Doctor Who?
Yesterday, I was drawn into the biggest media event of the year so far. Not the launch of Celebrity Big Brother, but the announcement of the New Doctor Who leading man, Matt Smith. This was so important that it gained newspaper inches, a slot on the news and a 45 minute special, just for the unveiling of an almost unknown actor who won’t even be appearing on our screens until 2010!
Which got me thinking, why is there such an interest in the role of the Doctor? Right now, with David Tennant currently the most popular actor on the planet, it’s tempting to tie it all to the cult of celebrity – Tennant is massive, so Doctor Who is massive. But I think it’s more deep-seated than that. When the BBC created the character of the Doctor, they laid down one simple guideline; that he would be ‘never cowardly or cruel’. In short, they made him a hero. Not infallible, but someone who looks out for the down-trodden and the needy, and who always steps in and does his best to rescue them.
I think it’s brilliant that the biggest star of the moment is a man (well, time-lord) who exemplifies all the best characteristics of the Christian life – not cruel, not cowardly, but brave, kind, a defender of the weak, a loyal friend, someone who would (and has, if you know your Who-history) lay down his life for a friend; and as Jesus said, there’s no greater love than that.
