Doctor Who Spinoff Class Will Include Gay Lead Says Creator
In light of the tragic shooting at an LGBTQ+ nightclub in Orlando, Florida over the weekend, BBC’s Class creator Patrick Ness wanted to give folks something nice to think about. The show will feature a gay lead.
We previously learned Class would focus on the famous Coal Hill School of Doctor Who lore and star Vivian Oparah, Sophie Hopkins, Greg Austin, and Fady Elsayed as students with Katherine Kelly starring as their teacher.
Been asked if Class will have LGBT representation in it. Will a lead character with a boyfriend who he kisses & sleeps with & loves do?
— Patrick Ness (@Patrick_Ness) June 13, 2016
We were keeping that secret, but today that secret doesn't seem very important. #lovewins
— Patrick Ness (@Patrick_Ness) June 13, 2016
As the Doctor would say, “Fantastic!”
Gosh, what a lovely response! I just want to try and tell stories about characters I love. That's how I start anything.
— Patrick Ness (@Patrick_Ness) June 13, 2016
There's way more than one character on the show, of course; lots of stories to be told. WITH ALIENS & TERROR & EMOTIONS & STUFF!!!
— Patrick Ness (@Patrick_Ness) June 13, 2016
Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat recently surprised me (in a good way!) by specifically saying the show needed to do more for diversity. “I had this baffling idea that if we just threw open each part to everybody, it would all work out in the end. I put my faith, inexplicably, in the free market,” he said. “It doesn’t work. You can only cast for talent – you’ve got to cast the best person, every single time – but you’ve got to gauge where you’re looking for the talent.”
As an out gay man, this isn’t the first time YA writer Ness has spoken out about the need for diversity in fiction works.
As a gay kid, I had NO SINGLE BOOK that told me I wasn't alone. Never again. Not if I've got anything to do with it #WeNeedDiverseBooksUK
— Patrick Ness (@Patrick_Ness) August 25, 2014
I think a lot of folks are going to be tuning in for Class. The series will air on BBC Three in the UK and most likely BBC America here in the US.
(via io9)