Former Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat raves about incoming Doctor Ncuti Gatwa after seeing the Sex Education star’s audition tape.
Former Doctor Who showrunner recently described Ncuti Gatwa’s new incarnation of The Doctor as “magnificent.”
Moffat, who shepherded the iconic British sci-fi show for six series, shared his reaction to Gatwa’s audition in an interview with Empire. “[Incoming showrunner] Russell [T Davies] showed me the audition tape,” he said. “[Gatwa] is magnificent: all at once a brand-new hero and the same wonderful, mad old Doctor we’ve always known.”
The BBC announced that Gatwa will play The Fourteenth Doctor in May 2022. The Sex Education star is set to inherit the keys to the TARDIS from Jodie Whittaker, whose tenure as The Thirteenth Doctor will end in the third and final 2022 Doctor Who special. Gatwa is the second Black actor to portray The Doctor following the introduction of Jo Martin’s so-called “Fugitive Doctor” in 2020, and the first to headline his own series.
Gatwa recently opened up about the challenge of keeping the news he’d landed the lead role in Doctor Who a secret. “It’s been emotional, it’s been emotional. I was just saying, I woke up crying, and then I started dancing… I’m glad that it’s finally out, and I don’t have to keep it secret anymore, ’cause I’m terrible,” he said. The star reportedly secured the part in February 2022, several months before it was officially made public.
Writing about why Gatwa beat out the other contenders for the Doctor Who role, Russell T Davies labeled the star a “bright and bold and brilliant” talent. The showrunner, who spearheaded the franchise’s revival in 2005, added that Gatwa was cast within seconds after leaving Davies and the show’s producers “dazzled.” Davies also described working with his new lead actor as an honor and said he couldn’t wait for production on Doctor Who Series 14 to get underway.
Although Gatwa’s casting continues to dominate headlines, his won’t be the only version of The Doctor to appear on screens in 2023. The Doctor Who 60th Anniversary special will also see David Tennant return as the Tenth Doctor, alongside his former co-star Catherine Tate, who reprises the Donna Noble role. Tennant played the Time Lord for much of Davies’ original tenure as showrunner, wrapping up his stint with 2010 special “The End of Time (Part 2)”. He subsequently played the part again in 2013’s 50th Anniversary special “The Day of the Doctor,” which was overseen by Moffat.
The third Doctor Who 2022 special does not yet have a title or release date.
Source: Empire
Leon is an Associate News Writer at CBR. He reports on the latest developments in film and TV, covering everything from popcorn cinema to prestige mini-series. His previous freelance writing credits include articles on film, TV, comics, and video games for Screen Rant, Polygon, The Things, Cultured Vultures, and Taste of Cinema. Originally from Australia, Leon is currently based in the UK.
