Doctor Who has been slammed by viewers after a gay security guard appeared on the New Year's special for just 30 seconds before being killed off.

During the episode, actor Connor Calland was asked whether he could operate a fingerprint-operated door, shortly before he was murdered by Dalek character Lin, played by Charlotte Ritchie.

Fans took to Twitter in their droves as they commented on the 21-year-old's incredibly short stint on the show as he was killed moments after referencing his boyfriend.

Criticism: Doctor Who has been slammed by viewers after a gay security guard appeared on the New Year's special for just 30 seconds before being killed off (pictured Connor Calland)

In the scene, the male character is caught off guard when Lin asks him who has access to the archives.

During the fleeting dialogue, he says: 'You gave me a fright there...Today, just me. Most secure digits in Yorkshire. That’s what I tell my boyfriend, anyway! I probably shouldn't be telling you this.'

Viewers see Lin, dressed in a police officer's uniform, carry his dead body across the floor as she gains access into the portal.

Short stint: During the episode, the guard was asked whether he could operate a fingerprint-operated door, shortly before he was murdered by Dalek character Lin, played by Charlotte Ritchie (pictured above)

Not impressed: Fans took to Twitter in their droves as they commented on the 21-year-old's incredibly short stint on the show as he was killed moments after referencing his boyfriend

Killed off: Viewers see Lin, dressed in a police officer's uniform, carry his dead body across the floor as she gains access into the portal (pictured on the floor in the background)

Fans took to Twitter to comment on Connor's 30-second appearance, with one angered fan penning: 'How long did it take to kill off the token gay character? This is not okay. #DoctorWho #BuryYourGays @DoctorWho'

Another agreed: 'I'd rather have no gay characters in chibnall's doctor who than gay characters who are immediately killed off.'

'Am I the only that has noticed if you are openly gay in this series of #DoctorWho, you are gonna be dead within ten minutes? The security guard tonight, Frankie in Arachnids and Alfonso in Witchfinders', a third wrote.

'How long did it take to kill off the token gay character?': Fans took to Twitter to comment on Connor's 30-second appearance

However, some viewers reasoned that LGBTQ+ representation has been 'amazing' throughout the recent series:

'Like 30 soldiers also died so it's not like they purposely killed and went after that guy cause he was gay... Doctor who has always had a high body count. Anyway LGBT representation has always been amazing in Doctor Who (Cap Jack, Vastra & Jenny, Bill) #DoctorWho.'

'People are going on at that gay character as an example of bury your gays and it’s really not. Loads of characters got killed very quickly and the death had nothing to do with the guy’s orientation and everything to do with him being a security guard? #DoctorWho', another fan wrote.

MailOnline has contacted BBC representatives for further comment.

'Amazing representation': However, some viewers reasoned that LGBTQ+ representation has been 'amazing' throughout the recent series

Meanwhile, it was recently reported that the special is set to be the lowest-rated episode of the show since it returned with new Doctor, Jodie Whittaker.

The series - which returned on October 7 2018 for its 11th [reboot] season - concluded on December 9, with an overnight audience figure of 5.3 million; but the January 1 special, which saw the infamous Daleks return to the show, lost a further 150k viewers.

Estimated overnight figures - which do not take into account those watching on catch-up - report that the tally of viewers was 5.15 million on New Year's Day, according to doctorwhonews.

The show peaked at 5.8 million, but lost viewers in the overall average. The loss of 150k viewers suggest the consolidated calculations will show a decline as well, when they are calculated next week.

Doctor decline: Meanwhile, it was recently reported that the special is set to be the lowest-rated episode of the show since it returned with new Doctor, Jodie Whittaker

Dip: The series - which returned on October 7 2018 for its 11th [reboot] season - concluded on December 9, with an overnight audience figure of 5.3 million; but the January 1 special, which saw the infamous Daleks return to the show, lost a further 150k viewers

Despite the newest episode producing 'a share of 22.4 percent of the total TV audience' thus 'making Doctor Who the fourth highest-rated programme for New Year's Day' it rounds of a season of the BBC sci-fi show that has lost viewers week-after-week.

The first episode in October drew in a healthy 10.96 million [consolidated], but by episode two it was down to 9 million.

With each episode, another chunk of audience, usually around 500k, was lost; although there was a slight peak for the season finale when the ninth episode drew in 6.42 million the week before and bettered this with 6.65 million the following week.

But the drop has been considerable for New Year's Day's 'Resolution', which is the only Doctor Who episode scheduled for 2019.

Musings: Screen star Jodie, 36, said at a preview screening of New Year's Day special Resolution earlier this month that being the first female Time Lord has proven anyone can do it