Pearl Mackie has said she’s really excited to see Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor, and has further praised the wider casting of Doctor Who Series 14 and the 60th anniversary specials.

Pearl, who played Bill Potts opposite Peter Capaldi’s Twelfth Doctor, enthuses:

“I’m really excited, actually. Casting Ncuti as the Doctor is phenomenal. I don’t know how he’s going to do it. I don’t know if his character as the Doctor is going to be queer, but I feel like it’s such a progression.

“Bill was an out character, but I myself wasn’t out at the time. So I think whether or not they go down the queer route with the Doctor character, I think it’s just amazing that they cast him. He’s a phenomenal actor anyway, so I think he’s going to be brilliant.

“But also, with casting trans characters [notably Yasmin Finney, who plays Rose in the 60th anniversary episodes], I just think it’s brilliant. It really feels like a new era. I can’t wait to see what they do with it. I think it’s gonna be so fascinating to see where it goes. I mean, those pictures of them dressed in those ’60s outfits with Ncuti’s afro, I was like, ‘this is gonna be great’.”

The Doctor showing his romantic side is comparatively rare, but he did so (at least to some extent) with Rose Tyler and River Song, so we could definitely see it happening with the Fifteenth Doctor too; we’re sure Gatwa and showrunner, Russell T Davies, are keen to show LGBT representation in the series.

Nonetheless, fandom is typically split about the Doctor having any sort of love interest. Whatever happens, it seldom ends well.

Ncuti Gatwa is expected to debut as the Fifteenth Doctor later this year. Series 14 is set to air on BBC1 and Disney+ in early 2024.