Ncuti Gatwa set to leave Doctor Who with David Tennant lined up as possible replacement
By Cleo Robertson
Ncuti Gatwa is set to leave Doctor Who months before his second season is released. This comes after he is allegedly seeking bigger Hollywood roles that he was unable to take whilst starring in the sci-fi show.
Gatwa who took over the role three years ago rose to fame after starring in Netflix’s Sex Education as Eric Effiong, the 32 year old then went on to portray one of the Kens in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie.
Fan favourite David Tennant is one of the names rumoured to be replacing Gatwa as well as Josh O’Connor and Jack Lowden who would be new faces for The Doctor. Tennant has already starred as the time lord twice, originally in 2005 after taking over from Christopher Eccleston and again in 2023 for the show’s anniversary.
Much of Gatwa’s time in the TARDIS has been critiqued for trying to include more diverse themes and characters into the plot. Although the inclusion of diversity isn’t exclusive to Gatwa’s stint, as Tennant’s reprisal saw trans people save the world, and his new incarnation of the role realise he was gay.
However, this critique reached boiling point when Christmas special Joy to the world references the COVID-19 pandemic and political scandal, ‘partygate’. This for many viewers was the final straw after a season that pulled some of the lowest viewer numbers in the show’s history.
Despite the criticisms from some fans, the return of Russel T Davis as showrunner made for some strong episodes in the season and combined with Gatwa’s performances brought some intense and emotional moments to the screen.
Gatwa’s tenure in the TARDIS was the first full season after Disney had partnered with the BBC as well as purchasing the international distribution rights to the iconic sci-fi show. The deal was also to produce 26 episodes, but after that the future of Doctor Who is unclear.
The Rwandan-Scottish actor will become the doctor with the shortest stint on the show, breaking the pattern set by Tennant of each modern incarnation of the time lord doing three seasons then exiting. Eccleston who starred as the ninth doctor, and in the first season of the revival left due to disputes with the BBC.
This isn’t the first time this new era of Doctor Who has found itself admist discussion of cast members leaving as during the release of the episodes last year there was rumours of Millie Gibson who portrays companion Ruby Sunday leaving.
