Doctor Whoseason 10 is getting ready to premiere next month and, while it was already shaping up to be a pretty monumental season of the popular BBC sci-fi series, it just got even more importance placed upon it. Not only will the Doctor be getting a new companion in the form of Bill Potts, who is being played byPearl Mackie, but this particular companion is going to be groundbreaking. It turns out that Bill is going to be the first openly gay companion in the history ofDoctor Who.
Pearl Mackiewill be hanging out withPeter Capaldi’s Doctor this season onDoctor Who, which will be his last. It is unclear if Bill will be sticking around after season 10 as well, but no matter how long she is around, she is going to make her mark. As reported byBBC, Bill will be openly gay and it is something that will be addressed in a very upfront way, very quickly in the new season. Here is whatPearl Mackiehad to say about it.
“Yeah,Bill’s gay. 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 youngmixed race girlnot seeing many people who looked like me, so I think being able to visually recognize yourself on screen is important.”
Those familiar withDoctor Whoknow that Bill won’t be the first gay character in the show’s long, storied history. But she will be the first gay, or at least openly gay, companion. In the past,Doctor Whohas featured other gay characters likeJohn Barrowman’s Captain Jack Harkness,Neve McIntosh’s Vastra andAlex Kingston’s River Song. But having a character like Bill, who will likely appear in every episode of season 10, is significant. Though,Pearl Mackiemakes it clear that, while her sexuality is an important part of her character, it doesn’t define her and it doesn’t sound like it will be something that is handled as such.
“[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.”
Outside of the news that theDoctor’s new companionwill be gay inDoctor Whoseason 10, there are some other significant elements to this new season as well. For one, it will be the last withSteven Moffatas showrunner. ComeDoctor Whoseason 11, it will beBroadchurchshowrunnerChris Chibnallin charge. He will be working with a relatively clean slate as well, since season 10 will be the last to featurePeter Capaldias the Doctor. There haven’t been any announcements made in regards to his replacement, but the oddsmakers are betting heavy on the idea that the next Doctor will be played by a woman. The rumored frontrunner isDoctor StrangestarTilda Swinton. Outside of that,SkyfallandSpectrestarBen Whishawis also seen as a likely candidate to man the Tardis after season 10.
Doctor Whois a truly massive show and it has been away for a while, so new episodes of any kind are going to get the attention of fans. But betweenPeter Capaldiexciting and Bill being openly gay, this season could be something truly special.Doctor Whoseason 10 will consist of 12 episodes and is set to premiere on BBC April 15.
