Ncuti Gatwa will be taking over from Jodie Whittaker as the next Time Lord in Doctor Who. Best known for his role as Eric in the Netflix series Sex Education, the 29-year-old actor will become the fourteenth incarnation of the Doctor. Gatwa will also be the first black actor to play the iconic character in the show’s 59-year history. Speaking to BBC News, Gatwa described the role as “a true honour. This role is an institution and it’s so iconic.”
Russell T Davies will also be returning to the series as showrunner after exiting the series in 2010 alongside David Tennant, having revived the series in 2004. Davies, who shared a snap with Gatwa on the BAFTA’s red carpet, was hugely impressed by his audition. “It was our last audition. It was our very last one,” the Queer as Folk writer said. “We thought we had someone, and then in he came and stole it.” He added “I’m properly, properly thrilled. It’s going to be a blazing future.”
Jodie Whittaker will be bowing out alongside current showrunner Chris Chibnall following the centenary special airing on November 23, 2022. Gatwa, a Scottish actor born in Rwanda, will be taking the keys to the TARDIS and will, as mentioned, be joined by Russell T Davies who’ll be returning as showrunner.
Since Doctor Who, Russell T Davies has become best known for his work on Years and Years, and Channel 4’s It’s A Sin. “I’m beyond excited to be back on my favourite show.” Davies said, adding that there was “a whole series of Jodie Whittaker’s brilliant Doctor for me to enjoy, with my friend and hero Chris Chibnall at the helm – I’m still a viewer for now.”
Gatwa has already won various accolades for Sex Education, including a Royal Television Society Award for Best Male Comedy Performance, a Scottish BAFTA for Best Television Actor, and a Rose d’Or Award for Performance of the Year. For more Doctor Who content, take a look at Flickluster’s review for “Legend of the Sea Devils”.
