Emmerdale’s Emile John praises new Doctor Who Ncuti Gatwa and diverse TV casting

Emmerdale star Emile John has praised Doctor Who bosses for hiring a black Time Lord as he detailed the importance of diverse TV casting. 

Earlier this month it was revealed Sex Education actor Ncuti Gatwa, 29, will replace Jodie Whittaker on the BBC show when it returns next year. 

Discussing the news, soap star Emile – who is currently making headlines with a harrowing racism storyline – revealed it was a big step forward in highlighting representation. 

He told The Mirror: ‘I didn’t see a Black Doctor Who coming, I think it is just incredible. Young people will see a black person as Doctor Who – as a hero.

‘Me and my mates used to be in the playground playing at being David Tennant – to have a generation of black people see a black Doctor is a gift. Representation matters.’

Emile, 25, went on to discuss his own experiences as a black man in the industry, noting: ‘I’ve benefited from the progression that’s been made with regards to diverse TV casting.

‘Hiring people of colour should be just as normal as hiring anyone else. And playing a young mild-mannered ambitious professional like my character Ethan is part of that.’

One to watch: Earlier this month it was revealed Sex Education actor Ncuti Gatwa, 29, will replace Jodie Whittaker on the BBC show when it returns next year

Emile made his Emmerdale debut last year as mild-mannered lawyer Ethan Anderson the son of vicar Charles.

His current storyline sees him battling over whether he should agree to represent racist Jordan Greenlow (Jack Parr) in a hate crime case after he attacked Billy Fletcher (Jay Kontzle) last month.

Speaking about the scenes on Thursday’s episode of Lorraine, he said: ‘Some of the dialogue used is kind of vile and is uncomfortable to hear.’

Discussing his own experiences with racism, he added:  ‘At school I had sly quips and digs with regards to being black. At the time people thought it was funny, but with BLM there is more licence to call people out, where before I would internalise those digs and slurs. I feel like things haven’t changed fully but there’s progress.’

Tense: Emile’s Emmerdale storyline sees Ethan battling over whether he should agree to represent racist Jordan Greenlow (Jack Parr) in a hate crime case

Meanwhile, it was announced earlier this month that Ncuti will become the 14th Time Lord on Doctor Who, while transgender actress Yasmin Finney will play his companion Rose. 

Scottish actor Ncuti, who was born in Rwanda, rose to fame as Eric Effiong in Netflix’s hugely popular Sex Education about socially awkward high school student Otis (Asa Butterfield) and his sex therapist mother Jean (Gillian Anderson).

Ncuti admitted that he has kept his casting in Doctor Who under wraps since February and praised the popular series for making people feel ‘seen’.

In his first interview since the announcement, he said: ‘It feels amazing, this role is an institution and it’s so iconic and means so much to so many people, including myself.

‘It makes everyone feel seen. I’m very grateful to have the baton handed over and I’m going to try and do my best.’

Meanwhile, 18-year-old Yasmin will be by his side taking over a role made famous by Billie Piper. 

New role: Ncuti will become the 14th Time Lord on Doctor Who. The Scottish actor Ncuti, who was born in Rwanda, rose to fame as Eric Effiong in Netflix’s hugely popular Sex Education

Yasmin recently shot to fame with an iconic role in Netflix’s gay teen romance Heartstopper where she plays trans character, Elle Argent.

She is not the first trans actor to be on Doctor Who with actress Rebecca Root playing a companion and Bethany Black appearing on the show.

Russell T Davies, who revived the show in 2005 with the first episode entitled Rose, is back as the showrunner. 

New cast: Transgender actress Yasmin Finney will play the Time Lord’s companion Rose. She recently shot to fame with an iconic role in Netflix’s gay teen romance Heartstopper