Ncuti Gatwa has been confirmed as the Fourteenth Doctor in Doctor Who - and here's where viewers can check out his previous roles. Jodie Whittaker's era as the Thirteenth Doctor is coming to an end, and she's departing alongside current showrunner Chris Chibnall. A new era is about to begin, heralded by the return of Russell T. Davies - the man behind the 2005 relaunch, who promises to breathe new life into the world's longest-running science-fiction TV show.
After months of speculation, the BBC has confirmed 29-year-old Ncuti Gatwa as the Fourteenth Doctor. "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," he observed in an official statement. "I will endeavor my upmost to do the same." Explaining the casting, Davies said he and the rest of the production team were "dazzled" by Gatwa's audition. With the announcement made, the BBC intends to enter a period of radio silence about Doctor Who's future, hoping viewers will focus their attention on the upcoming Doctor Who Centenary Special in which Whittaker will regenerate.
A star of stage and screen, Ncuti Gatwa has appeared in Bob Servant, Stonemouth, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Horrible Histories: The Movie - Rotten Romans, and The Last Letter From Your Lover. He's best known for playing Eric Effiong in Sex Education, a role for which he received numerous awards, including a Scottish Bafta for Best Performance - Television in 2020. In Gatwa's view, roles like Eric are essential in bringing much-needed representation to the small screen. "When we have gay characters on TV, they’re just, kind of, gay for the sake of being gay," he explained in an interview with The Independent. "That’s their personality. That’s their whole backstory that their future, that’s their present story – it’s just gay. Nobody’s just gay. I liked that [Eric] had his own story, and his own journey, and his own beginning, middle, and end." Gatwa has been nominated for a Bafta for the third time in a row in 2022 and will also present an award at this year's ceremony.
When Is Ncuti Gatwa's Debut In Doctor Who
Gatwa is likely to make his debut in the upcoming Doctor Who Centenary Special. Whittaker shot an emotional regeneration scene last year, and it's traditional for the next Doctor to appear at the end of the episode, building up excitement for the next season. Production of Doctor Who has already moved to Bad Wolf Studios in Cardiff, and it's likely the sets are currently being recreated to shoot that scene. After that, Gatwa will no doubt return to filming Sex Education season 4, with production on Doctor Who season 14 not expected to begin for some months after.
How Ncuti Gatwa Will Change The Doctor
Gatwa makes Doctor Who history as the first actor to play the part born outside the United Kingdom; his parents left Rwanda as refugees during the genocide in the early 1990s when he was just a toddler, and he was brought up in Scotland. Although Gatwa does speak with a slight Scottish accent, he claims it only comes through when he's visiting home; and it will therefore be quite interesting to see what accent Gatwa uses as he plays the Doctor. Future Doctor Who showrunner Russell T. Davies has praised Gatwa for his dynamism and energy, perhaps indicating his Doctor will be as energetic and enthusiastic as David Tennant's or Matt Smith's, rather than following the pattern of the more reflective Jodie Whittaker. Speaking to the BBC, Gatwa insisted he would do his own thing.
Ncuti Gatwa's Upcoming Movies & TV Shows
Sex Education season 4 was officially announced in September 2021 - and production began in April and is expected to continue until November 2022. This explains reports Doctor Who season 14 won't be able to start production until winter, simply because its star will be otherwise engaged. Meanwhile, Gatwa is also confirmed to be returning to the big screen in the upcoming Barbie adaption in an as-yet-undisclosed role.
Doctor Who will naturally require a hefty commitment from Gatwa, although it remains to be seen what approach Davies will take with the production. His previous seasons were noted for being extremely demanding, but current Doctor Who showrunner Chris Chibnall altered the production to make it less grueling; this required fewer episodes and bigger gaps between seasons, and not all viewers have been especially pleased. Davies may choose to shake things up yet again, meaning it's possible Gatwa will still be able to pursue other roles even as he stars in Doctor Who.