Doctor Who Disability Rep
Wanted to do a quick shoutout to Shirley, the UNIT woman from the first episode of the 60th anniversary special. Excellent disability representation for multiple reasons:
Introduced like any other UNIT character, investigating a crashed spaceship; no one acknowledges the wheelchair until her third or fourth appearance in the episode.
Doing field work rather than being stuck at base (like a lot of characters in wheelchairs)
In a top position at UNIT, sharing the same role the Doctor once held in the organization
She crosses her legs in the chair without physically lifting them, showing that she doesn’t have complete lower leg paralysis (might have seen this wrong, but I believe her arms stayed still). Most characters in wheelchairs are fully paralyzed in the legs, but in reality, many folks in wheelchairs can move their legs about or even walk for some time. A minor detail that adds more to her representation.
Because she is in a wheelchair, she can’t join the other UNIT soldiers up the stairs to see the spaceship (which her companion is awkward about). HOWEVER, her disability actually saves her life as everyone who goes up the stairs is brainwashed. In this case, having a disability was an advantage, not a hindrance
She likely avoided further brainwashing from the other soldiers because the Meep didn’t see her as useful like the others due to her disability, allowing her to stay in the shadows and plan. Once again, the disability is an advantage.
Saves the Doctor and Noble/Temple family single-handedly by shooting a dart out of her wheelchair. She is essentially Inspector Gadget
She can also shoot rockets out of her wheelchair. I think everyone who uses a wheelchair wants one that shoots rockets.
In conclusion, we love Shirley. Wheel on, queen.
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I am not going to lie to you. When Russell told me that we were putting a ramp in the TARDIS, I cried. I did. He actually told me about a fan who had contacted him, who was a wheelchair user, and said how much he admired Russell’s work. He said, “Even though I can’t get in the TARDIS, because it’s not wheelchair accessible, I just love it.” And Russell was like, “So, we change that instantly. We change that.” When he told me that story, that really hit me straight in the heart. I know what that will mean for the disabled community, and many disabled Whovians who haven’t had that. -Ruth Madeley
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LADS I DON'T THINK YOU REALISE HOW AMAZING SHIRLEY ANNE BINGHAM IS
Doctor Who, one of the biggest TV shows in the country, just showed an ambulatory wheelchair user getting out of her wheelchair to transfer to a desk chair. They showed a disabled person getting up out of her wheelchair. On national television.
AND THEY EVEN BUILT IT INTO THE SCRIPT!!!
They don't just mention it in passing, they write it into a tirade of hate which is explicitly written to be extreme, unfair, and absolutely wrong.
This is huge.
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Ruth Madeley: "For every disabled kid who couldn't get into the Tardis, this ramp is forever yours."
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this is so funny because Kate, Shirley and Mel all look scared after Fourteen fumbles with the ball
but it’s clear Donna was ready to kick his arse if he dropped that thing
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Behind the Scenes of The Star Beast - Part Four
Excerpt from Digital Spy's interview with Ruth Madeley:
This past weekend saw the return of Doctor Who, with the first of its 60th anniversary specials 'The Star Beast'.
In the episode, we were introduced to UNIT Scientific Advisor Number 56, Shirley Anne Bingham. Like Ruth Madeley, Shirley is a disabled woman who uses a wheelchair, however, as Ruth told Digital Spy in our exclusive interview: "Her being in a wheelchair is the least interesting thing about her – and that's what you want."
Shirley is straight-talking, no-nonsense and not afraid to put the doctor in his place.
"She knows exactly who she is, she's ballsy, she's northern and she's not frightened to take the lead. And I think she's a great addition to the whoniverse," Ruth said.
She also laughed here, at her use of the word "whoniverse", and explained that she wasn't a huge fan before appearing on the show, despite "having a great respect" for it.
However, this didn't stop her from being in awe of David Tennant and Catherine Tate, who she said, it was incredible to watch working.
"I love that Shirley isn't a gusher when she meets The Doctor because I'm so not like that," she laughed. "I found myself sat next to David at the read through, and realised I was just staring at him. I'm really uncool!"
Very early on in 'The Star Beast', a fellow UNIT officer started to act awkwardly when he realised that Shirley can't get up the stairs to access the rocket, to which she cut him down with: "Don't make me the problem."
It's a sentiment many disabled people have felt in an inaccessible world, and Ruth points out that "it was so important to show that the problem isn't us, it's actually all the stuff around us".
"I'm having 'Don't make me the problem' put on t-shirts," she joked.
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who posted set photos!
Additional parts of this set are in the #whoBtsBeast tag. The full episode list is [ here ]
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