John Barrowman would love to see a trans star take over from Jodie Whittaker in Doctor Who
John Barrowman plays Captain Jack Harkness, everyone’s favourite omnisexual space pirate (James Pardon/BBC)
John Barrowman is encouraging Doctor Who to “take another leap” and cast a transgender Time Lord after Jodie Whittaker leaves the show.
After making waves as the first ever female Doctor, Whittaker’s tenure is rumoured to be ending soon, leaving the door open for a queer actor to follow her into the TARDIS.
As speculation over her successor intensifies, Barrowman threw his weight behind the idea of a transgender actor in the iconic role.
“I’d love to see a transgender Doctor. I think that would be awesome,” he told Metro. “With Jodie, they made a leap. They made a huge leap and it worked for them, and then [it’s] time for them to make another leap.”
John Barrowman also broke barriers on the show as the lovably omnisexual space pirate Captain Jack Harkness, a role he’s held on and off since 2005.
“I was the first openly gay actor playing a character like Captain Jack, who we called omnisexual. He didn’t care who he slept with really, and he was unapologetic about his sexuality,” he said.
“We have had LGBT+ representation on the TARDIS. During Peter Capaldi’s reign, we had a character who was a lesbian [Bill Potts, played by Pearl Mackie]. So yeah, we’ve had them, why not have a Doctor the same?”
The BBC wouldn’t have to look far to find the perfect trans Doctor. Actor Rebecca Root, who plays the first transgender companion in the Doctor Who audio drama produced by Big Finish, has already put her name forward.
“I don’t think it’s any secret in the media world that I would love to have a chance to play the Doctor myself,” she told PinkNews last year. “Certainly before Jodie Whittaker took over I was hinting very heavily to showrunners that I wanted a stab at that role.
“Never say never though, I’d still like a shot at the TV version, but suffice it to say that being a part of the inner circle of the TARDIS crew is an honour and a treat.”
Former Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies also added to the speculation by backing It’s a Sin star Olly Alexander as the next Doctor.
“He’d be marvellous,” he suggested, a thought echoed by countless queer Whovians.
