Trans actress and Heartstopper star Yasmin Finney cast in Doctor Who 60th anniversary special

Heartstopper star Yasmin Finney has joined the cast of Doctor Who.

 

Fans of the cult show have been overjoyed since showrunner Russell T Davies, the man behind OG Queer as Folk and It’s a Sin, announced the news that Doctor Who legends, David Tennant and Catherine Tate, will be returning for the show’s 60th anniversary. 

Now, in another amazing announcement, the BBC has revealed they will be joined by Heartstopper star Yasmin Finney, who is joining the cast as a character named Rose.

 

The actress, who shot to fame as Elle in Netflix’s hit LGBTQ+ coming-of-age drama Heartstopper, has already started filming scenes for the 60th anniversary special, set to air in 2023.

 

Speaking of joining the Doctor Who universe, Yasmin said: “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.”

Yasmin Finney playing Elle Argent in Netflix’s Heartstopper

Davies added: “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!”

 

A Doctor Who character called Rose, famously portrayed by fan-favourite Billie Piper, formally served as a companion to Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant’s versions of The Doctor. 

“Rose” was also the title of Davies’ first Doctor Who episode when he rebooted the series, so the name has always been symbolic in the Doctor Whoniverse.

It’s not yet known if the two characters are related, but Davies had previously teased that the 60th anniversary episode could be a “missing story. Or a parallel world. Or a dream, or a trick, or a flashback”, so that could explain some of the mystery around Yasmin’s character.

 

The announcement of Finney’s casting comes not long after it was revealed that Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa will be the next Doctor.

Gatwa, taking over from Jodie Whittaker, will be the first Black actor to take on the role full-time.

 

We cannot WAIT! 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Yasmin Finney (@yazdemand)

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Russell T Davies (@russelltdavies63)

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