Fans caught a first glimpse of Ncuti Gatwa as the 15th Doctor (Picture: BBC/PA)
Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa revealed that his casting ‘matters for people of colour’ as he prepares to make his debut as the 15th Doctor.
Jodie Whittaker’s final outing as the Time Lord came to an end in Sunday’s Power of the Doctor episode, which also saw a bevy of previous Doctors returning for the special episode.
After showrunner Chris Chibnall also confirmed his departure from the beloved sci-fi, Russel T Davies will be reprising his original position as Sex Education’s Ncuti takes to the screen in 2023.
Following the official reveal back in May, social media erupted with praise for Ncuti, who has made history as the first Black actor to portray the titular lead.
During a lunch hosted by the BBC and Disney, via Deadline, the 30-year-old said: ‘My mouth gets paralyzed by the concept of playing this role.’
Speaking about the show’s significance, he added: ‘ [it matters] for people of colour, for marginalized people who really gravitate towards the show because it’s about friendship and it’s about adventure and it’s about union and unity.’
Ncuti will be making his highly-anticipated debut as the Doctor next year (Picture: Getty)
David Tennant will reprise his role for special episodes for the 60th anniversary (Picture: BBC Studios)
The Eric Effiong actor also expressed that when it comes to Doctor Who’s extreme popularity ‘the possibilities are endless.’
Writer Russell previously explained that Ncuti’s casting had nothing to do with the colour of his skin.
‘Simply the best actor walked into the room, the showrunner told reporters at this year’s Bafta TV Awards.
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He added according to Radio Times: ‘I’m aware that all this comes with it. I think if you’re six, you don’t care. And that’s genuinely the fundamental reason for me.
‘Because I watched it when I was six, I’m here making it. So six-year-olds watching it now will be making it in 50 years’ time.
‘Having said that, I think once cast, those things are very important. I think diversity and representation are very important.’
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Elsewhere during the latest Power of the Doctor special, fans went wild to see Scottish actor David Tennant making a spectacular return to the franchise.
Returning after a decade, as the BBC sci-fi sets up its 60th anniversary story, David’s Doctor looked astonished before declaring: ‘I know those teeth… what? What?? What?!’
Doctor Who will return to BBC One in 2023.
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Ncuti will make his debut next year!