The Queer History of Doctor Who

[@Steven_Andreyechen]

Fantastic video, very glad it popped up in my recommendeds. For those interested other early bits of LGBTQ+ history in Doctor Who include Captian Yates (seasons 8-11) played by gay actor Richard Franklin. While it was never officially confirmed onscreen Franklin did try to incorporate a bit of his sexuality into the role; even offering to join his boss (Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart) in the “Fertility Dance” in the season 8 story the Daemons. In later expanded media he was confirmed to be gay although due to his character being originally intended to be a love interest for the then companion Jo Grant (an idea that was dropped after a season or two, and never really elaborated on beyond flirtation) some have argued that a bisexual interpretation fits better. A more obscure and more behind the scene LGBTQ+ figures is Victor Pemberton (an actor, later script editor and writer for season 5) and his lifelong relationship with actor David Spenser (who appeared in the season 5 story the abominable snowman, a story Pemberton edited) And to dig even further is the first ever contribution of a trans person on Doctor Who, though in a very round about way. Stock music used in the final First Doctor story “The Tenth Planet” was composed by Angela Morley a Trans Women (who publicly transitioned 6 years after the episode aired, although she had been openly living as a women for a few years before)

[@astralarmadillo]

Wow thank you for adding all this! I knew that there was some debate around Yates' sexuality, but had no idea about a lot of this info!

[@Steven_Andreyechen]

@@astralarmadillo I’m just happy to share all of this. Glad I could help!

[@ftumschk]

A bit of trivia: Victor Pemberton's partner David Spenser was once an accomplished boy soprano and actor, and the first to play the role of "Harry" in Britten's comic opera, _Albert Herring,_ in 1947. Spenser and Britten were to remain good (platonic) friends until the composer's death in 1976.

[@MrThorfan64]

How very interesting about Morley! I was unaware of this!

[@CamMcGinn1981]

I had no idea about Waris Hussein or Richard Franklin. Wow, my mind is blown. :D

[@oscarbarton4125]

"Capatin jack is immortal which stops the burying your gays trope" Ironic considering the end of season 2

[@krissssssss5401]

Hahahaha

[@jennyxvastra5650]

And Children of Earth :)

[@thedangerousivy]

this is hilarious

[@amysadler]

You forgot to mention the fact that the 12th doctor with his talk with Bill Pots about his relationship with the Master. "I had a man crush. Or at least I think I had a man crush." Refering to the master and how time lords are not tied down to any one specific gender and Bill points out that they still call themselves Timelords, was hillarious.

[@DavidSmith-gb8ev]

Bill was iconic

[@sumthingwikked4257]

Lord is probably a loose term for Gallifreyans. Problem is, some took it by hearts.

[@lilymcmillan2239]

I was about to comment this !!

[@nifralo2752]

Roma is called a timelady

[@kuggacouragegx6093]

Just no🤦‍♂️

[@EllietheQueerTheologian]

For me, the running gag of Donna and the Doctor having to clarify that they’re not a couple also seems like a subversion of the trope of two straight men clarifying they’re not together (*ahem* Sherlock *ahem*). And whilst that might not have been the author‘s intent, it could also be viewed as challenging hetero- and allonormativity.

[@slaneyinfamous]

i could see Russel T doing this

[@LemonArsonist]

It barely counts but the "You can kiss me later. You too, Frank, if you want." To Andrew Garfield's character in Daleks in Manhatten was a big deal for me as a kid

[@HalfPintTelevision]

I don't know if any character has given more bisexual energy in the show than River. Also calling Jack pan has always made the most sense to me too! This video is absolutely amazing

[@gremlinwc8996]

I mean the doctor essentially said he'd fuck anything, so idk what else he'd be

[@sycoraxrock]

Please keep making WHO content! This is intelligent, charming, and covers a topic that’s always been out there but doesn’t get enough attention.

[@astralarmadillo]

Thank you so much!! I'm hoping I'll be able to keep making videos as long as I have ideas for what to talk about!

[@artcoloursband]

agree

[@wardjunior1450]

Seems to be all anyone talks about nowadays.

[@artcoloursband]

the final bit of the video caught me off guard. as a straight male fan, i never thought so deeply about reasoning for my love for the doc and the classic. i have always felt like an outsider pretending to fit in and enjoying all the campy stuff :D so it works for everyone!

[@HeedNotTheRabbit]

This is a really great video, I'm so glad KZbin recommended it to me! As well as your point on discussions around the Doctor's potential asexuality, I (as someone on the ace spectrum) also find it frustrating when people are listing the reasons the character can't be asexual. "He had a granddaughter!", "He kissed [insert name here]!", "He flirts with River!", as if no asexual person has ever had a child, kissed, or flirted :/

[@barco99]

Well The Doctor is Heterosexual with a possible robot fetish. So The Doctor maybe a little Ace.

[@thatpeskyrat]

@@barco99 where’s the evidence that he’s heterosexual? he never says he’s just into women, and twelve confesses he had a crush on the master as kids

[@barco99]

@@thatpeskyrat Well I've looked up the meaning of man crush and it is basically non sexual admiration for another man. Maybe The Doctor would be biromantic heterosexual and little bit of Grey.

[@barco99]

@@CubedSausagefromScarparius The internet has ruined me. It's better not label these things when it is complicated like this. I was right years ago not to label things like this.

[@cicadeus7741]

I imagine the doctor would be sensual, not sexual. Sex would be no more than awkward and a little funny favour.

[@summeriscake_8460]

It kind of worries me since Russel was allowed to write explicitly queer characters in 2005 and the writers of Loki could only have a single line confirming that loki is bisexual since Doctor who is going to be on disney plus and we have no idea what kind of restrictions they'll have to follow

[@Fitzroyfallz]

I worry about that too. RTD has said that Disney has no power over the writing, but they kind of do really. Disney banned episodes of the kids show bluey for goodness sake, who’s to say they won’t blacklist doctor who episodes too?

[@rhodriwilliams2599]

I’d tend to agree, I’m hoping that Yasmin Finney playing a key role in these upcoming specials is gonna be setting the bar for what’s to come, and I think that Russell is proud and certain enough of his beliefs that he would publicly distance himself if he couldn’t explicitly represent queer people.

[@xBoringPerfectionx]

I think disney just have the streaming rights for certain countries, they don't have creative ownership

[@MichaelJohnson-kq7qg]

@@xBoringPerfectionx things are rarely that simple and explicit. Disney having exclusive rights to broadcast basically everywhere else in the world doesn't mean that they directly control content.... But. The fact that they DO have the control over distribution, means they have leverage over content. Even if indirect.

[@thebobbrom7176]

Disney likely does have more creative control than people are letting on. But at the end of the day this is RTD the guy that made a speech damning the BBC after getting a BAFTA for their transphobia. If there's anyone that's going to tell Disney to f*** off if they try to pull anything like that it's him. Also the CEO that was explicitly homophobic Bob Chapek has recently been sacked. I think Disney doesn't want any more bad press when it comes to them being perceived as homophobic.

[@HeidiSholl]

As a demisexual, the Doctor and River's relationship speaks to me. It took him a while before we got a Doctor who made flirtatious jokes and innuendos around his wife. I could imagine that Matt Smith's Doctor didn't see River in that way until he truly loved her in every other way. There might also be a level of demi-romantic in there too, but I'm hyper romantic so I can't really speak on that. But certainly I recognised the way The Doctor and River fell in love in my own life too. This could also be a wild reach, but it's what I see

[@krissssssss5401]

As an ace person, I totally get it. I see it too

[@proserpina4448]

I see the Doctor as ace and findemiromantic, because they don't seem to have any interest in sex and often don't understand sexual/ equivocal hints. Finromantic as the genderneutral version of romantic attraction towards people read as women, because the Doctor is genderfluid and all their crushes are women. For demiromantic I sign your explanation.

[@HeidiSholl]

@@proserpina4448 Ahh, that makes sense. Although I never understand sexual hints/ jokes either (although that might be more to do with the mild repulsion I feel that I found out was a separate thing recently), so I can see how someone who is not fully ace might just not get it 😂. I will say that all of the Doctor's crushes are women so far, as I think RTD has some plans there. But I like the word finromantic! Haven't actually heard that before, but I knew there must be something to explain it! I'll admit I kind of stopped doing any more research into LGBTQ+ labels after I found the ones that suited me 😂 Biromantic - Demisexual.

[@proserpina4448]

@@HeidiSholl I too found the term finromantic only recently. Which plans has RTD? Do you know anything further?

[@HeidiSholl]

@@proserpina4448 To my knowledge, he's going to confirm the Doctor is bi with Ncuti's Doctor. Which, I think is something that has been alluded to over the years, just with the odd comment, but RTD wants to bring it more to the surface. As long as the Doctor still likes women too 😂 I want to believe that all of the Doctors would love River if they met her!

[@DonutToast]

My favourite doctor who moment was with the 10th doctor in episode midnight. The hostess calls to the group with "ladies and gentlemen and any variations thereof", which surprised me when I rewatched it with an adult mind. I'd figured before she's made to say that to refer to alien genders, but the room was filled with fully human (presumably cisgender) people! It was just so sudden, I wasn't expecting to hear such an openness to non-binary identities as well, especially in THAT time period. But as someone who's non-binary too it really made me happy to hear! This episode also features a lesbian woman but unfortunately she's the one that gets killed :o(

[@sabrinaleedance]

Thank you! I came here to comment about that episode. Everyone forgets that Skye was once married to a woman. It's just a great example of how Dr Who so casually includes LGBT characters and doesn't make them a spectacle, or seem at all out of the ordinary. It's just a simple fact of life in the show.

[@4203105]

To be pedantic here: Jack was buried alive for millions of years. It doesn't get much more "bury your gays".

[@greenghoul157]

Yasmin also felt like a very "bury your gays" character, the Doctor just leaves her before she regenerates without any fanfare, 13s entire run felt like baiting and a waste of potential so I'm excited that RTD is back

[@Sam-rk6wo]

Sky Silvestry has a blink it and you'll miss it comment about her ex moving to a whole other galaxy after their breakup in the episode Midnight as another bit of lesbian representation. The host also uses the phrase "Ladies, Gentlemen and variations thereupon", probably referring to aliens that don't have the traditional gender binary (or perhaps in the David Bowie "Ladies, gentlemen and others" manner) Beautiful episode and such a great performance from the cast.

[@user-sy6tg1ol9e]

As someone who grew up with this show and practically made it my identity, it brought me a lot of insights into my own idea of myself and how I view my own gender. Having a character so different and so unabashedly strange and still being somewhat strong.. and at times sexy, it helped me realise that I didn't need to be like everyone else. Because of doctor who, I found the masculinity just wasn't for me and I started embracing the camp and more feminine aspects of myself. Sorry for the rant. This show is incredible for self discovery, no matter the gender or ethnicity of the lead.

[@astralarmadillo]

This is really lovely to hear, it's so interesting to see how the show has helped people discover more about themselves and their identity

[@HalfPintTelevision]

no but seriously I totally understand this, doctor who was for whatever reason the show that made me REALLY question my gender identity and ultimately come out as nonbinary. Then they announce Jody Whitaker as The Doctor and I can't even express the gender euphoria high that brief period was for me. This show is so special . . . it's literally meditative.

[@lalas181]

As a transman who always wanted to be the 11th Doctor as a kid (and now), I can't thank you enough for this video. It's probably a little silly, but this video made me realize exactly why I've always felt so welcomed by this series.

[@Fitzroyfallz]

John Nathan-Turner, the producer for doctor who in the 80s was openly gay as well! He was the longest running producer for the show iirc.

[@lexezlao]

Longest running producer of the show though by like 1986 he desperately wanted to leave but he was essentially forced to stay by the BBC pretty much in an attempt to sabotage the show because the BBC's hate for sci fi at the time was downright cartoonish

[@LemonArsonist]

When I went to watch Classic Who all the way through for the first time, the most surprising thing was just how homoerotic the 3rd Doctor and the Master's relationship was It felt like every other episode the Master had the perfect opportunity to kill the Doctor, but lets him go seeingly on a whim, only to "try" to kill him again. It wasn't that far in I was just thinking "okay so this is just an elaborate excuse to get close to him right?"

[@Moho_braccatus_]

That, and the Doctor kept coming back to him voluntarily. Bailing him out of Kronos' clutches. Visiting him in prison. The Doctor cares too!

[@calyssmarviss]

The way she said “some bloke named mark gatiss” 😂

[@JemmaVF]

Happiness Patrol was absolutely a social commentary on Thatcher's Britain. I was there at the read through for this and Silver Nemesis and it was openly discussed. Sylvester McCoy, during the Silver Nemesis read through, joked about the comet influencing historic events: "...1963, Kennedy assassinated. 1988, Thatcher still in power".

[@actually_im_worse_yall]

In the 2nd season, Frazer and Troughton glided in all the touchy feely random hugs to bug the director who said that it way "too gay" and since they couldn't do other takes the scenes were Jamie would randomly sneak in a little hug to 2nd doctor and they'd both make chemistry just to annoy the director for giggles and shit would stay so yeah sounds like a thing i'd do with my friends to bug a homophobic or a racist grumpy adult lmao

[@DoctorFletcherHicks]

As someone only really aware of the content of the show, I can’t get over how totally enlightening this deep dive into both the community and cast/crew queer history of the show has been! Massive thanks for this fantastic research and stunning content!!

[@archiesinclair6252]

It's all wonderfully camp. The classic thing of note is of course the second Doctor and Jamie.

[@adsfornothing3146]

Some stuff that I wanted to mention, series 4 episode 10: Midnight has Sky Silvestry mention that she is taking the trip to the waterfalls because of her divorce, she says something like "apparently, half a galaxy of 'space' isn't enough for her" implying that she was married to a woman. I think RTD also mentioned that she was going to commit suicide at the waterfall because of her divorce. Edit: The same episode also has the hostess say "Ladies and gentlemen and variations thereof" in a train full of humans + Ten (who is humanoid at least) Series 4 episode 7: The Unicorn and the Wasp has some gay stuff too, the son of that one lady is in a relationship with some kind of servant (I think they kiss in a flashback, the one where they're checking alibis), it is brought up briefly that they can't be together (1920s, also social status), and also Donna says something along the lines of "All the good men are on the other bus" Also, not really explicit, but in The Empty Child arc, Rose says something like "He vanished, why's it always the good looking ones who do that?" Nine says "I'm making an effort not to be insulted" to which Rose adds "Men". The Doctor then says "Thanks, that really helped", implying that he sees himself as something other than a man.

[@aratinatophat]

I love how this doesn’t just focus on the sexuality aspects and also focuses on trans history as well! As a young trans guy who was born bit too late for a lot of it, I feel like I’ve only heard the sexuality side of the queer community being openly discussed (though that may be because we’re living through the worst of it now) and it’s really refreshing!

[@dancrocker9318]

Wonderful video! Am so happy that it showed up on my homepage and seems to be popping up on a lot of other peoples' too ! My biggest thing with Ace is that 'Ace' is a chosen name! On top of that, in the unmade 40th anniversary special we would have seen a timeline where Ace never met the Doctor, where she still goes by Dorothy and is married to a man, which intentionally or not really felt tragic to read and hammered that home for me as a dark timeline for Ace Edit: and after all that the final 5 seconds of the video make me cackle more than once. excellent.

[@tomsenior7405]

A beautifully presented episode. Thank you. I suppose I am a Straight CIS male by modern interpretation?. I am not gender fluid. I love ladies, I have no desire to explore the pleasures of manly stuff. And still, I can not bear intolerance to anyone who is considered different. (Please forgive any of my misuse of language, I grew up in a society where such terminology was considered unacceptable). Finally, love can be recognised for what it should be: Two heartbeats coming together. Please share more of your thoughts, I bloody love your work.

[@adsfornothing3146]

Yeah you got that right! Cis as in not trans. And great to see an ally :)

[@gagigagagigo]

nah you worded this really well, and as a queer person I really appreciate your acceptance and love for this kind of representation. I hope you have the best day, dude!!

[@tomsenior7405]

@@gagigagagigo No worries. Love is a natural human emotion, common to all. Hate is a much more complex system that has to be learned. The opposite of love is not hate. It is indifference. Those who hate choose to do so. My suggestion? F**k them. And may your life be filled with Love and Happiness.

[@jumenta5391]

As a bi ace person i can relate to how the doctor deals with romantic and sexual atraction. I read them as demi pan character bc everytime them form a romantic connection with someone (yep, including 10th). In the doctor's case, i dont think asexuality would be bad bc they're an alien. They're a fully complex character wich both sexual and romantic attraction were explored and they're like the main character wich ppl already relates and fits to be an example to be followed

[@ellenkendall5401]

I'm so glad that the algorithm decided this is something I would like, what a brilliant video!! Really interesting to see the timeline laid out like that and you definitely put into words a lot of the weird feelings i have as an ace person about the whole "is the doctor asexual?" discussion!

[@astralarmadillo]

Thank you! I'm so happy that it resonated with you!

[@FlooraFlovira]

Second this, also as an ace person.

[@LorasTyrell354]

I've never seen this channel before so I legit thought the picture of you in the thumbnail was a companion I hadn't heard of

[@althrace-49]

As an aromantic person, the 13th doctor's confession to Yaz really spoke to be. Like the idea that as much as i might want it to be and as much as i might care about someone, it's not in my nature to be in a romantic relationship. I know that that wasn't the intention of the scene, but I definitely saw that connection to my own feelings.

[@timothyweers8054]

You forgot about in the Tom Baker story The Talons Of Wang-Chiang when Jago and Lightfoot met, there was a sexual tension between them. If you can tell, when they were separate, Lightfoot was more stern and had a more in charge deminour about him, once Jago barged in through the front door basically, there was an instant attraction from the forcefulness he had. Also, what makes you think is when they escaped the first time, they were in a servant elevator for food basically, with all the noise they made traveling between floors, even the neighbors would wonder what was going on. There was also Alonso in the SS Titanic space ship who came across as delicate, at the end of the Doctor's final story with David Tennant, he puts Captain Jack together with Alonso in the space bar.

[@jamie210690]

Im convinced Big Finish have an unrequited love between Jago and Litefoot. Always makes me sad when Litefoot references love as he seems to be unable to express himself in his cultire.

[@owaissaaltheadickey9341]

I'm happy that you remembered these episodes that were left out of this amazing history lesson too. A friend from Maine, USA

[@thebobbrom7176]

Personally I've always liked the description of Captain Jack's sexuality as: "Does it have a heartbeat does it have a phone number" I can't remember where it's from I think it was one of the Confidentials.

[@adsfornothing3146]

wasn't that one in utopia?

[@deadeyedfae]

Definitely keep doing these, your channel is already showing so much promise and its refreshing!

[@sunshinethuggery]

I'm surprised you didn't mention the many gay innuendos that were subtly made between the 2nd Doctor and Jamie during the former's era. Although an in-joke between Troughton and Hines, fans have often interpreted it as quasi-homoerotic.

[@lexezlao]

they did it because it upset one of the directors I think? and the didn't have the budget to reshoot

[@sunshinethuggery]

Something like that. It even kind of permeated the beginning of The Two Doctors. Jamie: "Look at the size of that thing, Doctor!" Doctor: "Yes, Jamie, it is a big one, isn't it?"

[@25Fenric]

Excellent video (and don't worry about the lighting issues)! Very well-researched, entertaining and informative. If you ever did a follow-up video and delved further into the expanded universe, one relationship that I think would've been nice to cover-the 8th Doctor and his long-running companion Fitz Kreiner from the Eighth Doctor Adventures run of novels. Fitz is very much bisexual (and confirmed as such by the book editor, Steve Cole, in a recent article in issue 41 of fan magazine Whotopia written by my good friend Reecy Pontiff), very much in love with the 8th Doctor and a very popular character & pairing in Wilderness Years fandom. The original EDA companion of Sam Jones is also confirmed as bisexual in the same article (and hinted at in her run of the books). My input aside, absolutely loved this video and thank you for making it :)

[@kevingunning7569]

I found this video really interesting, as much of my life can be measured by the memories I have of Doctor Who. My first grainy black & white memory was of Patrick Troughton's whistle and The Yeti. I was an eight year old boy when Jon Pertwee took over, and I was traumatised by the imagery of an Auton starting to move on the back seat of a car and strangling the life out of the driver. As a child, my memory was far more vivid back then so when I re-visited the episode recently, I was greatly disappointed! lol. I lived through AIDS pandemic and Section 28, and I can remember the lurid headlines on the so-called 'Red Tops' as MP's, pop-stars and actors were regularly 'outed' with gleeful abandon. As a young man unsure of my place in the world, I can assure you that the choice to conform was made for me. I am 58 now and able to be who I really am, but I had to wait until I was 50 until I was genuinely comfortable to emerge from my life-long chrysalis. Thank you Leah. Kevin x

[@aspwillow]

15:03 I was watching this in the background while doing my homework, and when I heard Mark Gatiss my head whipped up like a comic book character's

[@meropetied]

I love this video for all the discussions and themes of course, but I feel like the gradual darkening of the room is actually super cozy and cool. Immersive, whether you meant it to be or not. Very nice to spend an hour with you.

[@4203105]

Pretty sure Jack was also said to be omnisexial in Torchwood a few times.

[@Squicx]

I came across this video and honestly it saved me, (I had food and everyone knows you have to find a KZbin video to watch while eating it so thanks for helping out!) BUT. Never in my life was I expecting the most calmest, smoothest and chillest voice going over it!? I was so relaxed?! Honestly, PLEASE keep doing Doctor Who videos bc this entire video was a masterpiece.

[@Chiggins_]

So I've not listened to absolutely all of Big Finish (I've listened to up until about 2012? And sporadically a few bits since then. I started listening in 2016, but haven't caught up because real life carries on and finances dwindle) BUT Oliver Harper, chronologically the earliest gay companion, was a trader in the 1960s when he began travelling with the First Doctor and Steven. The criminalisation of homosexuality is a big part of his arc. I'm about to allude to spoilers, but his ending is a little bit Bill Potts kinda (I mean Big Finish does literally everything before the main show does). He's played by Tom Allen, the bald comedian who's always in those gorgeous, gorgeous suits on Cats Does Countdown and hosted Bake Off: The Professionals. Most of Eight's companions are gay. His own great-grandson, Alex Campbell.The comic companions Izzy, Fitz, Chris (btw, it's pronounced Shvay, but he says at one point he prefers it being pronounced Kwedge, it amuses him). Helen Sinclair, like Oliver Harper, is a gay woman from the 60s. Liv Chenka forms a relationship with Tania Bell, a trans woman played by trans actress Rebecca Root, the first trans companion and hopefully she's not overshadowed and forgotten about after the 60th anniversary. Torchwood has kept it up with all the new characters being gay. St John Colchester, Tyler Steele, Norton Folgate, Gideon Lyme, Lizbeth Hayhoe, LeDuc. Good to know that even with John Barrowman and thus Captain Jack gone, Torchwood is still staunchly, definitively queer. Many other Doctor Who spinoffs have gay characters. Bernice Summerfield, a companion to the Seventh Doctor in the novels, gets her own audio series. Her husband's sexually fluid, and her son's gay. UNIT characters likewise. It's not Big Finish but Doctor Who: Redacted was a series on BBC Sounds, with the main cast members being bisexual, lesbian, and trans (once again, played by a trans actress). I don't know if it's worth mentioning since it is only speculative, but as well as Derek Jacobi being gay, Anthony Ainley is believed to have been bisexual. It's never been disclosed and he was a very private man, but idk, bisexual men seem to often be unrepresented by contrast to trans, gay, lesbian, and even bisexual women, so that's something, maybe. Likewise, another group I feel tends to be unrepresented by contrast, the new Eleventh Doctor companion Valarie Lockwood is played by a nonbinary actor, Safiyya Ingar (though the character isn't nonbinary).

[@thatDamnAusWhoFan]

Speaking as someone who is bi and non binary, bisexual and pansexual are both valid identities but they are also identical in many ways. Bisexual doesn't mean you're not into gender diversity. I'm attracted to men and women and anything in between the two binaries. I think the problem is there's a lot of stigma with the label bi, some of it from how we were forcibly outed in the aids pandemic as the bridge of infection between gay men and straight women, and more recently the ides that bisexuality us somehow trans exclusionary, which baffles me because it was bi communities who were among the first to explore the complex diversity of gender in the first place. Sorry for the essay, it's just a bit triggering. Pansexual is no more or less appropriate than bisexual for captain jack

[@astralarmadillo]

You are completely right, I don't wish to imply that bi isn't an appropriate label for Jack or that bi people are restricted to "two" genders. I personally identify as being bi rather than being pan purely because of how I interpret the label, and so i followed my own interpretation in order to refer to Jack since the character doesn't really use labels. But I do realise that bi and pan are essentially the same thing, and I dislike when people say that bi is trans or non-binary exclusive when it most definitely isn't.

[@spaghetti5914]

Im pan but I use bi as a label because I like the colors more 😭

[@cuddlysoftcat9267]

Really enjoyed this video! As a trans fem doctor who nerd it was really cool to have this info laid out like this and I hope we continue to see more queer doctor who characters in the future! (Side note your voice is so lovely to listen to 💕)

[@CanadianTimeLord]

In 1987's 7th Doctor story "Paradise Towers", the cannibalistic Rezzies Tabby and Tilda were obviously a lesbian couple. This wasn't just the trope of a couple of elderly pensioners sharing a flat, they were 100% a couple. Also, with Ace, the writers had written to be, and Sophie Aldred played the character as, bisexual.

[@KatzePiano]

Amazing video! I have a few things to add that you didn't get to (understandable - the show has a ridiculous amount of content). Firstly, this is somewhat hearsay since I can't verify it, but apparently Phil Collinson said at Who's Queer Now in 2017 that he thought of Sarah Jane as bisexual, and that the alien poetess she sees off at the start of The Sarah Jane Adventures was her lover. I'm so glad you mentioned the queer interpretations of Jamie and Ace, but I also wanted to mention that my friends and I have all decided that Ian is bisexual. He just has so many very intense male friendships practically every serial, including one where he rubs the other guy's legs (it's because of the cold, but the guy is wearing practically nothing on his bottom half, so I think they were both inviting this situation). Finally, I don't know if you listened to Doctor Who: Redacted last year, but it was awesome and featured multiple queer characters. Of the three main characters, one was a bisexual woman, one a lesbian, and one a trans woman, and they were all so well written. It was such an unapolagetically queer piece of Doctor Who that I'm amazed more people haven't been talking about it. It's available for free on BBC Sounds. I also have a few thoughts on the Doctor's asexuality. I definitely prefer to view them as asexual, and have recently begun to come to terms with my own asexuality (and aromanticism, plus complex other sort-of-gay feelings). I understand the point you make about asexuality not making you less human and so having to be careful when coding it as an alien trait, but on the flipside, the alienness of the Doctor and their asexuality reflects the alienation I feel from society at large. For the Doctor to be that Other, and specifically so in one of the ways I am, can actually mean quite a lot. Maybe asexuality *does* make them more alien, and maybe it's not bad to be alien. This can be dehumanising, too, of course, but it all depends on who's doing it, and it's usually pretty clear when that's the goal. (I also vibe with this in the Doctor's sometimes autistic-coded actions.)

[@foxlimey]

This was a really good video! I'm a gay man and my favourite doctor is 8. He has always felt queer in a relatable way. Glad to see him mentioned.

[@astralarmadillo]

Oh I absolutely get that vibe from 8

[@jaschul]

@Leah T I've never read any Eighth Doctor Adventures books but wasn't there flirtation between Eight and Fitz Kreiner?

[@andreistoica2470]

The Daleks have no gender

[@andreistoica2470]

The Angels are described like this with no gender neutral

[@deaderontheinside6871]

@@jaschul Fitz and 8 were a read between the lines kind of deal I think. Fitz confesses having confusing feelings for him to Iris, If I'm remembering right.

[@MammothChats]

It’s really lovely to see such a positive video and celebration of my favourite show. Love that quote from Russel near the end 38:15

[@RosieOleanderDallinger]

I love your speaking voice. It sounds so relaxing ❤❤ this was such a wonderful video.

[@RClaffieJr]

Her voice does have an ASMR quality about it.

[@safiremorningstar]

Bothers me the lgbtq never seem to mention the fact that there is also Asexual in the community, consider that too when many of us asexual liked Doctor Who because of the fact that there was no romance of the doctor as such in the early years if you want to call it that. Before the revival/modern Who.

[@willadeefriesland5107]

When it comes to the Doctor being Ace and /or Aro, think back on the farewell scene between Tom Baker and Liz Sladen. Her admonishment to the Doctor to not forget her, is met by his doubting he ever could. While this may have another interpretation, watch how Tom Baker (my favorite Doctor) delivers the line... For that matter, how David Tennant has his Doctor react to seeing her again...

[@lemonaddi]

I have only just gotten to the new who part of the video but I was slightly surprised to not see a mention of Scream of the Shalka during the wilderness years section considering the mentions of non canon things that may at one point have been considered canon. Shalka is one of my favourite stories solely for the canon Thoschei and the way they interact with the companion of the story, Alison. It was confirmed (I'm pretty sure) that the Shalka Doctor and Master were intended to be married and there were jokes that hinted at this a couple times too, like the answer phone message. Aside from wanting to mention that, I think this is a great video so far and I can't wait to watch the rest. Doctor Who is my special interest and as a queer, nonbinary, aroace person the queerness of it has always been something important to me. :D

[@Cynicalian]

I really wouldn't worry about the lighting, that was a rather wonderful and charming essay, many thanks

[@nycbutterfly52]

Wonderful video!!! I agree that you should make more Doctor Who content! Maybe more in depth studies of some of the characters you mentioned? A video about River or Jack? Also, I'd like to see your opinions about the Fifteenth Doctor and his season. I'll have to check your other videos.

[@Timmymantwo]

What a cracking video Gromit, love this. You should make more, definitely someone I'd love to debate Doctor Who with in person or online

[@Alfwin]

Speaking as a queer Doctor Who fan: this video was fantastic! Instant subscribe! The inherent queerness of Doctor Who, along with its core themes of celebrating individuality and diversity, have always appealed to me. And, while I've had more than a few complaints about the show in recent years, it's been really wonderful to see the increase in explicit, canonical LGBT+ characters and relationships in Doctor Who. Recently, I was pleasantly surprised to hear the inclusion of a non-binary character in the latest installment of Big Finish's _Gallifrey_ series. And, thank you for acknowledging how astonishingly gay _The Happiness Patrol_ was! I always got those vibes from that episode - especially the conversation you referenced between Ace and Susan Q - but I'd never heard anyone else mention queer subtext in _The Happiness Patrol_ nor mention _The Happiness Patrol_ when talking about queer subtext in Doctor Who, to the point where I'd almost begun to doubt my own reading of the episode!

[@ANewWayToThink]

Love the Doctor Who content! I expected this to be a bigger channel. Seems you will become one shortly. Good luck!

[@raybearoz]

Thanks for the great work... I'm not sure if it was a deliberate omission, but you touch on the aborted mention of companion Harry Sullivan's gayness. I believe this is in reference to the actor who played Harry Sullivan, Ian Marter. While Ian was not an out gay man, it has been spoken about by fellow actor, Doctor Who legend Nicholas Courtney. Ian died young due to complications of diabetes, so was not alive in a period where it was acceptable to be gay. On top of this, he was married with children. Nicholas Courtney relayed what he considered to be a very sad conversation the two had while on a flight to America for a fan convention where Ian came out to Nicholas. While this could be seen as outing someone, this is a unique situation where it helps us understand the time and period they lived and worked in. The interview I believe was one of Nicholas Courtney's last before he died, published in Doctor Who magazine, if you wish to chase it up.

[@astralarmadillo]

Thank you for the addition! I had read speculation about Ian Marter's sexuality, and wasn't sure whether or not to include it since he hadn't spoken on it himself - but I'll definitely go find that interview

[@raybearoz]

@@astralarmadillo I understand and appreciate that. When you can't verify a fact that's effectively hear say I know what you mean. Though the sources of this and their intent on sharing the story could be considered. It wasn't spoken in a salacious or gossiping way, but of sadness of someone who was unable to live their truth due to the society of the time. Makes you appreciate some of the freedoms we have now

[@rhyfeddu]

As a classic fan who happily met Mr Marter back in the day (as a young clueless lesbian), this revelation is very touching yet tremendously melancholy to me. It kinda breaks my heart really. Both for him in the closet and for me as a young fan having no clue of the queer folks involved in my favorite show (other than JNT). I wished I'd known I had "company". I wish Ian had a less complicated life; I hope he was still happy. Had not heard Nick's telling of this. Thanks for sharing it. (I need to find that interview!)

[@Koscytus]

this is one amazing essay, i almost feel motivated to write an article using you as a referece, congratulations, you are amazing

[@royalvalkyrie]

One of my favourite lgbtqia+ relationships was the 8th Doctor/Fitz from the novels!

[@lwanco1018]

Yay! Someone else remembers Fitz!

[@cw5522]

Just wanted to mention the audio drama series Standed with the 8th Doctor has Tania Bell played by Rebecca Root who is a canonical transwoman.

[@jowobo89]

For all the River-lovers here, may I recommend a small dive into the US medical drama "ER", where Alex Kingston (largely together with Laura Innes) performs some very impressive explicitly queer rep for a glorious 160 episodes.

[@k1ttkw1snky69]

not to mention, Russel T Davies is gay. possibly the first gay showrunner so it's great to see him loved by fans.

[@Moho_braccatus_]

John-Nathan Turner (80's Who's showrunner) was gay.

[@k1ttkw1snky69]

@@Moho_braccatus_ Oh really?

[@Moho_braccatus_]

@@k1ttkw1snky69 Yes.

[@weboftime]

Awesome video! :D Learnt about a lot of BTS stuff I'd never heard of before. I remember watching episodes as a kid and occasionally hearing my parents scoff at scenes and saying "in a kid's show?". Then realising as I grew up that it was basically scenes with Capt Jack in them lol 🙃 On the topic of Disney's "representation", or rather "including meagre hints little enough to be cut out and dubbed over", do you think Disney will be of any concern with the series going forward? With the Disney+ deal and all that. I believe RTD recently said in DWM that they redid scenes in S14's first episode due to Disney saying it wasn't as exciting as the rest of the series. I have faith in RTD, but it's something occasionally on my mind

[@astralarmadillo]

I am... interested to see what will happen with the Disney deal, I know that supposedly they'll only be involved with overseas distribution and not have any creative input - but with Disney being Disney it's definitely something I've also had in the back of my mind!

[@bobjohnston1239]

yeah, I just wanted 13th Doctor and Yaz to have a kiss goodbye in the finale.

[@BigMoto11]

I never subscribed so fast!

[@Polyglot85to90]

I have always felt that there is a huge vibe between Duke Giuliano and Marco in The Masque of Mandragora (1976) suggesting that they are considerably more than friends, or at the very least that Giuliano would very much like to be more than friends with Marco

[@sebastiangreenan1774]

This is an incredible video, great to see more of this kind of Doctor Who content on KZbin.

[@____uncompetative]

The Doctor literally steps out of a closet every episode.

[@andreaobregon391]

Wow this just popped up on recommendations and it's fantastic!! I didn't even realise at first that was almost an hour long. Again, fantastic video! ❤️❤️

[@diegovargasdiego]

I also doubt Hartell was particularly homophobic or antisemitic on the job as many actors have stated that even when they were Jewish, he treated them very professionally and cordially. He was also very angry when Warris Hussein left the show. If he was homophobic and antisemitic, he most likely was more private about it and didn’t let it bleed into his work.

[@melodierama]

Just a quick side note: John Barrowman has described Jack as being omnisexual in interviews, meaning that, in theory, he can be attracted to anyone but in practice, he does have preferences whereas pansexuality is more of a lack of regards to gender and this kind of shows in Torchwood ("I had a boyfriend who", "I had a boyfriend like that" and rarely mentionning past relationships with women). Additionally, in Torchwood, he can be read as polyamorous (again, he briefly mentionned staying with one of his lovers because of his twin, which can be read as them being in a polycule and there's the whole love triangle with Gwen and Ianto). As an omniromantic polyamorous person myself, I have to admit I cried when I read about it. We don't get much representation (if any) and it was just so wonderful to see some, even if it does fall into stereotypes. Jack became a really important character to me because of that. Also, great video, very informative while still being fairly digest!

[@neweyes6610]

This was brilliant. I love doctor who and recently came out as bisexual. Finding out more about the history of LGBTQ+ really helps me see how far we've came, and how far we're falling xP. Thank you.

[@CashelOConnolly]

The story that William Hartnell wouldn’t work with gay men is nonsense‼️ A few years before he became the Doctor he starred in a film called carry on sergeant,the first of 31 films with the carry on name. Over 70% of the cast were gay‼️🏳️‍🌈

[@richjohnston]

John Nathan Turner, an openly gay man, was "showrunner" for Doctor Who longer than anyone. There was a book, published ten years ago, that suggested more negative things, however.

[@uukyspuuky3121]

Loving how much I'm learning about queer history and doctor who at the same time. My two favourites, together at last

[@alinaKANIN]

I can’t find a copy of the actual thing but in an OFFICIAL doctor who encyclopedia from the 80s - meant to be from the Doctor’s files - the Doctor refers to the Master as “devilishly attractive.”

[@bekah5935]

I love this video! I knew about alot of the new who stuff but I had no idea about classic who stuff. I love the way russle t Davies included queer people as just everyday charcters living there lives like sky in midnight it so humanising

[@chrisleneil]

I know I wrote 3rd Doctor/Master, 2nd Doctor/Jamie, & 5th Doctor/Turlough fanfic back in the day, but since I lived in the U.S., I rarely saw Who-based ‘zines.

[@EllietheQueerTheologian]

I just saw that this is only your second video. It’s amazing how natural, yet professional you already seem. If you work on the audio quality a bit, you’re undoubtedly on par with the likes of Kaz Rowe and similar masters of video essays!

[@meljayne113]

The boy in the episode “The idiot’s lantern” is also heavily implied to be gay

[@jonothanthrace1530]

I'm going to headcanon that Chris from Damaged Goods is the same Chris that the reader plays in the Choose Your Own Adventure-style books from the 80s.

[@TimeToRemind]

Brilliant overview of an interesting topic, wish I could take my eyes off Appa behind you

[@lucasprobably]

15:53 the 'bimbos in miniskirts' comment is so gross i still can't believe he was picked as showrunner after rtd

[@ghostlygooze]

Amazing video, can't wait to see more from you!

[@willadeefriesland5107]

As a classic Star Trek fan from 4 years old to becoming a Doctor Who fan at 14, the earlier point in your video about Captain Kirk and his macho image was addressed in slash fiction in the 70s and 80s with a relationship between he and Mister Spock. In the classic story 'Shore Leave', a female yeoman rubs Captain Kirk's lower back, when Kirk realizes it wasn't Spock working on his kink... Er, back pain that is, watch William Shatner's expression as Captain Kirk...

[@willadeefriesland5107]

Thank you so much for this video. I found it thoroughly enjoyable and informational... And don't let the lighting issue bother you. after all, this would have been the sort of thing that classic Doctor Who could have ran into with their own budget restrictions and time available... 🙂

[@Kritigri]

Hey, I just want to thank you for this video. I have a weirdly specific thing where I'm starting a rewatch podcast of Doctor Who, and I realise I'm having to address that I'm approaching it from a "freshly queer perspective" as I didn't realise I was bi until I was 25 years old. This set off some old insecurities about my identity, and watching through this video that attributes so much queerness to Doctor Who helped me subconsciously work through it, I think. It's also just a bloody good video with lots of wonderful factoids and info that I didn't know about this show!

[@willadeefriesland5107]

As to Turlough, unlike many of the male viewers at home, his reaction to first meeting Perpugillium Brown in a bikini (and half-drownt) seems rather... detached? indifferent? Maybe he just doesn't fancy humans?

[@eddiestephanie1557]

Intro 0:41 The wilderness years 12:32 New who 18:15 Why does doctor who resonate with queer fans31:47 Clear fandom 40:07

[@deborahbasco3514]

Really interesting vid! one thing you missed however was from the novelisation of the 2003 animated webcast by Paul Cornell, he describes the doctor as asexual.

[@chronovore3726]

From the Missing Adventures line of books which ran concurrently with the New Adventures, "Empire of Glass" (1995) by Andy Lane played with the orientation of an existing companion.

[@JarrodCook93]

At 2:00, the actor who played him actually played a drag queen in the 2018 movie ‘Tucked’.

[@ghostcore_7625]

Words cannot express how much I love this video.

[@najawin8348]

49:26 Also important to note that Mandip Gill would actively go to directors and ask to play up scenes as if Thasmin was happening because she didn't have any material in the script and wanted something to do, while the entire subject was basically forgotten about until Flux except by her. Also, current spinoffs are like, super q*r (censoring to avoid yt getting mad).

[@jackhustwayte4567]

Love this video, if you have any plans on future videos I can't wait to see them!

[@firefly927]

From an aroace, thank you for the ace and aro mentions!

[@DamnQuilty]

Fifth and Turlough are my favorite ship. And Turlough is my favorite companion. The reason for both is a mix between the series, the books and big finish. I cannot quite explain without going all over the place.

[@krissssssss5401]

Favorite ship like ever?

[@krissssssss5401]

What's big finish?

[@DamnQuilty]

@@krissssssss5401 in Doctor Who.

[@DamnQuilty]

@@krissssssss5401 Big Finish produces Doctor Who stories in radio drama format. They have lots of great stories.

[@Osricb83]

I would prefer that as the Doctor continues to regenerate he loses the desire to be with anyone sexually. He can transform into a man or a woman so it would be nice if he loses the desire for either. Just be a traveler whose lover is adventure outside of the need for another being.

[@messystudios8505]

26:10 Ive always found Nixons line at the end of that episode rather strange as it implies that Nixon thought that Canton was kicked out the FBI for wanting to marry a black woman. Which would make no sense for Nixon to think that as interracial marriage was legal in 1969 when the episode is set. The only reasons an fbi agent would be fired for wanting to marry someone in 1969 is if they were gay or if they wanted to marry a criminal or spy or some crazy stuff. So idk why Nixon would assume its the race.

[@eccentriastes6273]

Thank you for covering the wildnerness years. They're often ignored aside from the TV movie, but the stuff that came out in that era provides the historical missing link between classic and new who - in this case, by bringing in the earliest explicit queer representation. Anyway I just wanna draw attention to Penley and Storr in the The Ice Warriors (1967) just cuz I personally get big gay vibes from them (of course there's nothing directly implied).