Doctor Who has had gay characters before, like Captain Jack and River Song, but Bill Potts is the first of the Doctor’s permanent traveling companions to be gay.
Doctor Who returns for its third (and final) season with Peter Capaldi as the Doctor April 15, and one of his new companions will be different than any other companion in the show’s long history.
Bill Potts (Pearl Mackie) is openly gay.
Doctor Who premieres Saturday, April 15 at 9/8c on BBC America.