Doctor Who Star Demands He Faces Off Against One Classic Villain

Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa wants to face off against one of the series’ most classic villains. Joined by companion actresses Varada Sethu and Millie Gibson, Gatwa is set to play the Fifteenth Doctor in the classic time-travel series. Doctor Who season 14 premieres on May 11, marking Gatwa’s first full season in the Time Lord role.

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Gatwa explains what classic Doctor Who villain he would want to face off against. According to the Time Lord actor, he has a huge desire to fight against a Dalek in the show. He went so far as to say that “I better have faced a Dalek” and “What on earth would be the point of me being Doctor Who without facing a Dalek.” Check out the full quote from Gatwa below:

I’ve heard chats about me not ever facing a Dalek. I’d be so angry if that’s the case! By the time that I’m done with Doctor Who, I better have faced a Dalek. What on earth would be the point of me being Doctor Who without facing a Dalek!

Why A Dalek Faceoff Would Work Well for the Fifteenth Doctor

Gatwa’s words about the Dalek show his deep reverence for the lore behind Doctor Who. The Daleks were first introduced in the original season of Doctor Who, in an episode called “The Dead Planet.” This episode aired at the end of 1963, making the Daleks a 60-year-old tradition. While Gatwa is also a known fan of the revival era of the series, as the Doctor Who actor referenced recently, his point about the Daleks shows that he also has an appreciation for more long-standing Doctor Who content such as its classic villains.

Throughout Doctor Who history, the Daleks have been an important recurring feature. While always taking the form of cyborg aliens, the Daleks have had evolution in their style throughout the years, evolving from simpler metal models to more colorful versions. Thirteenth Doctor Jodie Whittake fought the Daleks in a more recent special episode called “Revolution of the Daleks.” Because so many Doctors have fought these cyborgs, it is fair for Gatwa to wish for the same opportunity.

If showrunner Russell T. Davies returned the Daleks to Doctor Who, it would be far from the first classic villain to be entered into the new era. In the 60th anniversary episode “The Giggle,” Neil Patrick Harris played The Toymaker. The Toymaker was based on a recurring villain from the classic era of Doctor Who. The return of the Toymaker showed Davies vested interest in returning classic Doctor Who images.

Thus, it would only make sense to bring back the Daleks to fight the Fifteenth Doctor. Unlike elements like The Toymaker, the Daleks have already appeared multiple times in the 21st century version of Doctor Who. It would not, then, be a huge stretch to bring the Daleks back for season 14 or beyond. Hopefully, Gatwa will get his wish as he gears up for at least two seasons of Doctor Who.

Source: EW