Farage âturned downâ Doctor Who role over requirement to be nice to aliens
UKIP leader Nigel Farage allegedly turned down the chance to succeed Matt Smith as the latest incarnation of the Doctor, after insisting his version of the Doctor would adopt a zero tolerance attitude to aliens. Actor and âSweariest Scotâ runner up Peter Capaldi ultimately landed the much coveted role, however reports suggest that he was not the showâs first choice. The BBC were said to be attracted to Farageâs love of tweed, a long-term staple of the Doctorâs wardrobe, as well as his dislike of aliens and those from faraway shores. One producer commented, âIf foreigners from his own planet can rile him to the extent that they do, then imagine what a Space Pig would do to him? It would be electric onscreen. He would have been perfect!â However, Farage was initially sceptical about the showâs concept, arguing that EU flight taxes would strongly inhibit the Tardisâ flying capabilities. He also commented during one audition that, âthere are no villains more heinous than the monsters running the EU megastate and their gelatinous immigrant drones.â There were further complications when the UKIP leader expressed a desire to have a leading creative input. He is said to have suggested his own plotline in which the Doctor simply takes the Tardis to 1933 and destroys it forever. âIt would be a fast-track to UKIPâs Britain,â he commented. When the showâs producers revealed he would be expected to travel to distant galaxies, his demands proved too much for BBC executives. Pubs serving real ale, his favourite brand of cigarettes, Radio 4 and transportation via steam train were just some on a long-list. The show was then forced to look elsewhere for their star, which according to executives is a shame, as they had been excited about the prospect of making Angela Merkel a convincing nemesis.