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Ryan Sinclair
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| Ryan Sinclair | |
|---|---|
| Doctor Who character | |
 Tosin Cole as Ryan Sinclair | |
| First appearance | "The Woman Who Fell to Earth" (2018) |
| Last appearance | "Revolution of the Daleks" (2021) |
| Created by | Chris Chibnall |
| Portrayed by | Tosin Cole |
| Duration | 2018–2021 |
| In-universe information | |
| Species | Human |
| Occupation | Warehouse worker |
| Affiliation | Thirteenth Doctor |
| Family | Aaron Sinclair (father) |
| Relatives | Grace O'Brien (grandmother) Graham O'Brien (step-grandfather) |
| Origin | Sheffield, Yorkshire, England |
Ryan Sinclair is a fictional character created by Chris Chibnall and portrayed by Tosin Cole in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Introduced in the first episode of Series 11, Ryan was a companion of Jodie Whittaker's Thirteenth Doctor until the 2021 New Year's Special "Revolution of the Daleks".
Appearances
[edit]Television
[edit]Ryan Sinclair is introduced in the eleventh series premiere, "The Woman Who Fell to Earth".
Ryan is a 19-year-old living in Sheffield, England who is training to be an electrical engineer while working part-time as a warehouse worker. He was raised by his paternal grandmother, Grace O'Brien, who recently married his step-grandfather, Graham O'Brien. Grace worked as a nurse, and met Graham while he was undergoing chemotherapy for cancer, about three years before they met the Doctor. Ryan and Yasmin Khan were in primary school together, though at the time they didn't know each other very closely.
Ryan has dyspraxia, a coordination difference that impacts his motor skills. Though his symptoms are relatively mild and high-functioning, it affects his sense of balance to the point that he finds tasks like riding a bicycle extremely difficult.[1]
His father, Aaron, a marine electrical engineer, made an appearance in the 2019 New Year Special. Aaron has been absent most of Ryan's life since the death of his mother, and was also absent for Grace's funeral.
Other media
[edit]In September 2018, three Series 11 tie-in novels were announced, all of which feature Ryan Sinclair – The Good Doctor, Molten Heart and Combat Magicks. Ryan is depicted on the cover of Molten Heart.[2]
Casting and development
[edit]On 22 October 2017, it was announced that Cole had been cast as a companion in the eleventh series of Doctor Who, and would appear alongside Jodie Whittaker in 2018.[3]
On 26 September 2018, following the premiere of The Woman Who Fell to Earth, the fact that Ryan would have dyspraxia was officially revealed by the media. Showrunner Chris Chibnall explained: “It's a relatively common thing among kids, so I think it's important to see that heroes come in all shapes and sizes.” Considerable research was undertaken with the Dyspraxia Foundation to ensure an accurate portrayal of the condition.[4]
Cole departed the role in the special "Revolution of the Daleks".[5]
References
[edit]- ^ "Series 11, Doctor Who - Ryan Sinclair - BBC One". BBC. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
- ^ Marcus (21 September 2018). "New Thirteenth Doctor Books". Doctor Who News. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
- ^ "Doctor Who: Bradley Walsh, Tosin Cole, Mandip Gill and Sharon D Clarke join Jodie Whittaker as regular cast members". Radio Times. 22 October 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
- ^ "Doctor Who boss reveals how Tosin Cole's character Ryan is tackling an important issue". Digital Spy. 26 September 2018.
- ^ ""Revolution of the Daleks" Preview Confirms Major Cast Exits, A Series 11 Character Return & More". Doctor Who TV. 27 November 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
External links
[edit]
Ryan Sinclair
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Fictional character biography
Early life and family
Ryan Sinclair, born and raised in Sheffield, England, was 19 years old at the time of his introduction in the series. He worked part-time as a warehouse operative while training to become a mechanic, balancing his studies with everyday responsibilities in his local community.[6][1] Sinclair was raised primarily by his grandmother, Grace O'Brien, a dedicated nurse, and his step-grandfather, Graham O'Brien, a retired bus driver, after his mother left the family. His father, Aaron, worked abroad as a marine electrical engineer, which limited his involvement in Ryan's upbringing and contributed to a sense of familial disconnection. This household dynamic provided Sinclair with a stable yet emotionally complex foundation, marked by the supportive yet imperfect relationships with his grandparents.[6][7] Sinclair had been diagnosed with dyspraxia, a developmental coordination disorder that significantly affected his daily life. He struggled with motor skills, most notably failing to learn how to ride a bicycle despite repeated efforts, which led to persistent coordination challenges in physical activities. These difficulties often resulted in emotional frustrations, including being taunted by peers as "the boy who can't," fostering a deep-seated sense of inadequacy that he carried into adulthood.[6] This condition would later influence his resilience during more extraordinary circumstances.[8] A pivotal event in Sinclair's early life occurred in "The Woman Who Fell to Earth," when Grace O'Brien was fatally electrocuted while attempting to save others from an alien threat. Her death profoundly impacted Sinclair, forging a stronger bond with Graham through their shared grief and mutual dependence, as they navigated the loss together in the immediate aftermath.[6]Adventures with the Thirteenth Doctor
Ryan Sinclair joined the Thirteenth Doctor as a companion following a dramatic encounter in contemporary Sheffield, where an alien pod containing a Stenza hunter, Tzim-Sha, crash-landed and initiated a hunt targeting humans for sport. The newly regenerated Doctor, still adjusting to her form, crossed paths with Ryan—a 19-year-old warehouse worker studying mechanics—alongside his step-grandfather Graham O'Brien and local police officer Yasmin Khan. Together, they pursued Tzim-Sha, culminating in the hunter's defeat and the group's decision to travel with the Doctor in the TARDIS, forming the core "Team TARDIS" to explore time and space.[2] Throughout their journeys, Ryan participated in numerous high-stakes adventures that spanned historical and futuristic settings. The team confronted returning threats from the Stenza, including Tzim-Sha, who sought revenge during a New Year's incident involving a possessed Dalek exoskeleton, and reconciling with his estranged father, Aaron, during the events of "Resolution." They intervened in pivotal historical moments, such as the 17th-century witch hunts in Lancashire, where Ryan helped uncover an alien Morax invasion masquerading as supernatural events amid King James I's paranoia-driven trials. Other exploits included witnessing the human cost of the 1947 Partition of India, navigating the far-future desolation of a ravaged planet against the hope-devouring Remnants, and battling the interdimensional Kasaavin, whose incursion began with abductions in present-day Sheffield. These experiences often pitted the companions against classic foes like Daleks, with Ryan contributing to their containment in a covert British operation.[9][10][11][3] Ryan's time with the Doctor marked significant personal development, particularly in overcoming insecurities stemming from his dyspraxia, a coordination disorder that initially caused frustration in physical tasks like climbing a transmission mast during the Stenza crisis. He achieved breakthroughs in high-pressure scenarios, such as defusing tense situations with his emerging mechanical aptitude. Grappling with the grief of losing his grandmother Grace in their first adventure, Ryan processed his emotions through travels that fostered deeper familial ties with Graham, evolving from awkward step-relatives to supportive allies, while building a profound friendship with Yasmin rooted in shared vulnerabilities.[12] As the youngest member of the TARDIS crew, Ryan often offered relatable, Earth-bound insights that grounded the group's more impulsive decisions, drawing on his everyday perspective to question alien logics and advocate for empathy. His engineering knowledge proved vital in crises, from jury-rigging TARDIS components during malfunctions to devising traps against invaders like the Daleks, enhancing the team's resilience and collaborative dynamic.[3]Departure from the TARDIS
Following the events of Series 12, Ryan Sinclair participated in the resolution of a Dalek incursion on Earth during the 2021 New Year's special "Revolution of the Daleks," where he and the TARDIS team confronted a plot by recon scout Daleks to create an army using human manufacturing facilities.[13] In the aftermath of defeating the Daleks, with the Doctor briefly imprisoned on Division's ship earlier in the story, Ryan chose to remain on Earth alongside Graham O'Brien, prioritizing support for his step-grandfather's ongoing grief over the loss of Grace O'Brien.[5] This decision marked the end of his travels with the [Thirteenth Doctor](/page/Thirteenth Doctor), as the team returned to Sheffield after an absence of ten months from Ryan's perspective due to the Doctor's captivity.[13] The emotional farewell unfolded inside the TARDIS, where Ryan articulated his resolve to build a stable life, stating, "I think I’m going to stay here. Me mates need me. And I know this sounds stupid, but I feel like my planet needs me. You got to fight for it, right?" This choice stemmed from his personal growth, transforming from a young man uncertain about his future—initially working in a warehouse while pursuing an NVQ in mechanics—into someone empowered to lead and contribute locally.[13] His experiences aboard the TARDIS had bolstered his confidence in managing dyspraxia, a coordination disorder that once hindered tasks like riding a bicycle, enabling him to embrace independence and reject the constant upheaval of time travel.[14] The scene culminated in a group embrace among the companions, with Ryan sharing a brief hug with the Doctor, underscoring the familial bonds formed during their adventures, before he and Graham exited the TARDIS for the final time.[15] Post-departure, Ryan returned to Sheffield to resume his engineering studies and apprenticeship, symbolizing his evolution from "the boy who can't," as he once self-deprecatingly referred to his dyspraxia-related challenges, to a self-assured young adult ready to apply his skills on Earth.[5] He and Graham began investigating anomalous events using the psychic paper provided by the Doctor, with Ryan taking a leadership role in pursuits like probing mysteries in Finland and Korea, while maintaining the close family dynamic with Graham that had helped the latter process his bereavement.[13] In-universe, Ryan's arc emphasized themes of family and personal healing, as his steadfast presence aided Graham's emotional recovery and reinforced the TARDIS team's focus on chosen kinship over cosmic perils.[15]Portrayal
Casting process
The casting of Tosin Cole as Ryan Sinclair was announced on 22 October 2017, alongside Bradley Walsh as Graham O'Brien and Mandip Gill as Yasmin Khan, revealing the new companions for the Thirteenth Doctor in series 11.[16][17] Casting director Andy Pryor led the selection process, drawing from Cole's prior television work including roles in Holby City and Hollyoaks.[18][19] Series producer Nikki Wilson contributed to the overall production choices during pre-production.[20] Showrunner Chris Chibnall envisioned a diverse TARDIS team of working-class characters from Sheffield to ground the series in contemporary Northern English life, with Cole's chemistry reads alongside Jodie Whittaker, Walsh, and Gill confirming his suitability for portraying Ryan's youthful perspective.[21][22] Auditions occurred throughout 2017, with the cast contracted initially for series 11 and extended to multiple seasons; principal photography began in summer 2018, wrapping in early August ahead of the October premiere.[23][24]Characterization and traits
Ryan Sinclair is characterized as a relatable young man in his late teens, often awkward in social situations yet infused with dry humor and unwavering loyalty to his companions. His personality draws from everyday adolescent insecurities, amplified by his developmental coordination disorder, dyspraxia, which affects his motor skills and contributes to moments of frustration and self-doubt. This portrayal emphasizes his resourcefulness and growing confidence, particularly in technical problem-solving, reflecting an innate aptitude for engineering as he pursues vocational training in mechanics.[14][25] The character's development evolved from initial depictions rooted in family grief and personal insecurity following the loss of his grandmother, positioning Ryan as emotionally vulnerable and strained in his relationship with step-grandfather Graham O'Brien. Over subsequent story arcs, writers shifted focus to his empowerment, showcasing increased independence, assertiveness in questioning authority, and strengthened familial bonds, culminating in a more self-assured demeanor by the end of his tenure. This progression highlights themes of resilience and personal growth, with Ryan transitioning from a hesitant newcomer to a capable team member who relies on his own initiative.[26][15] Tosin Cole approached the role by emphasizing authenticity in Ryan's portrayal, particularly in conveying the subtleties of dyspraxia through physicality and emotional nuance, such as hesitant movements and quiet introspection, to make the condition feel lived-in rather than stereotypical. He collaborated closely with co-star Bradley Walsh to build a genuine grandfather-grandson dynamic, drawing on off-screen rapport to infuse their interactions with warmth and tension, enhancing the familial authenticity of the companionship. Cole's performance choices, including subtle improvisations in physical scenes to capture motor challenges, stemmed from extensive research and consultations to ensure respectful representation.[25][15] In production, dyspraxia was incorporated into Ryan's character to promote disability representation, inspired by showrunner Chris Chibnall's nephew who lives with the condition, with the writing team consulting the Dyspraxia Foundation for accurate depiction of symptoms like coordination difficulties and associated anxiety. This element was revealed publicly at the series 11 world premiere on September 26, 2018, and later praised by the Foundation for raising awareness on mainstream television. Cole departed the role after series 12 and the 2021 New Year's special to pursue diverse career opportunities, a decision announced in March 2020 amid his commitments to other projects.[14][27][28][29]Appearances in media
Television episodes
Ryan Sinclair, portrayed by Tosin Cole, first appeared as a companion to the Thirteenth Doctor in the premiere of series 11 and continued through series 12, as well as the intervening and concluding New Year specials, totaling 22 television episodes broadcast between 2018 and 2021.[1] His appearances span all episodes in these productions, marking his integration into the TARDIS team alongside Graham O'Brien and Yasmin Khan.[8] The following table lists Ryan's television episodes in chronological order, including series designation and original UK air dates:| Episode Title | Series/Special | Air Date |
|---|---|---|
| The Woman Who Fell to Earth | Series 11, Episode 1 | 7 October 2018 |
| The Ghost Monument | Series 11, Episode 2 | 14 October 2018 |
| Rosa | Series 11, Episode 3 | 21 October 2018 |
| Arachnids in the UK | Series 11, Episode 4 | 28 October 2018 |
| The Tsuranga Conundrum | Series 11, Episode 5 | 4 November 2018 |
| Demons of the Punjab | Series 11, Episode 6 | 11 November 2018 |
| Kerblam! | Series 11, Episode 7 | 18 November 2018 |
| The Witchfinders | Series 11, Episode 8 | 25 November 2018 |
| It Takes You Away | Series 11, Episode 9 | 2 December 2018 |
| The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos | Series 11, Episode 10 | 9 December 2018 |
| Resolution | 2019 New Year Special | 1 January 2019 |
| Spyfall: Part One | Series 12, Episode 1 | 1 January 2020 |
| Spyfall: Part Two | Series 12, Episode 2 | 5 January 2020 |
| Orphan 55 | Series 12, Episode 3 | 12 January 2020 |
| Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror | Series 12, Episode 4 | 19 January 2020 |
| Fugitive of the Judoon | Series 12, Episode 5 | 26 January 2020 |
| Praxeus | Series 12, Episode 6 | 9 February 2020 |
| Can You Hear Me? | Series 12, Episode 7 | 16 February 2020 |
| The Haunting of Villa Diodati | Series 12, Episode 8 | 23 February 2020 |
| Ascension of the Cybermen | Series 12, Episode 9 | 15 March 2020 |
| The Timeless Children | Series 12, Episode 10 | 1 March 2020 |
| Revolution of the Daleks | 2021 New Year Special | 1 January 2021 |