Doctor Who will have its first gay companion

Doctor Who will have its first gay companion in the new season of the hit BBC show.

Bill Potts, played by Pearl Mackie, will have her sexuality revealed in her second line of dialogue in her first episode.

‘It shouldn’t be a big deal in the 21st Century. It’s about time isn’t it?’ Mackie said.

‘That representation is important, especially on a mainstream show.’

She added: ‘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 recognize yourself on screen is important.’

‘It’s something she’s very happy and very comfortable with’

Mackie told the BBC: ‘[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.’

While LGBTI characters have spent time with the Time Lord before, this will be the first time the Doctor’s long-running companion will be gay.

Captain Jack, played by John Barrowman, was pansexual and went onto have his own spin-off show in Torchwood.

Madame Vastra and Jenny, portrayed by Neve McIntosh and Catrin Stewart, also starred alongside Matt Smith’s version of the Doctor.

Season 10 of Doctor Who will begin on 15 April.

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