Ncuti Gatwa speaks about his wonderful journey on Doctor Who so far. Gatwa recently made his debut as the Fifteenth Doctor during the 60th anniversary special “The Giggle,” where David Tennant’s Fourteenth Doctor bigenerated, paving the way for Gatwa’s character. In advance of Doctor Who season 14, Gatwa will fully take over as lead for the upcoming Christmas special titled “The Church on Ruby Road,” which will be released on December 25.
Speaking with Empire, Gatwa discusses what his time on Doctor Who has been like. When Gatwa first started acting on the show, he “was very, very nervous” and would “always want another take.” Afterward, however, he allowed himself to feel “far less stressed” in his second season. Check out the full quote from Gatwa below:
When I started filming Season 1, I was wracked with nerves and anxiety. I was very, very nervous and questioned everything I did. I’d always want another take … Season 2 feels very fun, very enjoyable, very like it’s in my body. I’m far less stressed. I’m enjoying it now. Oh my God. This is actually the most fun role in the world!
How Long Will Ncuti Gatwa Be on Doctor Who?
So far, Gatwa is signed on to act in Doctor Who season 14 and season 15, meaning that his stay on Doctor Who will last at least two seasons. Gatwa was recently asked about his chances to return to the series for a third season, to which Gatwa responded that he had “no idea, no plan” but that his “love for it is growing.” While this did not confirm a third season of Doctor Who for the new Time Lord, Gatwa is clearly open to the possibility.
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A longer tenure for Gatwa seems more likely based on what other Doctor Who actors have to say about the star. In advance of Gatwa’s appearance, Tennant said, “God, he’s good casting” and expressed that “it’s very exciting to think about what’ s going to happen on the show when he takes over.” Similarly, former companion actor Arthur Darvill described Gatwa’s role as “a whole new thing” which the actor believes is “what the show should be.” Both of these statements bode well for the continued strength of Gatwa’s performance, hinting at a longer run on the show for the actor.
Gatwa’s reverence for returning showrunner Russell T. Davies is also a good sign for his longevity on Doctor Who. In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, Gatwa praised Davies’ writing as “full” of “darkness, lightness, joy, humor, and pure pain.” Gatwa also cited Davies as a hugely motivating reason for him to want to act on the show. The appreciation for Gatwa and Gatwa’s own respect for the Doctor Who team could make an extended run all the more likely, especially now that he’s feeling truly comfortable in the role.
Doctor Who
Originally premiered in 1963, Doctor Who is a sci-fi series that follows a powerful being known as a Time Lord, referred to as the Doctor. Using an interdimensional time-traveling ship known as the TARDIS, the Doctor travels time and space with various companions as they solve multiple problems and help avert catastrophe as much as they almost cause it. Though the Doctor is always the same character, they experience regenerations, allowing them to be recast every few seasons as a unique immortal being with new personality traits.
- Release Date
- November 23, 1963
- Cast
- Jenna Coleman , Jodie Whittaker , Alex Kingston , David Tennant , Matt Smith , Peter Capaldi
- Genres
- Adventure , Mystery , Sci-Fi
- Seasons
- 26
- Season List
- Doctor Who – Season 1 , Doctor Who – Season 2 , Doctor Who – Season 3 , Doctor Who – Season 4 , Doctor Who – Season 5 , Doctor Who – Season 6 , Doctor Who – Season 7 , Doctor Who – Season 8 , Doctor Who – Season 9 , Doctor Who – Season 10 , Doctor Who – Season 11 , Doctor Who – Season 12 , Doctor Who – Season 13 , Doctor Who – Season 14 , Doctor Who – Season 15 , Doctor Who – Season 16 , Doctor Who – Season 17 , Doctor Who – Season 18 , Doctor Who – Season 19 , Doctor Who – Season 20 , Doctor Who – Season 21 , Doctor Who – Season 22 , Doctor Who – Season 23 , Doctor Who – Season 24 , Doctor Who – Season 25 , Doctor Who – Season 26
- Franchise
- Doctor Who
- Story By
- Sydney Newman C. E. Webber Donald Wilson
- Writers
- Mark Gatiss , Toby Whithouse , Neil Cross , Steven Moffat , Chris Chibnall
- Network
- BBC
