Luke is running a survey into how we define the word ‘woke’ and how it applies to Doctor Who. To take part visit – https://bit.ly/DoctorWhoWoke
T-shirts can be found here – https://www.redbubble.com/people/ufocast
Follow us on twitter @ufo_cast
Like us on Facebook
Review us on iTunes
Email the show – ufocast@yahoo.com
SaveSaveSaveSave
UFOcast 
Not exactly a response to the question asked, but I thought it might be of interest:
https://www.bailiwickexpress.com/news-ge/whos-going-blue-on-the-boxing-day-dip/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQKNjYyODU2ODM3OQABHmFfpYLUBvHcPSfy2CqKRZgywa19Y0OkG32t-0A_vc7igmbJdd2bvFl40Dky_aem_0Cq6UFVaqnxlSSUhQburYg
LikeLike
As I haven’t watched too many episodes of Doctor Who since the days of Christopher Ecclestone, I’m obviously not really qualified to take part in the survey. However, the article ‘What does “Woke” mean? And Why Does It Matter?’ by Dr Paul Chappell ( https://paulchappell.com/2024/03/01/what-does-woke-mean-and-why-does-it-matter/) may be of benefit when looking to define ‘woke’ and some of its characteristics and potential implications (although it is only the opinion of one person and obviously isn’t definitive in any way, shape, or form).
Using the search term ‘should TV programmes be woke’, I found the following article https://www.shoutoutuk.org/2025/10/02/has-the-world-finally-turned-its-back-on-woke-entertainment/#). Again, although only the opinion of just one individual, it does make specific reference to Doctor Who and the subject of ‘wokeism’:
‘ What comes to mind when you think of the hit show ‘Doctor Who‘? Sonic screwdrivers and Daleks, or pregnant men and drag queens?
Outraged viewers have accused the BBC of using Doctor Who to ‘promot[e] the cult of gender ideology’ by prioritising the inclusion of minority groups over its infamous aliens. When watching the latest series, you can’t help but wonder if the screenwriters were playing diversity bingo. Even the casting of Jodie Whittaker and Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor feels off. It’s as though the BBC suddenly realised after twelve iterations of the character that the Doctor has only ever been a white male. It makes you wonder what other boxes the creators are yet to tick in their pursuit of thoughtless ‘inclusivity.’ Instead of deciding which actor gets to play the iconic Doctor based on how well they perform during their audition, will casting directors insist that they be trans, Asian, or disabled — even if that means passing over a better actor?
Not only is this overbearing tokenism disingenuous, but it’s also falling on deaf ears. Fans are looking for state-of-the-art special effects and high-stakes intergalactic missions. They do not want to be educated about pronouns as if it were a PSHE lesson. There is a time and place for this kind of content, and it is not during a sci-fi show. Ultimately, Doctor Who’s ‘woke, boring’ storylines feel more like a superficial attempt by the BBC to meet diversity quotas, rather than a genuine commitment to producing decent plotlines. And now, this contagious disease has spread from Britain’s television industry to Hollywood.’
Although those two articles may help both define ‘wokeism’ and go some way towards answering the question as to whether (or not) Doctor Who is now ‘woke’, I do have one question for fans of TV shows who now defend, and indeed praise, the introduction of what many see as a more ‘woke’ philosophy into programmes such as Doctor Who. Although a ‘woke’ philosophy potentially offers openings to actors, writers, etc, who might have been previously overlooked, what opportunities, storylines, and talent have also been overlooked in pursuit of a more ‘inclusive’ agenda? Maybe TV shows categorised as entertainment, sci-fi, etc, should just simply stick to their knitting, avoid agendas, and, in so doing, increase their longevity and appeal to a far greater audience?
LikeLike