Pearl Mackie confirms her new 'Doctor Who' character is the show’s first openly gay companion.

Ahead of the return of new 'Doctor Who' episodes this month, new companion Pearl Mackie has confirmed that her character Bill Potts will be openly gay, telling The BBC in an interview that, "It shouldn't be a big deal in the 21st Century. It's about time isn't it? That representation is important, especially on a mainstream show."

Mackie further added: "It's important to say people are gay, people are black - there are also aliens in the world as well so watch out for them. I remember watching TV as a young mixed race girl not seeing many people who looked like me, so I think being able to visually recognise yourself on screen is important. [Being gay] is not the main thing that defines her character - it's something that's part of her and something that she's very happy and very comfortable with."

This series of 'Doctor Who' will be Peter Capaldi's last, as the actor is due to bow out during this year's Christmas special.

Watch a trailer for Series 10 below...