the series have congratulated the BBC on their slow, but steady, move towards diversity.
“it has opened doors for a more diverse cast in the future”
The introduction of their first BAME and second female Doctor in the space of three years has certainly caused a stir amongst fans and critics, but what is certain is this. Doctor Who prides itself in a constantly-evolving script and timeline – hello, how many Doctor’s have we had now – and has opened doors for a more diverse cast in the future. With rumours that Jodie Whittaker may be leaving the show after three years, there is always the possibility that we may be seeing more of Jo Martin before we know it.
Madeleine Raine
Featured image courtesy of Dante Candal via Unsplash. Image license is available here. No changes were made to this image.