DR WHO’S first gay companion claims it is “about time” the show had its first openly gay role.
Actress Pearl Mackie will play Bill Potts as the tenth series of the BBC show kicks off on Saturday.
Speaking to Good Morning Britain’s Richard Arnold on today’s breakfast show she said: “It’s great isn’t it.
“I think arguably there have been lots of gay characters on Dr Who previously.
“The terminology the official companion, is why she’s the first gay.
“I think it’s the terminology of that that’s actually the first for Dr Who as it were.
“It’s about time isn’t it?”
The Londoner did confess she was struggling to deal with the new-found fame her role has brought.
She revealed she was “grateful” when her phone battery died after receiving a flurry of good wishes on social media, adding: “That’s too much for me to deal with.”
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Later in the show John Barrowman, who used to star on the show and its spin-off Torchwood, had some words of advice for Pearl.
He told her: “She’s in for a great rollercoaster ride.
“She should grab on, put her hands in the air, and go ‘wooo’.
“She’s going to have a ball.”
This series will be Peter Capaldi’s last as the iconic Time Lord.
And Bill will announce her sexuality almost immediately after meeting Peter Capaldi’s Doctor.
Bill will announce her sexuality almost immediately when the show returns on April 15.
Speaking about the role, 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 – 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.”
The star will be the first openly gay companion in the show’s 52-year history, but Pearl has said that it’s important that the character isn’t defined by her sexuality.
She added: “[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.”
- Catch the newest series of Doctor Who when it returns on April 15 on BBC1.
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