You think that is bad but the BBC cast a black woman as this real life human bean:
Now mate, I don't really care too much about Doctor Who because that is a fictional character and an alien to boot but THIS IS HISTORICAL REVISIONISM. I wouldn't cast the greatest actor alive if they didn't look like the historical figure they are portraying.
Devil's Advocate here: Gender equality isn't making a male character female. It's writing a new character completely. Equal representation is nonsense, TV creators have no obligation to write 1 male part for every female part. Their duty is to write engaging stories and characters that sell and if that means writing more male parts, than that is where the money is. I think this is sexist, they've taken a well received and loved male character and expect 'equality' to simply ride on the coat-tails of an already loved character. It's far easier to do that and create an engaging female character, they've put zero stock in an actual heroine capturing the hearts of audiences. This is lazy, pandering nonsense, that is meant to appeal to no-one outside of the writer's ego. I don't think woman have to be placated or even settle for gender swapped roles. We know a woman can be an amazing TV lead, look at Xena and Buffy.