As someone with red hair, a curse I’ve had my whole life, I find this all rather amusing.
While I have personally faced anti-redhed discrimination in my time – the Brits are apparently way more anti-redhead than Americans. Anglophile factoid the British call redheaded people ‘ginger.’ In the USA we simply say redhead.
When the Doctor regenerated at the end of the New Year’s special, he lamented that he still did not have read hair. I thought it was a positive thing for such a big cultural figure to want to have red hair.
Some people, overtly sensitive people – 143 in fact – seemed to misunderstand the meaning of the line and complained to the BBC.
In good humor, the BBC responded with a statement that it wasn’t Anti-Ginger.
A statement from the BBC said:
“We would like to reassure viewers that Doctor Who doesn’t have an anti ginger agenda whatsoever. This was a reprise of the line in the Christmas Invasion episode in 2005, when David Tennant discovers that he’s not ginger, and here he is, missing out again – disappointed he’s still not ginger. In addition, the Doctor’s previous companion Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) and his new one Amy Pond (Karen Gillan) are both redheads.
Ginger people must certainly continue to keep an eye on the BBC and their secret anti-ginger agenda.
Anglotopia was founded by Jonathan and Jackie Thomas in 2007 in a closet in Chicago. Anglotopia is for people who love Britain - whether it's British TV, Culture, History or Travel - we cover it all. Join us as we explore Britain and everything it has to offer!
Speaking as a kid who grew up a ginger in luton, before emigrating to the US, in this regard, america is heaven. no more ginger bashing, no more running home for your life…so nice. I can come out of the closet, take off my hat, and revel in my red-ness without worrying some blonde haired git will say something…
Shouldn’t there be people speaking up about him being horrified that he might be a girl?
Any guy would be horrified if they became a girl. That’s not particularly a bad thing…
Lol! Surely there are worse things one could turn into. Like a wanker, for instance.
I guess I just don’t understand it. Ginger hair is beautiful. As someone with naturally light brown hair I’ve been coloring it ginger for almost 20 years (as do 2 of my 3 sisters and my mum!)
I wish I was ginger! Haha, I have been fascinated with red hair for the longest time and go back and forth between wanting to color it (I’m an Asian American born in a British colony) so.. yeah… there’s just SOMETHING about redheads.. love them!
Jonathan! You should be proud of your red hair! It’s physical proof of the celtic blood running through your veins! No more of this “it’s a curse” business.
Maybe it’s just a girl thing, but some people would kill to get my shade- and everyone is always squealing “OMG Look at your pretty red hair!!!!!!” Everywhere I go. So it definitely isn’t a problem in America- if anything, it’s reversed. That’s just my particular experience.