'Doctor Who' Boss Responds to Female Doctor Backlash

Peter Capaldi appears on stage with Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat at the BBC America panel during 2017 Comic-Con on Sunday afternoon (July 23) in San Diego, Calif.

The guys were joined at the panel by Peter‘s co-stars Pearl Mackie and Matt Lucas.

Steven responded to the backlash surrounding the casting of a woman, actress Jodie Whittaker, to be the next doctor.

“So many people wanted to pretend there’s a problem. There isn’t,” he said (via Variety). “[Fans] are more excited by the fact that there’s going to be a brilliant actress playing the part than the fact that she’s a woman. It’s been incredibly progressive and enlightened and that’s what really happened. I wish every single journalist who is writing the alternative would shut the hell up.”