Gay geeks rejoice! Doctor Who will include a queer companion in the new season of the popular BBC series.
Now, for all you non-Whovians, this does not mean the Doctor, himself, is gay. Companions on the show are humans who help him save the world; they are not lovers.
Bill Potts, played by actress Pearl Mackie, will reveal her sexuality within her first few lines on the series.
"It shouldn’t be a big deal in the 21st Century. It’s about time isn’t it?" Mackie said. "That representation is important, especially on a mainstream show."
"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 recognize yourself on screen is important. ... It’s something [my character is] very happy and very comfortable with."
Of course, this is not the first queer character to make it onto the show. Captain Jack, played by openly gay actor John Barrowman, was pansexual. He eventually got his own series, Torchwood, which included a tragic love affair with his co-worker, Ianto.
The show has also included a lesbian crime solving couple, Madame Vastra and Jenny.
Season 10 of Doctor Who starts April 15.