‘Doctor Who’ cast its first black doctor

It’s only taken 38 seasons, 291 stories and 13 official Doctors (not including spinoffs), but Doctor Who (Sundays, 8 p.m. ET, CTV Sci-Fi) has finally cast its first black Doctor and fans everywhere are rejoicing.The big reveal went down on the latest episode, “Fugitive of the Judoon,” when the current Doctor (Jodie Whittaker), came face-to-face with a character named Ruth Clayton, played by Jo Martin. In a twist involving a buried TARDIS (those time-travelling phone booths you can see in the posters), Ruth announced that she is the Doctor, although in a further twist neither character actually recognized the other.[video_embed id='1866573']RELATED: Jodie Whittaker and the Doctor Who cast really like working together[/video_embed]Obviously, of the two “shocks” in the episode, the fact that a black Doctor was finally announced became the biggest moment of the night… week… maybe even year for long-time fans of the series.

Who else was shook at THIS moment?! #DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/QBLjOVqaFX

— Doctor Who Official (@bbcdoctorwho) January 27, 2020

Dear @bbcdoctorwho @DoctorWho_BBCA Thank you for finally giving a Black nerd and other black nerdy adults and kids a Doctor who looks like us. You really dont know how monumental this was and how much it made me cry. Please don't let her be the only one ever. #DoctorWho

— UzamakiJ (@UzamakiJ) January 27, 2020

WE HAVE A BLACK DR WHO.

THIS IS NOT A DRILL. WE HAVE A BLACK, FEMALE DR WHO!!! https://t.co/hHsZMbrUWo— Stephy (@StephanieYeboah) January 26, 2020

Jo Martin IS The Doctor!

Can we please, PLEASE keep her? Casting a WOC as Dr Who is a great choice - one I feared was still a long way off - but it really needs to be a concrete and substantial decision for the character, not a one-off thing for a series arc... #DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/r03HT9iW4t— Alex | Haruspis (@haruspis) January 26, 2020

It was a historic moment to be sure, but it’s not the first time the series has made headline-worthy progress in representation. In 2005 the series introduced its first non-heterosexual character (John Barrowman), and in 2017 Whittaker’s casting made her the first woman to take on the role of the Doctor.“The important thing to say is, she is definitively the Doctor,” Doctor Who boss Chris Chibnall told the Mirror. “There’s not a sort of parallel universe going on, there’s no tricks. Jo Martin is the Doctor, that’s why we gave her the credit at the end which all new Doctors have the first time you see them. John Hurt got that credit.”It’s unclear if Martin will take over the role on a full-time or solo basis, since Whittaker has confirmed she’ll be hanging around as the good doc for at least one more season. “At some point, these shoes are going to be handed on, but it’s not yet. I’m clinging on tight,” she told Entertainment Weekly.

#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/wIUxlSuyI7

— jo martin (@therealjomartin) January 26, 2020

As for Martin, the London actress has a pretty extensive resume that includes current Showtime comedy Back to Life and a credit on Batman Begins. She’s also know for playing Pam, the anxiety-riddled, cupcake-concerned character who mingles with Hot Priest on Fleabag. According to the Mirror, Martin was a Doctor Who fan before joining the series, but she auditioned for the part without really knowing what it was. Then, after they filmed last year she had to keep the secret bottled up for months—even from friends and family.Well the cat’s out of the bag now. Your move, James Bond.Doctor Who airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on CTV Sci-Fi.[video_embed id='-1']Before you go: This goofy pup insists on all the attention[/video_embed]