DOCTOR WHO: Ncuti Gatwa Announced as the Fourteenth Doctor!

 
"Well, here we go again..."
-- Brigadier Alastair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, Doctor Who: "Planet of the Spiders"

The BBC has officially announced that Ncuti Gatwa will be the new Fourteenth Doctor for Series Fourteen of Doctor Who, replacing the outgoing Jodie Whittaker. Gatwa will be the first black actor to portray the Doctor as the series lead and will make his debut at the end of the 2022 Centenary Special, Whittaker's final story, this fall.

Gatwa, 29, is a Rwandan-Scottish actor best known as Eric Effiong on the Netflix dramedy series Sex Education. For this role, he received the Best Actor Award at the Scottish BAFTAs in 2020 as well as numerous nominations including Best Male Performance in a comedy program at this year’s BAFTAs. He will appear in the upcoming 2023 movie Barbie and his other television appearances include episodes of Bob Servant and Stonemouth.

In a statement, Gatwa remarked, "There aren’t quite the words to describe how I’m feeling. 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. 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."

Returning showrunner Russell T Davies added, "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 honor 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!"

Charlotte Moore, the BBC's Chief Content Officer stated, "Ncuti has an incredible dynamism, he’s a striking and fearless young actor whose talent and energy will set the world alight and take Doctor Who on extraordinary adventures under Russell T Davies’ new era."