Doctor Who fans divided as Matt Smith ‘replaced’ in ‘beautiful’ docudrama scene | indy100

Ncuti Gatwa appears alongside First Doctor in reshot Doctor Who docudrama scene

BBC

Doctor Whocelebrations intensified on Friday as the long-running TV show about a time-travelling alien marked its 60th anniversary with a water-based projection in Cardiff, a Dalek takeover of BBC News, and a revamped version of An Adventure in Space and Time which has received a mixed reaction from Whovians for a scene which swaps out Matt Smith’s Doctor for Ncuti Gatwa’s upcoming incarnation.

The 2013 docudrama, which explores the beginnings of the beloved BBC science fiction series, includes a moment in which First Doctor William Hartnell (played here by Harry Potter’s David Bradley) shares a smile with Smith’s Eleventh Doctor in a touching nod to the show’s bright future and longevity.

Ten years later, however, and this scene has been updated to feature Gatwa, who takes on the role after David Tennant (originally the Tenth Doctor) returns for three specials as the Fourteenth Doctor from this Saturday.

Gatwa’s appearance with Hartnell/Bradley follows the Sex Education star revealing at the GQ Men of the Year Awards last week that he “shot a scene, somehow, with the first-ever Doctor”.

“We end up in the same scene together at some point. To see that history – now a Black man as the Doctor – it was just very wild,” he said.

It’s not clear if Gatwa was referring to this scene, or another one which fans are yet to see, but in An Adventure in Space and Time, the actor is seen in a brown jacket at the Tardis console winking at Bradley’s Hartnell.

For now, at least, avid followers are torn over the decision to do away with Smith’s version:

I remember how brilliant it was when Matt Smith appeared in this scene 10 years ago but this was beautiful on a whole other level. Well done everyone. What a show Doctor Who is. #DoctorWho #DoctorWho60 #DoctorWhoDay
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The point of this scene is to show that the series is still alive and moving on constantly from one actor to another. From Hartnell, to Smith, to Gatwa, it's forever growing and changing! The Matt Smith version still exists, but I'm so happy to see Ncuti here now too! #DoctorWho
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The point of this scene is to show that the series is still alive and moving on constantly from one actor to another. From Hartnell, to Smith, to Gatwa, it's forever growing and changing! The Matt Smith version still exists, but I'm so happy to see Ncuti here now too! #DoctorWho
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I don't really understand the people who SUPER are upset about Matt Smith being replaced but on the other hand I don't understand why a lot of people are hating on Matt Smith and saying his doctor sucked? \n\n#DoctorWho
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If you have an issue with them updating a ten-second scene in 'An Adventure in Space and Time' by replacing Matt Smith with Ncuti Gatwa, maybe pause for a minute and ask yourself if there's a chance that you're really weird. #DoctorWho
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Some genius brains created a beautiful moment for Doctor Who in An Adventure in Space and Time tonight by updating Matt Smith with Ncuti Gatwa. What a genius and beautiful way to mark 60 years. Here are both scenes together. \ud83d\udc99\ud83d\ude4f\ud83c\udffd #DoctorWho #DoctorWhoDay
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Honestly I think using the incoming Doctor instead of the one that\u2019s regenerating within the month is the right move and was always kind of a flaw with the Matt Smith version anyway
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DISGRACE: BBC have removed Matt Smith from Doctor Who: An Adventure in Time and Space and replaced him with Ncuti Gatwa. What a joke. @Nerdrotics @JohnTheWhite1 @BackTardis #DoctorWho #DoctorWho60 #DoctorWho60th
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BBC updated a ten year old biopic where Matt Smith appears to let William Hartnell know #DoctorWho is in good hands with Ncuti Gatwa and honestly that is based
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This is complete horseshit. Matt Smith showing up in this was god damned magical, wholesome, and poignant. This is cheap diversity bullshit, especially comsidering Ncuti hasn't accomplished a thing, while Matt Smith had long since earned his place as The Doctor at this point.
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It's very frustrating because that was a moment in time. It's the 60th and they want to celebrate make a new moment in time don't take parts of the 50th celebration and slap your new doctor on it. They wouldn't have swapped Tom Baker for Matt Smith in the 5 doctor 20th special
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It’s not the first time that Doctor Who fans have been split on an editorial decision around the TV show in recent weeks, as last Friday saw Dalek creator Davros return without his ‘support unit’ for a Children in Need minisode, about which showrunner Russell T Davies said the villain would no longer appear in the chair.

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