With Doctor Who set to return to our TV screens later this month, the BBC has announced that the show is getting its very first openly gay companion in Bill Potts, played by Pearl Mackie.
“It shouldn’t be a big deal in the 21st Century. It’s about time isn’t it?,” said Mackie in an interview with the BBC. “That representation is important, especially on a mainstream show. It’s important to say people are gay, people are black – there are also aliens in the world as well so watch out for them.”
“I remember watching TV as a young mixed race girl not seeing many people who looked like me, so I think being able to visually recognise yourself on screen is important,” she continued. [Being gay] is not the main thing that defines her character – it’s something that’s part of her and something that she’s very happy and very comfortable with.”
Doctor Who has featured several gay and bisexual characters in the past, such as John Barrowman’s Captain Jack Harkness, although never as the Doctor’s full time, permanent companion.
Series 10 of Doctor Who gets underway on April 15th.
Originally published April 2, 2017. Updated April 16, 2018.
