Slideout

  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Videos
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
ScreenJolt Logo

ScreenJolt

All the latest Movie News and Reviews.

Show Search
Hide Search
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Videos

Doctor Who Gets First Openly Gay Companion

It’s official – Doctor Who has added its first openly gay companion, played by Pearl Mackie.

March 31, 2017 by Ryan Leston

Doctor Who

It’s official – Doctor Who has added its first gay companion.

It turns out that new companion, Bill (played by Pearl Mackie) is gay… and that makes her The Doctor’s first openly gay companion in the history of Doctor Who. How cool is that?

“It shouldn’t be a big deal in the 21st Century,” Mackie told Lizo Mzimba at the BBC. “It’s about time isn’t it? That representation is important, especially on a mainstream show.”

Doctor Who Movie Isn’t Happening

Apparently, Bill’s sexuality will be dealt with almost instantly when she makes her first appearance in the upcoming Doctor Who Series 10 – revealed in her second line of dialogue.

Sponsored Ad

“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,” added Mackie. “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.”

The Doctor and Bill encounter the Daleks - Credit: BBC

Of course, Doctor Who has included openly gay characters before including Captain Jack Harkness, and even River Song. But this is the first time a Doctor Who companion has been openly gay.

Doctor Who Companion Heads To Arrow Spin-Off

“[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.”

Either way, it’s great to see this kind of representation in a mainstream BBC show.

Sponsored Ad

And we can’t wait to see her kicking ass alongside The Doctor.

Doctor Who returns to BBC One on 15 April 2017.

What do you think of new companion, Bill? Are you looking forward to Doctor Who Series 10? Let us know what you think in the comments below…

Related Categories

TV News BBC, Doctor Who, Pearl Mackie, Peter Capaldi, Sci-Fi

About Ryan Leston

Ryan Leston is the Founder and Editor of Screen Jolt. He's a big movie nerd from Cardiff who loves all things Star Wars. His favourite Star Wars film is The Empire Strikes Back and he still wants to be Han Solo when he grows up.

View all posts by Ryan Leston

Primary Sidebar

New Releases

Movie Reviews

They Cloned Tyrone

4 Stars

Malcolm & Marie

5 Stars

Wonder Woman 84

4 Stars

Soul

4 Stars

The Midnight Sky

5 Stars

Songbird

2 Stars

Mank

5 Stars

The Trial of the Chicago 7

5 Stars
Read More Reviews...

Featured

Barbie. Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures.

Barbie earns $1 billion at the worldwide box office

Willrow Hood in The Empire Strikes Back. Credit: Lucasfilm.

Star Wars fan solves 43-year-old Empire Strikes Back mystery

Justice League. Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures.

Zack Snyder’s Justice League sequel would have introduced the DCEU’s Big Bad

Damsel. Credit: Netflix.

Millie Bobby Brown’s Damsel delayed by Netflix until 2024

Sucker Punch. Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures.

Zack Snyder still planning to make Sucker Punch director’s cut

More Sci-Fi Articles

They Cloned Tyrone. Credit: Netflix.

They Cloned Tyrone (Review)

Doctor Who Weeping Angels

Doctor Who set photos reveal more Weeping Angels

Doctor Who Jodie Whittaker Weeping Angels

Doctor Who Weeping Angels return in Season 13

The Midnight Sky George Clooney

The Midnight Sky (Review)

Songbird

Songbird (Review)

Darth Vader returns on Star Wars Rebels

Star Wars actor Dave Prowse dies aged 85

ScreenJolt Logo

Footer

More Movie News

  • Movie News
  • Film Reviews
  • Movie Features
  • Film Interviews
  • Movie Trailers

Popular Topics

  • DC Movies
  • Disney Movies
  • Horror Movies
  • Marvel Movies
  • Star Wars Movies

About ScreenJolt

  • About Us
  • Our Writers
  • Competitions
  • Write for Us
  • Contact Us

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Privacy Policy · Cookie Policy · Terms & Conditions
Copyright © 2023 ScreenJolt