Doctor Who gets a new time lord: Ncuti Gatwa becomes 14th Doctor

British actor Ncuti Gatwa, known for his role in popular series Sex Education will be the first Black actor to play the leading role in the cult BBC science fiction series.

Ncuti Gatwa attends the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards at The Royal Festival Hall in London.

Scottish actor Ncuti Gatwa has been tapped as the latest Doctor in Doctor Who, the BBC’s long-running science-fiction series.

Mr. Gatwa, best known for his role in Netflix’s Sex Education, will replace Jodie Whittaker as the extraterrestrial Time Lord in the popular time-traveling show.

“The future is here. Ncuti Gatwa is the Doctor!” the British Broadcasting Corp. wrote on Twitter Sunday, just hours before the start of the British Academy Television Awards show in London.

“I may only have one heart but I am giving it all to this show” Ncuti Gatwa is the Doctor ❤️❤️➕🟦

Read more here ➡️ https://t.co/f4K4Yfr6ulpic.twitter.com/qRUiUv10gl

— Doctor Who (@bbcdoctorwho) May 8, 2022

“There aren’t quite the words to describe how I’m feeling. A mix of deeply honored, beyond excited and of course a little bit scared,” Mr. Gatwa said in a statement. “Unlike the Doctor, I may only have one heart, but I am giving it all to this show.” Mr. Gatwa, 29 years old, is the first black actor to play the lead role of Doctor full-time. Ms. Whittaker, who took over the role in 2018, was the first woman to play the character.

Charlotte Moore, chief content officer for the BBC, said Mr. Gatwa’s dynamism will bring new energy to the show, which has been in production since its debut BBC broadcast in 1963.

“He’s a striking and fearless young actor whose talent and energy will set the world alight and take ‘Doctor Who’ on extraordinary adventures,” she said in a statement.

"It's been emotional!" Ncuti Gatwa is feeling the love after his Doctor Who news was revealed 😍 #VirginMediaBAFTAspic.twitter.com/LcI1cP7UO6

— BAFTA (@BAFTA) May 8, 2022

The Doctor in “Doctor Who” appears human and explores the universe in a time-traveling spaceship called the TARDIS.

The change of actors for the lead role is written into the script and sometimes prior versions of the Doctor meet themselves on screen. Mr. Gatwa will be the 14th Doctor to appear on “Doctor Who.”

The Wall Street Journal