This past weekend saw the return of Doctor Who, with the first of its 60th anniversary specials 'The Star Beast'.
In the episode, we were introduced to UNIT Scientific Advisor Number 56, Shirley Anne Bingham. Like Ruth Madeley, Shirley is a disabled woman who uses a wheelchair, however, as Ruth told Digital Spy in our exclusive interview: "Her being in a wheelchair is the least interesting thing about her – and that's what you want."
Shirley is straight-talking, no-nonsense and not afraid to put the doctor in his place.
"She knows exactly who she is, she's ballsy, she's northern and she's not frightened to take the lead. And I think she's a great addition to the whoniverse," Ruth said.
She also laughed here, at her use of the word "whoniverse", and explained that she wasn't a huge fan before appearing on the show, despite "having a great respect" for it.
However, this didn't stop her from being in awe of David Tennant and Catherine Tate, who she said, it was incredible to watch working.
What to Read Next
"I love that Shirley isn't a gusher when she meets The Doctor because I'm so not like that," she laughed. "I found myself sat next to David at the read through, and realised I was just staring at him. I'm really uncool!"
Despite not being a Whovian, Ruth still had to pinch herself on the first day on set, realising the "magnitude" of it.
Related: Doctor Who 'The Star Beast' critics have missed the point entirely
Shirley will be, for many, the first time a fully-rounded, complex disabled person has been represented in their favourite TV show, and Ruth said this is all down to showrunner Russell T Davies.
The pair previously worked together on the dystopian drama Years and Years, where she helped him shape the character of Rosie Lyons.
"Having been so involved in Rosie, I really didn't need to tell Russell how to do it this time," she explained. "And we're mates outside of work now, so he takes notice of issues that affect me as a disabled person, and the disabled community, and you see that in his writing. Coming to play Shirley felt easy."
For instance, very early on in 'The Star Beast', a fellow UNIT officer started to act awkwardly when he realised that Shirley can't get up the stairs to access the rocket, to which she cut him down with: "Don't make me the problem."
It's a sentiment many disabled people have felt in an inaccessible world, and Ruth points out that "it was so important to show that the problem isn't us, it's actually all the stuff around us".
"I'm having 'Don't make me the problem' put on t-shirts," she joked.
Another stand-out moment from the episode was the reveal that Shirley's wheelchair is packed to the teeth with weapons, equipped with dart guns and even a rocket launcher. Ruth describes this was her favourite thing about 'The Star Beast'.
"What a moment for disabled people to do that. Not that I'm promoting violence, but the amount of times we all just wish we had something like that to get away from the ableism," she laughed.
When we dig into the specifics of the chair, she animatedly exclaimed "It's my chair!" before explaining that the team made a frame that perfectly matched her own chair and which clipped over the top.
Does this mean her own wheelchair has a rocket launcher in it? "Well, look, that is top secret," Ruth laughed. "We didn't want it to be a chair that was so obviously weaponised, [so] it looks like my everyday chair and I love that they took the time to do that... but obviously don't print that I don't have weapons in my chair, I'd love for people to think that!"
Ruth also jokes that she's had "quite a concerning number" of parents telling her that their children want weaponry in their wheelchairs too. "That's slightly concerning, but I just love it. I think it's just so fun that kids can see themselves in a world that they love."
It also further highlights just how lacking disability representation has been in mainstream media.
Now, for the first time in 60 years, the new-look TARDIS is fully accessible. "When I found out it wasn't going to have any stairs, I knew it was going to be a proper important moment for disabled fans," Ruth reflected.
Although the reaction to Shirley has been mostly positive, there have, as with most new things in Doctor Who, been some negative comments. This, however, is something Ruth anticipated.
"With a show with such a long history, you're always going to have a couple of people who aren't happy with representation of the world that we live in."
Perhaps the biggest reaction was to something Ruth did without even thinking. In a scene when Shirley was chatting to The Doctor, we saw her cross her legs. From a small corner of the internet, there came cries that she 'mustn't be disabled' – but for disabled fans, this was an important part of showing that disability isn't 'one size fits all', and that just because you're in a wheelchair, it doesn't mean you can't move your legs.
"I didn't do it thinking, 'Oh I want to be able to show that Shirley can move her legs,'" Ruth said. "I was just getting comfy, to be honest! I was just existing in my body, but that was clearly such an important thing for other disabled people to see."
Related: Doctor Who's imperfect approach to gender works in its favour
Ruth concluded: "Let's face it, we've got a character wandering around with two hearts. I think the fact that my character's a wheelchair user is quite low down on the interest scale – unless you need weapons!"
Shirley Anne Bingham is a fierce, complex character, who just happens to be disabled. It's incredibly important, and more so now that it's been revealed that Shirley will be returning. Though Ruth, of course, can't say much about that.
"In a world that is already rubbish for disabled people, we need joy, and that's what hopefully Shirley will continue to bring," she smiled.
Doctor Who 'The Star Beast' is available to stream on BBC iPlayer, with the next two specials airing in December.
Rachel is a freelance journalist and activist, they specialise in disability and (among other things) the way it's portrayed in TV and film.
They are currently a columnist at The Canary and have previously written for the Daily Mirror, where she also guest edited their groundbreaking series Disabled Britain.
She writes mostly about politics and disability, but her true love is TV, especially the best TV show ever (in their opinion) Ghosts. When they're not writing they can be found walking their sausage dog Rusty.
