Chris Chibnall, who used to run the show Doctor Who, has discussed the fan response to the relationship between Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor and Yasmin Khan, played by Mandip Gill. He clarified that their connection wasn’t simply a case of one person loving another without it being returned.
Throughout their travels in the TARDIS, Yaz developed romantic feelings for the Doctor and eventually told her how she felt. The Doctor felt the same way, as revealed in “Legend of the Sea Devils.” However, in “The Power of the Doctor,” they sadly parted ways, with the Doctor explaining she couldn’t change who she was to stay with Yaz.
In a conversation with Patrick Mulkern of TopMob for his book You Are Not Alone: A Gay History of Doctor Who, Chris Chibnall discussed how he told the story visually and the effect it had on viewers.
He explained it wasn’t simply about whether a romantic connection existed, but about balancing that with the Doctor’s existing complexities. The goal was to create a heartfelt and believable development for the characters, and he felt they achieved exactly that.
You know, people are starting to talk about this storyline as a classic case of unrequited love, but I think that’s not quite right. It’s not that the love isn’t returned, it’s just…never fully acted upon. And honestly, that makes it even more poignant. It’s the most beautifully sad take on that familiar trope I’ve seen in a long time, and it really resonates because we all have someone like that in our past, don’t we? Someone we connected with deeply, but things just…never quite happened.
Gill explained that as she and Jodie grew closer, their real-life friendship naturally came through in their performances.
She explained that many people told her the relationship between Thasmin sparked important personal conversations with their families. While meeting Jodie on set and becoming friends was wonderful, she was especially proud that the show resonated with and was celebrated by the community it portrayed.
I was really happy to hear that the story of the Thirteenth Doctor and Yaz continued even after Jodie Whittaker and Mandip Gill left the show in 2022. It’s great that the audio adventures from Big Finish feel like a natural extension of what we saw on screen – Gill even mentioned in a recent interview with TopMob that they’ve really captured the essence of their characters’ relationship.
“Their relationship, and the development of that relationship definitely continues,” she said.
You know, I appreciate how the show doesn’t overdo this particular storyline. It’s not the main focus, which feels true to the original series. It unfolds at a really deliberate pace, and honestly, it feels like even the writers aren’t entirely sure where it’s going. We saw hints of it in the recent season, and it left me wondering if they’ll actually take things in that direction – it’s a nice bit of ambiguity.
It’s good that this element is present in the story, subtly woven in with hints, but not the main focus. Yaz is rightfully trying to understand her feelings for the Doctor, as she wasn’t even aware of them herself. She’s simply trying to make sense of what’s happening.
We briefly acknowledge it, which is good because it’s still present. It’s definitely not ignored, and I’m glad we kept that element in the story. However, any future development should happen naturally and at a gradual pace.
You Are Not Alone: A Gay History of Doctor Who is available to purchase now.
You can now watch Doctor Who on BBC iPlayer. Plus, don’t forget to add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app! Download the app today for daily TV suggestions, articles, and more.
Authors
Louise Griffin edits the Sci-Fi & Fantasy section at TopMob, where she writes about popular franchises like Doctor Who, Star Wars, Marvel, House of the Dragon, and Good Omens. Before TopMob, she was a Senior Entertainment Reporter at Metro, and she holds a degree in English Literature.
- Visit us on Twitter
Read More
- 10 Most Powerful Versions of Superman, Ranked
- Gold Rate Forecast
- GBP CNY PREDICTION
- 007 First Light: Release Date, Story, Gameplay, Cast, Editions, and Platforms
- Forza Horizon 6 Car List So Far: Confirmed Highlights, Cover Cars, DLC, and Rewards
- DOGE PREDICTION. DOGE cryptocurrency
- EUR CNY PREDICTION
- PI PREDICTION. PI cryptocurrency
- Superman’s 7 Best Power-Ups, Ranked
- Fishbowl Is a Charming and Heartfelt Indie You Won’t Want to Miss (Review)
2026-06-02 18:39