Steven Moffat has fired back at criticisms that Doctor Who doesn't employ enough female writers and directors.

The showrunner told press including Digital Spy that it is "right and proper" that people are calling for more diversity behind the camera.

But he added: "The only thing I dislike about it is it's based on an assumption that I've been trying to not employ women writers or directors. We've employed more women writers, directors, editors and producers than any other era of Doctor Who.

"Stop assuming that I'm a demon who's trying to prevent it, as opposed to the man who's done more to make it happen than anybody else."

Moffat went on to say that he wants more women - not less - working on Doctor Who .

"Given that the human race works out at about 50% male / female, it should be 50% male / female on the show.

"Why isn't it? Part of the reason for that is historical - Doctor Who for a very long time was a boy's show. It's not anymore.

"Before Doctor Who came back, if you went to the conventions, it was all boys. Now you look at a Doctor Who panel audience and it's 50% men, 50% women.

"So I think in 10 years' time, or 5 years' time, it'll be dead easy because people will have grown up with the idea. Little girls right now are growing up with the idea, 'I want to be Doctor Who showrunner' or 'I want to be Doctor Who' - that wasn't the case a while back."

BBC

The biggest obstacle to hiring women writers, Moffat said, was that many still turn down the chance to write for the show.

"Most of the writers who have turned Doctor Who down have been female - that's the truth," he said.

The current series of Doctor Who continues tonight at 8pm on BBC One with 'The Zygon Inversion'.

Watch Digital Spy's video review of the latest Doctor Who episode:

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