"Doctor Who's" New Rose
by Vlada Gelman
May 16, 2022


Is "Doctor Who" bringing back an iconic companion?

Yasmin Finney (Heartstopper) will play a character named Rose in scenes that will air in 2023 as part of the show’s 60th anniversary celebration, the BBC announced on Monday. Billie Piper previously portrayed the Doctor’s companion Rose Tyler opposite Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant.




Said showrunenr Russell T Davies in a statement:

“Life on Doctor Who gets brighter and wilder, how can there be another Rose? 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!”




Added Finney: “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. 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.”

Finney joins returning stars David Tennant (aka the tenth Doctor) and Catherine Tate (Donna), who “reunite for the battle of a lifetime,” Davies teased.

https://tvline.com/2022/05/16/doctor-who-yasmin-finney-cast-rose-60th-anniversary/

"Doctor Who" Fans haven't Seen the Last of Yasmin Finney's Controversial Trans Character, EP Says
by Clark Collis
December 8, 2023


The appearance of a transgender character named Rose, played by "Heartstopper" star Yasmin Finney, on the first of this year's anniversary episodes, "The Star Beast," was too much for some viewers.

The BBC, which screens the show in the U.K., reports that it has received at least 144 complaints about the episode because of its alleged "anti-male" theme and the "inappropriate inclusion" of a trans character.




Those complaints are unlikely to surprise showrunner Russell T Davies.

Speaking to media outlets before "The Star Beast" premiered on the BBC and Disney+, Davies said some critics "full of absolute hate, and venom, and destruction, and violence" would like to see "that sort of thing wiped off the screen entirely."

Addressing them directly, the executive producer declared, "Shame on you and good luck to you in your lonely lives."




In fact, Davies recently told EW that "Doctor Who" fans should expect to see Finney's Rose, the daughter of Catherine Tate's Donna Noble, pop up again in the series.

"I was writing a trans character who’s a teenager, part of a London family, of mixed race, and that’s an unusual set of conditions for a character to meet," said the showrunner. "The list of people who would audition for that is not very long. Along came Yasmin, and we just closed the door after that, because there she was! She’s absolutely terrific, and she has more appearances to come, simply because I adore working with her."

https://ew.com/doctor-who-fans-will-see-more-yasmin-finney-trans-character-amid-controversy-8413407

BBC fires back at complaints over Doctor Who's transgender character: "The show has and will always continue to proudly celebrate diversity" (https://deadline.com/2024/01/bbc-hits-back-complaints-transgender-doctor-who-yasmin-finney-1235694252/)

In response to the 144 complaints over Yasmin Finney‘s transgender character Rose in The Star Beast special, the BBC issued a statement on its complaints response website, saying: “As regular viewers of Doctor Who will be aware, the show has and will always continue to proudly celebrate diversity and reflect the world we live in. We are always mindful of the content within our episodes.”