DOCTOR GETS HIS FIRST GAY SIDEKICK

DOCTOR Who’s new companion Bill Potts will be the first openly gay companion in the upcoming series. Played by Pearl Mackie, Bill will reveal her sexuality in just her second line of dialogue when the show starring Peter Capaldi returns to BBC One.

Speaking about her upcoming role Pearle, below, said it was “about time”.

She said: “It shouldn’t be a big deal in the 21st century. It’s about time, isn’t it? That representation is important, especially on a mainstream show. It’s important to say people are gay, people are black.

“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.

“[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.”

Pearl was announced as the new companion last April and has likened her appointment in the role to being “welcomed into a family”.

She said at that time: “My Twitter follower count went from 400-and-something to 16,500 in about two hours, so that was pretty mental.

“But it’s been really nice, everyone seems to be really excited.

“It’s sort of like being welcomed into a family and all the fans have been really welcoming.”

Gay and bisexual characters have featured as part of the series before – Torchwood character Captain Jack Harkness (played by John Barrowman) and River Song (Alex Kingston), but they aren’t considered one of Doctor Who’s full-time sidekicks.

Doctor Who returns to BBC One on April 15.