New “Doctor Who” special sparks trans joy while trolls are outraged

A new Doctor Who special premiered over the weekend that has transgender fans cheering and anti-trans trolls going berserk.

“The Star Beast,” the first of three episodes celebrating the long-running British sci-fi series’ 60th anniversary, debuted on BBC One in the U.K. Saturday and is currently streaming on Disney+ in the U.S. Written by out showrunner Russell T. Davies (creator of the original Queer as Folk), the episode features the return of David Tennant to the show’s title role, along with the introduction of Heartstopper star Yasmin Finney’s Rose Noble, the trans daughter of Tennant’s character’s former companion Donna (Catherine Tate).

Related: Jinkx Monsoon to play a “major role” in new ‘Doctor Who’

The high-profile sci-fi role follows her sell-out Broadway run in the musical “Chicago.”

The episode also put themes of gender identity front and center, with multiple conversations about pronouns and gender, and Finney’s character playing a crucial role.

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Following its premiere, fans took to social media to praise the trans-inclusive episode.

“Russell T Davies truly stood up and said Trans people are beautiful and we love to see it,” Emily Garside, author of a book on Davies’s television work, wrote on X. “The Doctor doesn’t stand for transphobes and neither does the Whoniverse.”

“Bloody loved the new Dr Who,” journalist Jay Rayner posted. “Rockets, aliens, a fire fight in a suburban street, Donna, Tennant. All of that. But more than that, @russelldavies63 put diversity right at the heart of the narrative, the weft and the weave. With a blissfully light touch. Fabulous.”

Journalist and TV personality India Willoughby, who is trans, wrote that she was “very moved” by the episode.

Russell T Davies truly stood up and said Trans people are beautiful and we love to see it.

(The Doctor doesn’t stand for transphobes and neither does the Whoniverse)

And I wrote a book on that so you can quote me on that. #DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/xnl3ZsH8Po

— Dr Emily Garside (@EmiGarside) November 25, 2023

Bloody loved the new Dr Who. Rockets, aliens, a fire fight in a suburban street, Donna, Tennant. All of that. But more than that, @russelldavies63 put diversity right at the heart of the narrative, the weft and the weave. With a blissfully light touch. Fabulous.

— Jay Rayner (@jayrayner1) November 25, 2023

Very moved by Doctor Who tonight