Doctor Who fans tip Heartstopper fave Yasmin Finney to join new Doctor Ncuti Gatwa
Ncuti Gatwa posed with Yasmin Finney around the same time he was cast as the new Doctor Who lead. (Instagram/Ncuti Gatwa/Netflix)
Following the news that Ncuti Gatwa will lead Doctor Who, eagle-eyed fans have begun speculating Heartstopper’s Yasmin Finney might join him as a companion.
On 8 May, the BBC confirmed that Ncuti Gatwa, who rose to fame for his portrayal of proud gay teen Eric Effiong in Netflix’s Sex Education, will be taking over from Jodie Whittaker as The Doctor, making him the first Black lead in the show’s history.
Gatwa later shared that he has been keeping his new role a secret since February, telling BBC reporters on the red carpet at the BAFTAs: “It’s been tricky keeping this under wraps because I’ve got a very big mouth.”
He continued: “It feels amazing, this role is an institution and it’s so iconic and means so much to so many people, including myself.”
Amid the excitement, fans have been combing through Gatwa’s social media for clues about the upcoming series.
One eagle-eyed fan spotted a photo of Gatwa posing at an event with Yasmin Finney, who plays trans teen Elle in Netflix’s Heartstopper, in February, around the time of his casting.
While there’ve been no concrete clues as to who might join Ncuti Gatwa in Doctor Who, the idea of him appearing opposite Finney sent the internet into overdrive.
https://twitter.com/thqsmin/status/1523285759431565312
Omg yes Heartstopper X Sex Education collab
— Benji/🇹🇼🌈❤️🔥 (@Benjaminlin0421) May 8, 2022
gonna manifest so hard my brain will explode— s (@shaunachipman) May 8, 2022
I NEED THIS SO MUCH— ivy (@jaguarsglyph) May 8, 2022
THEM AS TEAM TARDIS WHEN— Spence سبينس II 481 Jeddah 1-2!🇵🇸🏴 (@Hastxiings) May 8, 2022
Can the new doctor who be a heartstopper/sex education collab pls
— Syd 🧷🦷 (@sydstemofadown) May 8, 2022
If – and it is very much a big if – Yasmin Finney joined Doctor Who, she’d be the first openly trans companion to appear in the main TV series.
She wouldn’t, however, be the first trans companion in the wider franchise.
Comedian Rebecca Root has played a companion of the Eighth Doctor (Paul McGann) in audio dramas released by Big Finish.
Charlie Craggs is also currently playing a trans character named Cleo in the BBC’s new audio drama podcast, Doctor Who: Redacted, written by Juno Dawson.
The next Doctor Who series will see Queer As Folk and It’s A Sin writer, Russell T Davies, return as programme’s showrunner after his 2009 departure.
After Ncuti Gatwa was announced as the new Doctor, Davies proclaimed: “The future is here and it’s Ncuti!”
He added: “Sometimes talent walks through the door and it’s so bright and bold and brilliant, I just stand back in awe and thank my lucky stars.”
At the 2022 BAFTAs, Gatwa was nominated for Best Male Performance in a Comedy Programme for portrayal of Eric in Sex Education. He has already won a Scottish BAFTA and a Rose d’Or Award for Sex Education.
