Rebecca Root to make Doctor Who history as first trans companion

Comedian Rebecca Root is set to make TV history by becoming Doctor Who‘s first transgender companion.

Root will portray Tania Bell, opposite former Doctors Paul McGann and Tom Baker, in the hit sci-fi show’s new Big Finish audio series Stranded.

The stand-up comic insists her gender identity has nothing to do with the storyline.

The show first cast a trans actress, Bethany Black, in series nine, while Bill Potts served as the series’ first openly gay companion in series 10. The current Doctor, Jodie Whittaker, became the first female time traveler in 2017.