In the latest Doctor Who special, Eve of the Daleks, Yaz (Mandip Gill) made a huge confession: she finally admitted that she loves the Doctor (Jodie Whittaker)! It was Gill and Whittaker who were the driving forces behind making this storyline a reality, according to producer Matt Strevens.
Strevens shared at the Doctor Who convention, Gallifrey One, that Whittaker specifically requested a Yaz-Doctor romance. When pre-production on season 11 began, there were no plans for a romantic relationship. Whittaker (who is not on social media) took it upon herself to ask for more scenes between their characters after Gill informed her that fans were rooting for such a relationship.
“Jodie had brought it [Thasmin social media content] to set after the first season, and said ‘there’s speculation out there and we hadn’t really thought about it,” said Strevens. “But it became quite a big thing, and if you think about the history of Doctor Who since Russell brought it back, every companion story with the Doctor is a love story.
“I think the way that Mandip did it and the way that Jodie’s Doctor reacts is brilliant. Yaz isn’t sure what these feelings are that she’s having, but they’re fundamental feelings. And I think it’s a testament to John Bishop’s performance that he’s sort of wheedling it out of them – which I think was brilliantly done.”
Thasmin fans will be happy to learn there’s more to come! Strevens said “there’s more to come” in the upcoming special Legend of the Sea Devils which will likely air around or on Easter Sunday. Then we’ll have a final special later this year to mark the end of Whittaker’s tenure as the Doctor.
Jodie Whittaker’s time in the Tardis will come to an end in the final special, expected to air this autumn. Mandip Gill and John Bishop will also depart the show in the final special.
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