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BBC is tossing Ncuti Gatwa the keys to the TARDIS.
Gatwa (whose first name is pronounced Shoo-tee) has landed Doctor Who‘s iconic role of the Doctor, making him the successor to Jodie Whittaker and the series’ 14th lead overall.
The show confirmed the news on Twitter Sunday, writing: “The future is here! Ncuti Gatwa is the Doctor.”
The Rwandan-born Scottish actor will be the first Black actor to play the role full-time.
“There aren’t quite the words to describe how I’m feeling,” Gatwa said in a statement. “A mix of deeply honored, beyond excited and of course a little bit scared. This role and show means so much to so many around the world, including myself, and each one of my incredibly talented predecessors has handled that unique responsibility and privilege with the utmost care. I will endeavor my upmost to do the same… Unlike the Doctor, I may only have one heart, but I am giving it all to this show.”
“The future is here and it’s Ncuti!” showrunner Russell T Davies added. “Sometimes talent walks through the door and it’s so bright and bold and brilliant, I just stand back in awe and thank my lucky stars. Ncuti dazzled us, seized hold of the Doctor and owned those TARDIS keys in seconds… I’m sure you’re dying to know more, but we’re rationing ourselves for now, with the wonderful Jodie’s epic finale yet to come. But I promise you, 2023 will be spectacular!”
Gatwa currently portrays Eric Effiong on Netflix’s British teen dramedy Sex Education. His other TV credits include Stonemouth, Bob Servant and the upcoming Masters of the Air. He is also set to star in next year’s Barbie film, a romantic comedy based on the Mattel toys.
Doctor Who initially ran from 1963 to 1989 on BBC One, with the lead role filled during those seasons by William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy. The show was then relaunched in 2005 and, in its current form, has starred Christopher Eccleston (Season 1), David Tennant (Seasons 2-4), Matt Smith (Seasons 5-7), Peter Capaldi (Seasons 8-10) and Whittaker (Seasons 11-13), who made history as the series’ first female Doctor.
Whittaker confirmed in July 2021 that she’d be stepping down as the Doctor after filling the role for three seasons; though Season 13 finished airing in December 2021, Whittaker returned to play the Doctor in a trio of feature-length specials that have aired throughout 2022. The first two specials aired in January and April, while a premiere date for the third has yet to be announced. Showrunner Chris Chibnall also announced that his tenure would end when Whittaker’s did, and Russell T Davies — who originally served as Doctor Who showrunner when the show was revived in 2005 — will take back the baton for Season 14.
How do you feel about Gatwa as Doctor No. 14? Tell us below!
This is Spectacular I actually busted out laughing when I saw this, but in a good way I guess. I’m watching every episode but I know this is gonna piss a lot of people off and I’m so glad. I love Russell
If by “a lot of people”, you really mean “a small handful of social media accounts that will be used as an example to smear all old fans as misogynists and racists or worse”, then sure, congrats, you’ve won your laughs. Shame they can’t be traded for more viewers though.
You think the misogynists are going to be the ones who are pissed off about Whittaker leaving? Personally, I’m glad Chibnal/Whittaker are gone and Davies is back. I’m not sure whether it was Whittaker being bad at the role or just plain bad writing from Chibnal’s team, but the last few seasons were horrible. I was hoping the “first female doctor” (celebration of those “firsts” before we know whether or not the person is going to do a good job always seems so stupid) would be fantastic. She wasn’t.
Chibnal’s episodes were usually too preachy, sacrificing story writing to give a lecture as opposed to older stories that simply normalized controversial things with a good storyline and no need to make the audience feel like they just attended a sermon…a MUCH more effective technique, though less satisfying for the woke scolds. Capt. Jack Harkness is a perfect example.
Whittaker never seemed confident in her role. That’s one of the things that was iconic about the Doctor. It didn’t matter whether or not he thought he was doing the right thing or whether he thought it would work out. He always exuded a level of confidence that only a rogue time lord could. She was never able to pull that off and, before you say she only had three seasons to settle into the role, MOST doctors in the new series only lasted 2-3 seasons. They were always top-notch actors with incredible writers behind them and did wonderfully from day one.
I’m always nervous with a new doctor, male, female, black, or blue (it IS a show about an alien…blue is not out of the realm of possibility). At least I know Russell T never disappointed, in the past, to write a good episode of Doctor Who. I’m confident that if he was impressed by the new actor, he’ll pull it off. The question is whether he’ll be spectacular like we all want or just really good.
The people who it should “piss off” are those concerned about getting past racism towards MLK, Jr.’s future where people are judged by the content of their character rather than the color of their skin. While its entirely possible the guy is a great actor, unfortunately statistically it seems likely he wasn’t necessarily the best choice: merely the best Black choice. If he is indeed the best choice regardless of race: its unfortunate that the current political climate will taint some people’s assumptions since they assume he was chosen to placate the race-obsessed people like you that wish to inject race into everything in order to “piss off” people.
there have been plenty of the best white choice so why not the best black choice for once?
I think the complaint is that hiring a black actor is leading naysayers to suspect that the statistics-based, analytical Bill James/money-Who formula typically used for these casting decisions, to identify the singularly most-desirable available candidate for the position (as was the the case with all prior hires, except maybe that last one), may not have been used in this instance. /s
Black is the new ginger. From Jimmy Olsen to Mary Jane Watson to Ariel the little mermaid.
It’s funny, I won’t list them all, but there are whole web articles on redheads getting replaced by Black people and other people of color. It’s like Hollywood is trying to erase gingers.
It’s not Richard Ayoade, who I’ve been wishing for since Tennant left, but I’ll happily take this as well.
He has said he wound it do it because he’s not a fan, but he would make the perfect doctor!
Wouldn’t*
The first black man to portray the Doctor and the first Doctor to not be British born
And yet they could’ve done better with Jo Martin who ticks all those boxes that every one wants to tick (stupid, actor is an actor) BUT was more the Doctor than any since Smith.
Except she’s already a past incarnation of the Doctor so how could she be the next Doctor?
Third Scot of new Who, though. I’ve never seen him before, so I don’t know if he has a Scottish accent. If he does, will he use it like Capaldi, or not like Tennant?
Just saw him in an interview clip on Twitter, and he doesn’t speak with a Scottish accent.
No he does but it’s not obviously Scottish, it’s very subtle like Capaldi.
He has a Scottish accent but it’s not very strong. On words with a stronger R like ‘morning’ or ‘green’ it’s pretty noticeable.
Interesting choice. Like him on Sex Ed. Optimistic that he’ll bring a charismatic Doctor to the screen with new story options.
Looking forward to the new doctor, new companions and new adventures
Hopefully he can create his own Doctor persona. Whitaker always tried to imitate those who came before her and the stories were badly written. Both needs to change then people are going to accept him (well, most people).
Keep in mind that even the most beloved doctors (4 & 10) had detractors and all other incarnations were never universally loved.
Every incarnation has their fans and not-fans.
But it all comes down to ratings now. It can’t go much lower than now before someone decides to pull the plug. And we don’t know if it can come back yet another time.
Hopefully RTD can bring it back on track but at the same time not end every season with a Dalek finale
Whitaker didn’t “imitate” anyone other than David Tennant. She’s repeatedly said that she went out of her way to not watch early Doctor Who since she wasn’t a lifelong fan and didn’t want to be influenced in a superficial way.
Maybe that was her problem. Maybe it was crap writing. Either way, refusal to become well acquainted with canon in a role as old, diverse, and storied to find the commonalities and differences between prior reprisals of the role for fear of being overly influenced by one sounds like a personal failing, to me. Take the role. Own it. Make it yours, but also be aware of how the story has played out and who the doctor was before you try to pick up the mantle.
Yes, at this point, the question is, can RTD and the casting bring new viewers, or bring back any old viewers? Because it probably pleases the current viewers, but if the episodes from this year are any sign, it’s an all time modern low. They need to get more eyeballs some way. The casting is probably not doing it since there was a lot of “who?” So the writing better be top notch enough to create good word of mouth. (And real fan word of mouth, not the media hype train that try and will things into existence). Or else the last one out can turn the lights off on the Tardis.
Sigh…still not a ginger.
Casting directors these days: “But this is ginger!”
I’m excited. I was so not a fan of Jodie Whitaker. She’s a great actor but not a good doctor. Plus the stories were horrible! She lost me more when she made the comment about her doctor being an “upgrade”
Hopefully RTD can bring life back into it. I miss the good stories and companions
Just quoting a line from Dr. Who. LOL I wish the new Dr all the best. I love how this show can switch out the main character and still have a long running successful show.
Any guide on how to pronounce is name? At work (I’m not anglo-american) I have a lot of international contacts from all over the world and I always try my best to get people’s names right (or close to right, I still haven’t even managed to pronounce the “th” sound in English correctly every time).
SHOO-tee GAT-wah
Much obliged.
Never heard of him, but ok. If Russel T. Davies picked him he must be good for the role. Will see next year.
Exactly my thoughts. Quite surprised he’s a complete unknown (to me, but so was Matt Smith, and look how that turned out). Davies has my complete trust.
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And anything will be better than Jodie’s tenure. The writing has been just abysmal. She’s such a good actress, but even she can’t bring those scripts to life. And her Doctor never even really developed any distinctive personality traits or quirks either.
I’m glad that it’s a complete unknown. It keeps the show new & fresh & one of the many reasons the show has lasted as long as it has.
I’m excited because this is so surprising he must have really crushed it at the audtion…I’m so glad they actually went through the process and didn’t just grab a name…I think this is gonna work out great. I’m just seems a bit random they announced it now.
It’s not random, he’s up for a BAFTA and the awards ceremony is today. That’s why they’ve announced it now.
I’ve not seen him in anything, but I’m looking forward to seeing him in the role. If he crushed his audition and impressed the showrunner, I’m good with it. I like Jodie Whittaker. I like her in Doctor Who and I liked her in Broadchurch. But, I don’t think her Doctor Who stories were as good as they could have been. I hope that we do see more of Jo Martin’s Doctor at some point as well. I would not have been surprised at all if they had chosen her. She very much seemed like she had that “Doctor” quality about her in the short amount of time we saw her.
I am so happy! I started screaming as I read this. Ncuti is wonderful on Sex Education. I’ve been so apprehensive wondering who would be taking over the role of The Doctor after Jodie and wondering how well they would serve the role. I’m no longer worried. ❤️
He makes SEX ED his own. Talented guy. I hope the WHO scripts match his talent.
I have always loved Doctor Who and I have always disliked each new Doctor, especially Peter Davison because I adored Tom Baker, who will always be my favorite Doctor. I also dislike all new companions who leave with their Doctor. But after a few shows I love them all and mourn their leaving. I will miss Jodie Whittaker and company but I know that I will come to love Ncuti and whoever travels with him. All in all I love Doctor Who.
Tom Baker was the “Sean Connery” of Doctor Who. He is the only actor to do the role the longest (seven years) & for me the definitive Doctor as I grew up watching the reruns of his episodes. The modern era has yet to have a definitive Doctor. Unfortunately, Baker was that rare anomaly where he loved the role so much, he did it for as long as he did. Every season, he did was Classic Who & it will never be duplicated again.
He is spectacular in Sex Education! A really talented and likeable actor but also someone I can see having the required quirks to play The Doctor. Also a young actor who could bring some youthful energy to the role
I would have preferred another female doctor.
Yeah me too, I worry they just did it to prove they would, and won’t stick with it, but maybe the 17th or 18th Doctor will be female again? Hope we aren’t done with them yet… either way, I am hopeful for the next few seasons, and with Davies behind the wheel, I trust him completely!
I don’t know who he is, so I can’t comment on him as an acting choice. I just hope he gets better writing than Whitaker did.
100% agree. Jodi never really got the chance to show what she could do thanks to chibnall’s self indulgent writing
I really don’t care about Doctor Who anymore. The show should have ended with Matt Smith, but the creative bankruptcy of film producers these days had to pull deus ex machinas and retcon out of their rear ends to keep milking the show for all its worth. Peter Capaldi is a great actor and he did the best he could, but the show’s writing kind of went downhill from there and turned into literal toilet soup when Chris Chibnall took over. Quite frankly, the show is dead to me, and I pretend nothing exists after Matt Smith ended his tenure. But keep trying, BBC, because someone has to entertain the 20 people who still watch this crap. I wish the new guy the best, and I hope he does well, but I stopped watching after the slog that Capaldi’s run was.
“The show should’ve ended because I don’t like it anymore” – LOL, sure.
Capaldi’s run was often pretty dire but it did have some serious highlights. Jodie’s run hasn’t had any.
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Anyway, it’s an entirely new show each time they rotate the cast.
Exactly!!! Matt Smith was the last doctor. The rest are impostors 😆
I hope Russel can find a way to undo every awlful changes that were made. Otherwise, it doesn’t matter if the actor is good or bad.
Just write a good show! I don’t care if they cast Big Bird, I want adventure, danger, humor and not the trials and tribulations of being unable to ride a bike.
I was really hoping we would get Richard Ayoade, but it’s my understanding that he has said he’s not a fan of the show. I think he’s amazing and would be perfect, however, I’m intrigued with their choice. I’m not familiar with him, so I will have to check out a couple of the shows mentioned in the article.
Richard Ayoade is a great guy but he is no actor
Never heard of the guy, but that’s okay, I’d never heard of David Tennant or Matt Smith prior to their runs as the Doctor either, and they’re my two favorites.
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Also, in the 2nd-last paragraph outlining past Who, you forgot to mention the 1996 TV Movie that introduced us to Paul McGann’s 8th Doctor.
Is the 4th season going to be the last for Sex Education or is he leaving the show?
Brilliant, brilliant, really brilliant casting, he is an amazing actor in sex education and i think he will bring a new look and freshness to the role, one that sadly couldnt be fulfilled with Jodie (thanks to the awful writting and stories of Chris Chibnall)
I think this is fantastic news. Looking forward to seeing what he does with the role.
For those saying they would have preferred Jo Martin it is worth remembering that when RTD was showrunner before he oversaw two successful spin off shows. I do believe part of his remit this time is to expand the Dr Who universe in the same way as Marvel or Star Wars and a fugitive Doctor show with Jo Martin would be a no brainer for this.
Oh this is amazing news. I love him in Sex Education! Might have to pick up Who again…