'Doctor Who' producer speaks about diversity in the show: 'We need to do better'

LONDON -- Long-time Doctor Who writer and producer Steven Moffat has confirmed that the show's lead role was previously offered to a black actor.

Moffat made the comments in an interview published in the latest Doctor Who magazine issue, the Guardian reports, as part of a wider conversation about diversity in the show.

"Two non-white leads in Doctor Who would be amazing," Moffat told Doctor Who magazine. "I certainly don't think there's ever been a problem with making the Doctor black, which is why it should happen one day."

He went on to talk about the recent appointment of Pearl Mackie as the Doctor's new companion.

"We decided that the new companion was going to be non-white, and that was an absolute decision, because we need to do better on that," Moffat said. "We just have to." 

"I don't mean that we've done terribly -- our guest casts are among the most diverse on television -- but I feel as though I could have done better overall."

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