Sir Lenny Henry has claimed a dog is more likely to be cast as the lead in ‘Doctor Who’ than a black person.
The 61-year-old star – who has a guest role in the sci-fi series on 1 January – believes diversity has dwindled on the programme since showrunner Russell T. Davies left, and he doesn’t think a person of colour will take the title role when Jodie Whittaker eventually departs.
He said: "Why have we never had a black Doctor Who? They would rather have a dog do Doctor Who than a black person. There’s no black people in Doctor Who.
"When Russell T Davis was doing Doctor Who there was so many black people in the show I rang up and said there are too many black people in the show — put in some white people, it’s getting embarrassing."
Lenny insisted show bosses need to do more to promote diversity and thinks TV is a "long way away" from truly representing the world.
He told London’s Colourful Radio: "I only think when the decision-makers and the gatekeepers and producers and the executives look like the people you see when you’re walking down the street in your area will things change.
"We’re still a long way away. The ‘in’ group who are in charge of everything are getting complacent.
"They’re mistaking pro-black for anti-white.
"People have to stop being upset when racism gets called out. Not everyone is racist, but when we hear monkey chants at football matches somebody is doing it. Somebody has to take responsibility for it."
Meanwhile, Lenny also teased some details about his own ‘Doctor Who’ character and admitted he was glad he didn’t have to wear an elaborate costume.
He said: "He is a tech guy like Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos and we don’t know what side he’s on but there’s something going on.
"I’m so glad they didn’t make me wear tentacles, I get to wear a a tuxedo."
Lenny Henry slams lack of diversity in Doctor Who
