Russell T Davies has revealed the connection between his sexuality and his long-time love for Doctor Who – after the show made history with its first ever same-sex kiss.
The screenwriter, who was the original showrunner for the 2005 revival of Doctor Who and is back for its new generation, said that being gay and loving the space show were both things he kept quiet as a youngster.
Speaking to the BBC on Sunday, he said: ‘Being gay was “The love that dare not speak its name” and Doctor Who shared that feature as well by that time. You couldn’t say you fancied anyone, and you couldn’t say that you loved Doctor Who.’
While the other teenage boys he knew ditched sci-fi for playing football and trying to get attention from girls, Russell said he ‘was just sitting there quietly, not expressing who I was until I became an adult, still watching Doctor Who.’
Russell has created some of the UK’s best shows which centre the stories of LGBTQ+ people, 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 long-time love for Doctor Who (Pictured in December)
Doctor Who fans 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 comes from before Russell’s involvement with the show.
In 1995, a member of the Sisterhood of Karn, an LGBT Doctor Who society, said that the shows large gay following is due to it always being camp.
He said: ‘It’s very anti-establishment… the programme has never been overtly heterosexual and it’s incredibly camp… all those incredibly vampy outfits.’
The director of the show’s first ever episode was Waris Hussein, a gay man, which Russell has described as a ‘tremendous victory’.
And in a step forward again, Doctor Who made history on Saturday night as it aired its first ever same-sex kiss.
Fans praised the ‘electrifying chemistry’ between Ncuti Gatwa and Jonathan Groff as they smooched in a groundbreaking move for the show, which started back in 1963.
Episode six of the series took on a historical theme, with the Doctor (Ncuti) and his companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) take a trip to 1813.
While attending a ball in Bath, England the duo cross paths with a handsome bounty hunter named Rogue (Jonathan) as they try and track down the shape-shifting Chuldurs who are murdering the guests.
The screenwriter, who was the original showrunner for the 2005 revival of Doctor Who and is back for its new generation, said that being gay and loving the space show were both things he kept quiet as a youngster (Pictured in 2008)
Episode six of the series took on a historical theme, with the Doctor (Ncuti) and his companion Ruby Sunday ( Millie Gibson ) take a trip to 1813
The emotional last scene saw the Doctor in tears as he battled with the idea of sacrificing his best friend Ruby to save the world
To begin with, both the Doctor and Rogue accuse one another of being the killer after realising neither are from the Regency Era or Earth.
After convincing the bounty hunter that he is in fact a Time Lord from Gallifrey, the pair work together to find the Chuldur.
As the episode progressed the pair flirted and shocked the guests with same-sex ballroom dancing, initially deciding to create a scandal to unearth 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 shall turn my back on you forever.’
In the final moments, the trio learned they aren’t just searching for one killer but actually a whole family of Chuldurs, but unfortunately both the Doctor and Rogue realise this when its too late for Ruby.
The emotional last scene saw the Doctor in tears as he battled 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 alongside the Chuldurs inside a tri-form.
‘Doctor! Press send!’ he shouted.
The Doctor hit back: ‘I can’t. It’ll send Ruby straight to hell!.’
In a twist 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 twist 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 delight with one posting to X: ‘Rogue, the subject of the episode’s title, delivers an electrifying chemistry as Jonathan Groff and Ncuti Gatwa bounce off each other’
Following the episode fans shared their delight on social media, with one posting to X: ‘Rogue, the subject of the episode’s title, delivers an electrifying chemistry as Jonathan Groff and Ncuti Gatwa bounce off each other with flawless alignment, a fine-tuned, choreographed battle of wits, charm and sexual tension.’
Others agreed: ‘Ok I’m going to need Rogue to return bc I really need to see more of him and the doctor their chemistry is fire and their connection undeniable’; ‘Well, that was just marvellous! So clever! I do hope we see more of Rogue. Great chemistry.’
‘Loved ‘Rogue’ #DoctorWho and please can we see Jonathan Groff again soon?’; ‘I NEED Rogue to be a recurring character in Doctor Who!’; ‘I would love, love, love to see Jonathan Groff here again.’; ‘Getting proper Captain Jack Harkness vibes from Rogue. The Doctor is in love.’
Ncuti is the first queer Doctor Who and the first black Time Lord for a full series.
Others have included married Victorian 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 that has a problem with someone who’s not a straight white man playing this character, you’re not really, truly a fan of the show. You’ve not been watching!’
Ncuti is the first queer Doctor Who and the first black Time Lord for a full series
Others have included married Victorian couple Jenny Flint and Madame Vastra (Catrin Stewart and Neve McIntosh)
Last year, trans woman Yasmin Finney starred as Rose Noble the daughter of Donna Noble (Catherine Tate)
Torchwood’s Jack Harkness play 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 sort of person?’
Showrunner Russell T Davies echoed the actor’s thoughts: ‘They weren’t exactly the straightest men in the past.
‘You’re talking about someone who does have a lightness and a joy about him that, to me, chimes with queer energy.
‘It’s very rarely driving the story vehemently, but you will see moments exploring it. We’re not delivering a neutered Doctor.’
