![]() ![]() In 2020, Sacha Dhawan became the first British South Asian incarnation of the Doctor’s long-time enemy, the Master. I had that exact moment with myself when I was first coming out, not too far from Yaz’s age, and hadn’t ever seen a coming out on TV that felt so similar to my own.” Helena Emmanuel, a Doctor Who fan based in the US, says: “When Yaz described that she hadn’t admitted her feelings towards the Doctor even to herself, it resonated with me. This resonated with fans all over the world. Mandip Gill became the Doctor’s first full-time Asian companion, whose character Yaz was revealed to be in love with the Doctor during this year’s New Year special, Eve of the Daleks – the first queer relationship between the Doctor and a companion. ![]() It is not just Whittaker’s casting that marked big changes for the show. In 2018, for the first time in 35 years, Doctor Who featured an episode written and directed by women ![]() “This way, diverse narratives can be told, not just stereotyped,” says Mort. So what does it mean when shows such as Doctor Who increase diversity in front of and behind the camera? Mort says increased on-screen diversity will improve the self-esteem of those represented, and having behind-the-camera talent from communities being portrayed on-screen will ensure the authenticity of these narratives. Historically, representation of women, black people, people of colour, LGBTQ+ people and people with disabilities has been less prolific, and people have often found themselves in stereotyped, supporting roles.” “We learn about our identity, and how that identity is seen in the world, partly through the way people who share our identities are portrayed in the media. According to the psychologist Dr Sophie Mort, whose work focuses on how our society shapes mental health, not seeing yourself represented on-screen affects how you think about yourself and your aspirations. Evidence suggests that casting people from diverse backgrounds can improve our mental health. ![]()
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