Doctor Who under fire for ‘too sexy’ plots

Waris Hussein directed the first episodes of the show, which starred William Hartnell as the Time Lord, in 1963.

Appearing with cast members including Peter Purves and Carole Ann Ford on Radio 4’s The Reunion yesterday, he said there had been a “sea change” in the show and highlighted Jenna-Louise Coleman’s character’s romantic relationship with Matt Smith’s version of the Doctor. He said: “There is an element now, and I know we’re living in a different era, of sexuality that has crept in.

“The intriguing thing about the original person was that you never quite knew about him and there was a mystery and an unavailability about him. Now we’ve just had a recent rebirth and another girl has joined us, a companion, she actually snogged him.”

He said the Doctor should be “unavailable” like the character of Sherlock Holmes.Purves, who became a Blue Peter presenter after a stint as the Doctor’s companion Steven Taylor, said he agreed “totally” with Hussein and said storylines had become too complicated.

The show’s 50th anniversary is due to be celebrated with a special 3D episode which will see Smith joined by former stars including Billie Piper and David Tennant.