23 July 2023 , 18:58
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Five new pupils have joined the Beano’s havoc-wreaking Bash Street Kids as the comic tries to reflect modern-day Britain.
The new intake features Mandira “Mandi” Sharma, whose anxieties will highlight mental health issues.
Artist Khadija Raad wears a hijab and ginger-haired scientist Rubi von Screwtop uses a wheelchair.
Mahira Salim has dreams of becoming the first Pakistani Premier League football star. Black ghost hunter Jemima Jones has also joined.
Beano bosses enlisted Inclusive Minds, who rewrote Roald Dahl’s books to remove offensive material, to advise on details such as clothes and cultural celebrations.
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Mike Stirling, Beano Creative Director, said being labelled “woke” would be fine by him.
He said the Bash Street Kids – until now all white and with only one girl – had become “anachronistic”.