Russell T Davies has revealed the connection between his sexuality and his lifelong love of Doctor Who, after the show made history with its first same-sex kiss.
The screenwriter, who was the original showrunner of the 2005 Doctor Who revival and has returned for its new generation, said being gay and loving the space show were things he kept secret when he was young.
Talking with him bbc on Sunday, he said: ‘Being gay was “The love that dare not speak its name” and Doctor Who also shared that characteristic at the time. You couldn’t say you liked anyone and you couldn’t say you loved Doctor Who.
While the other teenagers he knew abandoned sci-fi to play football and try to get girls’ attention, Russell said he was “just sitting quietly, not expressing who I was until I became an adult, still watching Doctor Quien”.
Russell has created some of the UK’s best shows centering LGBTQ+ stories, including It’s a Sin and Queer as Folk.
Russell T Davies revealed to the BBC on Sunday the parallels he sees between his sexuality and his lifelong love of Doctor Who (pictured in December).
Doctor Who fans have praised the ‘electrifying chemistry’ between Ncuti Gatwa and Jonathan Groff after the series aired its first same-sex kiss during Saturday’s show.
But Doctor Who has an LGBT fanbase that dates back before Russell’s involvement in the show.
In 1995, a member of the Brotherhood of Karn, an LGBT Doctor Who society, said that the show’s large gay following is because it is always camp.
He said: “It’s very anti-establishment… the show has never been overtly heterosexual and it’s incredibly camp… all those incredibly vampy outfits.”
The director of the show’s first episode was Waris Hussein, a gay man, which Russell described as a “tremendous victory.”
And again, taking a step forward, Doctor Who made history on Saturday night by broadcasting its first same-sex kiss.
Fans praised the “electrifying chemistry” between Ncuti Gatwa and Jonathan Groff as they kissed in a groundbreaking move for the show, which began in 1963.
The sixth episode of the series adopted a historical theme, with the Doctor (Ncuti) and his companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) taking a trip to 1813.
While attending a ball in Bath, England, the duo cross paths with a handsome bounty hunter named Rogue (Jonathan) while trying to track down the shape-shifting Chuldurs who are murdering the guests.
The screenwriter, who was the original showrunner of the 2005 Doctor Who revival and is back for its new generation, said being gay and loving the space show were things he kept secret when he was young (pictured in 2008 ).
The sixth episode of the series adopted a historical theme, with the Doctor (Ncuti) and his companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) taking a trip to 1813.
The emotional last scene saw the Doctor crying as he struggled with the idea of sacrificing his best friend Ruby to save the world.
For starters, both the Doctor and the Rogue accuse each other of being the murderer after realizing that neither of them are from the Regency Era or Earth.
After convincing the bounty hunter that he is actually a Time Lord from Gallifrey, the two work together to find the Chuldur.
As the episode progressed, the couple flirted and surprised guests with same-sex ballroom dancing, and initially decided to create a scandal to dig up the Chuldur.
Their plan saw Rogue get down on one knee and “propose” to the Doctor, after he exclaimed: “Tell me what your heart wants, or I’ll turn my back on you forever.”
In the final moments, the trio learn that they are not just searching for a killer but an entire family of Chuldurs, but unfortunately both the Doctor and Rogue realize this when it is too late for Ruby.
The emotional last scene saw the Doctor crying as he struggled with the idea of sacrificing his best friend Ruby to save the world.
“Can you lose your friend to save the world?” Rogue asked the Doctor as Ruby stood with the Chuldurs inside a tri-form.
‘Doctor! Press send!’ the Scream.
The Doctor replied: ‘I can’t. It will send Ruby straight to hell!
In a turn of events, Rogue sacrificed himself, pushing Ruby out of the way, replacing her with himself in the tri-form, but not before giving the Doctor a kiss first.
“Find me,” Rogue whispered before disappearing into the void.
In a turn of events, Rogue sacrificed himself, pushing Ruby out of the way, replacing her with himself in the tri-form, but not before giving the Doctor a kiss first.
Fans shared their joy with a post on X: “Rogue, the episode’s title track, delivers electrifying chemistry as Jonathan Groff and Ncuti Gatwa bounce off each other.”
Following the episode, fans shared their joy on social media, with one posting on , Choreographed battle of wits, charm and sexual tension.
Others agreed: ‘Okay, I’m going to need Rogue to come back because I really need to see him and the doctor more, their chemistry is great and their connection is undeniable’; ‘Well, that was just wonderful! So clever! I hope we see more of Rogue. Great chemistry.’
‘I loved ‘Rogue’ #DoctorWho and please can we see Jonathan Groff again soon?’; ‘I NEED Rogue to be a recurring character on Doctor Who!’; ‘I would love, love, love to see Jonathan Groff here again.’; ‘Getting the right vibes from Rogue’s Captain Jack Harkness. The Doctor is in love.’
Ncuti is the first queer Doctor Who and the first black Time Lord of a full series.
Others have included Victorian married couple Jenny Flint and Madame Vastra (Catrin Stewart and Neve McIntosh), trans woman Yasmin Finney as Rose Noble, and Torchwood’s Jack Harkness played by John Barrowman, who was the first openly non-heterosexual character in the franchise.
Ncuti told Variety: “I feel like anyone who has a problem with someone who isn’t a straight white man playing this character isn’t really a true fan of the show.” You haven’t been looking!
Ncuti is the first queer Doctor Who and the first black Time Lord in a full series
Others have included Victorian couple Jenny Flint and Madame Vastra (Catrin Stewart and Neve McIntosh).
Last year, trans woman Yasmin Finney played Rose Noble, the daughter of Donna Noble (Catherine Tate).
Torchwood’s Jack Harkness, written by John Barrowman, was the first openly non-heterosexual character in the franchise.
He continued: “Because the show is about regeneration and the Doctor is an alien, why would they only choose to be this type of person?”
Showrunner Russell T Davies echoed the actor’s thoughts: “They weren’t exactly the straightest men of the past.
“You’re talking about someone who has a lightness and a joy that, to me, sounds like a strange energy.
“He rarely drives the story vehemently, but you will see moments exploring it. We will not hand over a castrated doctor.
