8 Doctor Who Actors Who Were Fired Or Quit

5. Pearl Mackie

Doctor Who Colin Baker The Sixth Doctor
BBC

While companions come and go all the time, they usually get to ride around in the TARDIS, exploring time and space for more than a single season. Unfortunately for Pearl Mackie, a single season is all she got. Mackie played Bill Potts alongside Peter Capaldi's Doctor in the 2016-2017 season.

Bill was noteworthy for being the first, and so far, only gay companion of the Doctor. In an interview with the BBC News, she addressed her role in that regard, "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."

Despite her standing in the series, when it came time for a new Doctor and a new showrunner, Mackie wasn't asked to return. She wasn't sacked — at least, not in the traditional way someone might be fired. Rather, she was given the boot for narrative reasons.

According to The Sun, "A source told the publication: ‘Bosses have decided to have a completely fresh start.” So, it makes sense they would start from scratch." Starting from scratch for showrunner Chris Chibnall meant assigning a new Doctor of his choosing and a new companion to the series, which left Mackie out of work.

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