Doctor Who star Jodie Whittaker looks back on the relationship between the Thirteenth Doctor and Yasmin Khan (Mandip Gill). Gill’s companion debuted in Whittaker’s first story and remained by the Doctor’s side until her final adventure in 2022’s “The Power of the Doctor.” During their adventures, Yaz began to develop feelings for the Time Lord and even came out in 2022’s New Year Special,”Eve of the Daleks,” though the Doctor would be reluctant to take things further.
Over a year and a half after Whittaker’s final on-screen Doctor Who adventure, the actor looked back on the relationship between the Doctor and Yasmin Khan with RadioTimes. Whittaker appreciated how the pair were able to end the series together after four years of adventures and gradual development, as well as their impact on viewers. Check out Whittaker’s full response below:
I think it was a really treasured ending, because me and Mandip started it together, and so to end the series together, or to end our version of it together, was really beautiful.
I thought that Chris’s writing of the relationship development between Yaz and the Doctor was really beautiful and peppered throughout the seasons, so it didn’t come out of nowhere, and I think that that just naturally bounced off how we are with each other, and I think that that being so well received from the fans has been brilliant.
Even now, obviously they’ve got new people to invest in and new adventures to go on, but we’ve had wonderful interactions recently with different Doctor Who fans who still find that relationship between these two characters very meaningful and impactful on them.
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Despite their relationship never blossoming due to the Doctor’s fears, Yaz still left their travels with greater confidence in her true self.
Yaz’s character development was more drawn out than Ryan Sinclair (Tosin Cole) and Graham O’Brien’s (Bradley Walsh), despite both characters debuting alongside her at the start of Doctor Who season 11. While Yaz’s family appeared on the show, and the tragic tale of her grandmother was the focus of “Demons of the Punjab,” Yaz’s personal struggles were only unveiled in season 12. As part of the strange visions the companions suffer, Yaz is shown a moment when she tries to run away from home.
Yaz’s growing affection towards the Doctor was shown across season 12’s remaining episodes and season 13, as she both learned from the Doctor, tried to emulate her, and had complete faith in the Time Lord. By the time Yaz’s sexuality was fully revealed in “Eve of the Daleks,” it was clear how the Doctor had made an impact on her, and how her feelings had grown for the Doctor. Despite their relationship never blossoming due to the Doctor’s fears, Yaz still left their travels with greater confidence in her true self.
Though their Doctor Who relationship may have been cut short, many appreciated the Thirteenth Doctor and Yaz’s bond. For some, Yaz’s coming to terms with her sexuality was relatable and gave them a character to truly empathize with. As such, perhaps the Thirteenth Doctor and Yaz’s Big Finish adventures will shine more light on their development.