Doctor Who’s 60th-anniversary special, featuring a heartwarming trans storyline, has faced backlash from anti-LGBTQ+ viewers. The episode, which saw the return of David Tennant and Catherine Tate as the Doctor and Donna Noble, prominently featured Yasmin Finney as Donna’s trans daughter, Rose Noble.
In the episode, the storyline focused on Rose’s trans identity, Donna’s protective stance against transphobic bullies, and the Doctor asking for an alien antagonist’s pronouns. Rose’s identity played a vital role in saving the world within the narrative.
However, the positive portrayal of the trans community on mainstream family TV prompted vitriolic reactions from haters. They review-bombed the show on Rotten Tomatoes, causing the audience score to decline. Social media saw backlash under the hashtag #RIPDoctorWho, with anti-trans accounts sharing their negative thoughts.
Responding to the hate, Doctor Who’s casting director, Andy Pryor, emphasized that inclusivity in casting is about telling stories that speak to all viewers and make them feel less alone.
Many fans celebrated the positive trans representation in the episode, expressing their support and joy. While some critics griped about the show going “woke,” the episode garnered a significant viewership of 5.08 million people, excluding catch-up and international viewers.
Russell T Davies, the show’s creator, had pre-emptively addressed potential backlash, condemning those filled with hate and venom who seek to erase such inclusive content from screens.
The episode is part of a three-part 60th-anniversary special, with the second installment, “Wild Blue Yonder,” scheduled for release on December 2, 2023, on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, streaming globally on Disney+.
