Doctor Who actress Pearl Mackie has come out publicly as bisexual.

Mackie, who played companion Bill on the BBC show in 2017, posted a picture to Instagram on Monday to honour Pride month.

She wrote: "Proud to be bisexual. Proud to be Black. Proud of all my LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters and everyone in between.

“We matter. You matter. Big love and nuff respect. Happy Pride everyone!”

Fans celebrated the news,  with one writing: “My heart is so full right now!!! This means the world. Happy pride, love you so much”

While another added: "Happy pride you absolute icon"

And a third said: "So proud of you!!"

Mackie was the first person to play an openly gay Doctor Who companion, alongside Peter Capaldi. 

She told the Radio Times last year: "I’ll always remember when a girl came up to me to say that she identified with Bill so much that it enabled her to come out to her family and without me she wouldn’t have been able to do that. 

“That’s not something that I ever dreamed to do as an actress, but if I’m able to give support, even in a secondary way, to a community that is marginalised then that’s wonderful and that is a fantastic gift to me.”