Posted in: BBC, Disney+, TV | Tagged: doctor who

Doctor Who Being Called "Woke" a Badge of Honor, Not an Insult: Sethu

Sorry, trolls! Doctor Who star Varada Sethu (Belinda Chandra) explains why she doesn't see the show being called "woke" as an insult.

With less than two weeks to go until the second season return of Showrunner Russell T. Davies's Ncuti Gatwa (Fifteenth Doctor) and Varada Sethu (Belinda Chandra)-starring Doctor Who starts hitting screens, we have a pair of updates to pass along. First up, we have a new set of preview images covering a cross-section of the season's episodes waiting for you below. But before we get to that, we wanted to highlight what Sethu had to share in the latest issue of Radio Times magazine regarding the trolls on social media who blast the show for being "Doctor Woke" simply because the long-running series realized that you can have more than just young/old white dudes as the heroic main lead. But as she sees it, being "woke" is just being in line with what the series has always been about.

"There's been a couple of Doctor Woke [references] or whatever, but I just think we're doing the right thing if we're getting comments like that," Sethu shared. "Woke just means inclusive, progressive, and that you care about people. And, as far as I know, the core of 'Doctor Who' is kindness, love, and doing the right thing." Still, Sethu shared that Gatwa had joked with her while they were on the set about how having two leads who were people of color wouldn't go over well with some fans. "Ncuti was like, 'Look at us. We get to be in the TARDIS. We're going to p*** off so many people,'" Sethu said, laughing – before noting that the positive feedback that she's received has meant a lot.

Don't forget that the new season premieres on Saturday, April 12 (12 am PDT / 3 am EDT) on Disney+ (where available) and exclusively on the BBC and BBC iPlayer in the UK – with new episodes dropping weekly. Here's a look at the newest teaser for the upcoming second season, followed by Gatwa's interview on NBC's The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon that included a clip (beginning at around the 6:00 mark) and the newest Disney+ trailer. In addition, we have a rundown of the season's episode titles, a look at the cast and new writers, and more:

"The Robot Revolution": Written by Russell T Davies, directed by Peter Hoar

"Lux": Written by Russell T Davies, directed by Amanda Brotchie

"The Well": Written by Russell T Davies & Sharma Angel Walfall, directed by Amanda Brotchie

"Lucky Day": Written by Pete McTighe, directed by Peter Hoar

"The Story & the Engine": Written by Inua Ellams, directed by Makalla McPherson

"The Interstellar Song Contest": Written by Juno Dawson, directed by Ben A. Williams

"Wish World": Written by Russell T Davies, directed by Alex Sanjiv Pillai

"The Reality War": Written by Russell T Davies, directed by Alex Sanjiv Pillai

Joining Gatwa, Sethu, Gibson, and Condou for the second season are Rose Ayling-Ellis, Anita Dobson, Christopher Chung, Michelle Greenidge, Jonah Hauer-King, Ruth Madeley, Jemma Redgrave, Susan Twist, Freddie Fox, Kadiff Kirwan, Charlie Condou, Alan Cumming as the voice of Mr Ring-a-Ding, and English TV personality Rylan Clark (Eurovision Song Contest). Now, here's a look at the latest trailer that was officially released:

Doctor Who Season 2 Writers: Dawson, Ellams, McTighe & Angel-Walfall

"'Doctor Who' takes its talent from a glittering galaxy of names, and these extraordinary writers span the skies. We've got old hands, new stars, voices from theatre, radio, and literature – the whole works! It's the most wild and exciting season of 'Doctor Who' yet, and I can't wait to unleash their brilliant work," Davies shared about Juno Dawson, Inua Ellams, Pete McTighe, and Sharma Angel-Walfall – the new writers joining the series for its second season:

Juno Dawson is a #1 Sunday Times best-selling novelist, screenwriter, and journalist whose books include the global bestsellers This Book is Gay and Her Majesty's Royal Coven. Her debut short film was The Birth of Venus, and she created the first official Doctor Who scripted podcast, Doctor Who: Redacted. "I started watching 'Doctor Who' with my grandma when I was ten years old in the 1990s. From writing fan fiction for an audience of one to scripting the best TV show of all time is truly a dream come true. I can't wait for fans and newcomers to see the new season," Dawson shared.

Inua Ellams is a writer and curator whose published books of poetry include Candy Coated Unicorns & Converse All Stars and The Actual. His first play, The 14th Tale, was awarded a Fringe First at the Edinburgh International Theatre Festival. Other plays include Barber Shop Chronicles, which played at the National Theatre, Three Sisters, and The Half-God of Rainfall. "For as long as I can remember television, I've been a 'Doctor Who' fan. I started watching when I was 10 in Nigeria. The show invited me to dream, to live beyond my reality. Getting to write for the show felt like touching God; it was blasphemously humbling and exciting, and I can't wait to share my story with the world," Ellams shared.

Pete McTighe is a writer and executive producer on the forthcoming spin-off, The War Between The Land And The Sea. He has created, written, or executive-produced dramas, including The Pact (BBC), The Rising (Sky), A Discovery Of Witches (HBO), and Wentworth (Fox). "The TARDIS is my home away from home, so it's been a joy to step back inside, with Russell at the console and the incredible team at Bad Wolf hanging on for dear life. I love this show with all my heart, and am really proud of what we've been able to achieve with my next episode," McTighe shared.

Sharma Angel-Walfall originally hails from Manchester and won the inaugural Channel 4 New Writing Award that set her off on her screenwriting journey. She has been in a number of writers' rooms, including Rapman's Supacell (Netflix), Sally Wainwright's The Ballad of Renegade Nell (Disney+), A Town Called Malice (Sky), and Noughts & Crosses (BBC). She was a writing consultant on Paul Abbott's Wolfe (Sky) and wrote an episode of Sharon Hogan's Dreamland for Sky (starring Lilly Allen and Freema Agyeman). "I am buzzing to be a part of such an iconic show! I am a massive Russell T Davies fan, so it is a dream come true to be able to work alongside him, especially on a show that I love. It's a real privilege to be a part of the 'Doctor Who' family. I have loved every minute!" Angel-Walfall shared.

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