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An Islington Council councillor who once wrote story lines for American sci-fi series Star Trek this week clashed publicly with Doctor Who fans over the hit BBC show.

Clerkenwell ward councillor and sci-fi lover Raphael Andrews spoke out after BBC Radio 4 presenter Matthew Sweet took to Twitter saying the new female lead character in the long-running BBC series was long overdue.

It was announced on Sunday that Jodie Whittaker will play the Time Lord, taking over from actor Peter Capaldi – the first time a woman has fronted the show in its 54-year history.

But in a tense spat on the social network, Cllr Andrews enraged fans and drew accusations of sexism after he replied: “The BBC elite has hated Doctor Who for years. Now they want to kill it off, again.”

Asked to clarify his remarks, Cllr Andrews said he was frustrated with the way the series was drifting away from its science fiction roots and turning into a drama “similar to EastEnders”.

“I wasn’t reacting to there being a female lead so much but, if you are having change for the sake of change with no end goal, ultimately you will end up with a programme with no viewers,” he said.

“The BBC don’t want Doctor Who to be successful. They won’t come out and say they are embarrassed by it and they are putting it to one side.”

He added that, as a member of the Doctor Who Appreciation Society, he had called “for years” for more female characters and welcomed a female lead.

His ideal Time Lord would have a vintage style and manner similar to earlier lead characters. He is “not a huge fan” of recent Time Lords, other than David Tennant, he said.

A huge science fiction fan, Cllr Andrews contributed to the script for hit 90s show Star Trek Voyager under a pseudonym. It featured the first-ever female captain, Kathryn Janeway.

He said he was personally invited by science fiction director Steven Spielberg to a workshop for aspiring directors in Los Angeles. He turned down the invitation as he was worried about the uncertainties of a career in film.

Cllr Andrews, who owns DVD box sets of Star Wars, Star Trek and earlier seasons of Doctor Who, used to travel to sci-fi conventions around the country.