‘Doctor Who’ season 10: Pearl Mackie’s Bill Potts will be the first openly gay main companion and why it matters

Pearl Mackie as Bill Potts in 'Doctor Who' bbc.co.uk/

“Doctor Who” will be introducing its first openly gay main companion in season 10. Pearl Mackie will be playing the Twelfth Doctor’s (Peter Capaldi) newest companion, Bill Potts.

Bill hasn’t appeared in an episode yet; she is expected to star in her first episode when the show’s 10^th season premieres in April. That is why there is little known about Clara Oswald’s (Jenna Coleman) replacement. Mackie has however revealed that her character is gay.

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

Mackie, who has West Indian and English ancestry, continued to explain why the show needs to feature more diverse characters, “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.”

Although she will be the first main companion who is gay, Bill isn’t the first non-heterosexual companion in the show. Since the show’s relaunch in 2005, it has introduced gay and bisexual characters as well. Most notably are Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) and the Doctor’s wife herself, River Song (Alex Kingston), who are both bisexual. Madame Vastra (Neve McIntosh) and Jenny Flint (Catrin Stewart) are gay married couple. All of them, however, weren’t the main companions.

Bill and the Twelfth Doctor will be travelling on the TARDIS with Nardole (Matt Lucas) this coming season. The Daleks, the Cybermen, the Ice Warriors and Missy (Michelle Gomez) are also returning.

Meanwhile, Capaldi recently revealed why he would be leaving after the Christmas Special this year. The Scottish actor, who has been a lifelong fan of the show, said it would be bittersweet to pass on the titular role to someone else, but it needs to be done.

The 10th season of “Doctor Who” will air on BBC One in the UK on April 15. In Australia, it will be released in the big screen on April 16.