Doctor Who Series 11: 10 Big Questions We Are Asking After 'Rosa'

It was a lovely moment of light relief in an episode of solemn importance, and likely to be just that – a throwaway line to cut against the highly charged nature of the story, specifically the discussion taking place outside between Ryan and Yaz about their own experiences of racist abuse. Nonetheless, the Doctor hinting to Graham that she may be the graffiti artist Banksy has taken the internet by storm, with numerous tongue in cheek headlines suggesting Banksy’s identity has finally been revealed.

Banksy has been referenced a couple of times before in the Doctor Who universe. In the Sarah Jane Adventures, Clyde is hoping to be the new Banksy, and in Chibnall’s Doctor Who episode, The Power of Three, Amy tells the Doctor that the artist has made a statement to deny any involvement with the mysterious cubes. Chibnall didn’t write any clues in that episode that the Doctor might be Banksy. Clearly then, the Doctor is winding up Graham.

But the Doctor would surely get on with the street artist (if he is indeed a single person). She shares his distrust of people in authority, and would be sympathetic towards many of his political messages. The Doctor is also not averse to using satire to put her point across.

The two may well be in competition, for even though the Doctor can make her art disappear, Banksy has recently gone one step further by selling a self-destructing painting at auction.