CORRECTION: The Doctor Who website has released a new press item regarding the character played by Yasmin Finney, stating that the character is named “Rose” and giving no indication that she will be a companion in the upcoming series.
Original text: If the news that the tenth Doctor and Donna coming back wasn’t enough for you, Doctor Who showrunner Russell T. Davies came out with another exciting announcement today—Rose Tyler will be coming back as well… with Yasmin Finney playing the part
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“Life on Doctor Who gets brighter and wilder, how can there be another Rose?” Davies said in a statement shared by Variety. “You’ll find out in 2023, but it’s an absolute joy to welcome Yasmin to the Doctor Who set. We all fell in love with her in Heartstopper, one of those shows which changes the world — and now Yasmin can change the Whoniverse!”
As Davies mentioned, Finney made her debut in the Netflix series Heartstopper (pictured above) where she played the young Elle Argent. She will (probably?) be playing the role originally made famous by Billie Piper, who was companion to Christopher Eccelston and Tennant’s Doctors. The recasting strongly suggests there might be some multiverse shenanigans going on, but this is purely conjecture.
Finney’s casting also makes Doctor Who history—she will be the first openly trans person to play a companion on the series. Bethany Black was the first transgender actor on Doctor Who in 2015 when she played the character 474, and Rebecca Root was the first trans companion who voiced the character Tania Bell in audio series, “Stranded.”
“If anyone would have told 8-year-old Yasmin that one day she’d be part of this iconic show, I would have never in a million years believed them,” Finney said in a statement. “This show has a place in so many people’s hearts, so to be seen as a trans actress by the legend himself Russell, has not only made my year, it’s made my life. I cannot wait to begin this journey and for you all to see how Rose blossoms. Get ready.”
Doctor Who gains its own heartstopper as Yasmin Finney joins the cast 🌹➕🔷⁰
Read more here ➡️ https://t.co/3O9LudD4uc pic.twitter.com/KS9z2SsWd4
— Doctor Who (@bbcdoctorwho) May 16, 2022
