Greg Evans
May 08, 2022
Independent
Sex Education actor Ncuti Gatwa has been named as the next Doctor Who, replacing Jodie Whitaker in the role and therefore becoming the first Black man to take on the iconic sci-fi character, the BBC has announced.
In a statement on the Doctor Who website, the 29-year-old actor said: "There aren’t quite the words to describe how I’m feeling. A mix of deeply honoured, 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 endeavour my upmost to do the same. Russell T Davies is almost as iconic as the Doctor himself and being able to work with him is a dream come true. His writing is dynamic, exciting, incredibly intelligent and fizzing with danger.
“An actor’s metaphorical playground. The entire team have been so welcoming and truly give their hearts to the show. And so as much as it’s daunting, I’m aware I’m joining a really supportive family. Unlike the Doctor, I may only have one heart but I am giving it all to this show.”
The future is here! Ncuti Gatwa is the Doctor. #DoctorWho\n\nRead more here https://www.doctorwho.tv/news-and-features/ncuti-gatwa-is-the-doctor\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/peKsH6gCjI— Doctor Who (@Doctor Who) 1652009401
Doctor Who’s showrunner, Russell T Davies, said: “The future is here and it’s Ncuti! 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. It’s an honour to work with him, and a hoot, I can’t wait to get started.
“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!”
As you can imagine, reaction to this news is one of delirium with Georgia Tennant, whose husband David Tennant and father, Peter Davidson, have both played the Doctor, simply tweeting: "Hello Dad."
Hello Dad.https://twitter.com/bbcdoctorwho/status/1523263950661775360\u00a0\u2026— Georgia Tennant (@Georgia Tennant) 1652009471
Elsewhere, everyone from Olly Alexander and even Netflix, where Sex Education can be watched, tweeted their congratulations to Gatwa.
No spoilers are going to be dripping out of Ncuti Gatwa's TARDIS pic.twitter.com/JlVSexg1fb— BAFTA (@BAFTA) 1652011852
NCUTIIIIIIII!!!! Amazing !!https://twitter.com/bbcdoctorwho/status/1523263950661775360\u00a0\u2026— olly alexander (@olly alexander) 1652011720
pic.twitter.com/votAYz6nhz— Netflix UK & Ireland (@Netflix UK & Ireland) 1652009928
get in the tardis you detty pig pic.twitter.com/kkymJ3zhvz— seph \u2728 (@seph \u2728) 1652010047
Ncuti Gatwa is one of those names absolutely nobody was putting out there, until suddenly we all look like idiots for never once thinking of him— Max Kashevsky (@Max Kashevsky) 1652008711
OMG OMG OMG IS NCUTI GATWA GOING TO BE THE NEXT DOCTOR??? HE POSTED IT AND PUT IT ON STORIES AND GEORGIA TENNANT PUT IT ON HER STORIES AS WELL AND BOTH GEORGIA AND RTD LIKED IT AND RTD WROTE THE FUTURE IS HERE AGVDHCGJBFVCFKBF IT'S REALLY HAPPENING, I'M GONNA LOVE THIS SO MUCHpic.twitter.com/kQJJYya0y3— Violet.\ud83c\udf4d (@Violet.\ud83c\udf4d) 1652006801
Ncuti Gatwa is a proper superstar. #DoctorWho is so lucky to have him. pic.twitter.com/05hg9Fq3yi— Morgan Jeffery (@Morgan Jeffery) 1652009780
I don\u2019t care for Doctor Who but I just think Ncuti Gatwa deserves the whole world— Mollie Goodfellow (@Mollie Goodfellow) 1652011316
ncuti gatwa as the fourteenth doctor but let him be as queer as possiblepic.twitter.com/zgaeK2afYu— bee (@bee) 1652010534
Gatwa is also set to host the TV Bafta Awards on Sunday evening. Talk about great timing.
Additional reporting from PA.
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