Sex Education’s Ncuti Gatwa has just been confirmed by the BBC as the next Doctor in Doctor Who. He’s already won Scottish BAFTA awards and is nominated for this year’s Best Male Performance in a comedy program.
For the Doctor Who announcement, Gatwa told the world;
There aren’t quite the words to describe how I’m feeling. A mix of deeply honoured, beyond excited and of course a little bit scared. This role and show means so much to so many around the world, including myself, and each one of my incredibly talented predecessors has handled that unique responsibility and privilege with the utmost care. I will endeavour my upmost to do the same.
Russell T Davies is almost as iconic as the Doctor himself and being able to work with him is a dream come true. His writing is dynamic, exciting, incredibly intelligent and fizzing with danger. An actor’s metaphorical playground.
The entire team have been so welcoming and truly give their hearts to the show. And so as much as it’s daunting, I’m aware I’m joining a really supportive family. Unlike the Doctor, I may only have one heart but I am giving it all to this show.”
Russell T Davies, who brought Doctor Who back from its long rest and to its current form, returns to the show.
I’ve not seen Sex Education, so went YouTube-looking for examples of Ncuti and found this powerful intro to Black and Scottish. Ncuti Gatwa was born in Rwanda in 1992, but was raised in Scotland.
In fact, he attended Boroughmuir High School, near Geek Native towers, then Dunfermline High School before graduating from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Unfortunately, at school, racism was the norm. He told the BBC;
It was so normal to have racial abuse spat at you. When I moved to Dunfermline, there were a group of boys who ended up making up a racist social media page geared at me.
I came home that day and told my mum about it and it wasn’t the most empathetic of responses – it was like, ‘get on with it’.”
Ncuti considers himself to be Scottish but struggles with it. In the same article, he added;
I’ve always been a bit scared to say that I’m Scottish because it’s almost as if people wouldn’t believe me.
I wasn’t seen as the same as anyone around me because no one around me looked like me. There were no black Scottish role models.”
However, with charisma and bravery, Ncuti also said;
When you see another black person you say ‘There’s another one – I must find them and I must be friends with him’. I’d be like: “I think I might be the only black person in the world!'”
RTD is full of praise for the actor, saying;
The future is here and it’s Ncuti! Sometimes talent walks through the door and it’s so bright and bold and brilliant, I just stand back in awe and thank my lucky stars. Ncuti dazzled us, seized hold of the Doctor and owned those TARDIS keys in seconds. It’s an honour to work with him, and a hoot, I can’t wait to get started.
I’m sure you’re dying to know more, but we’re rationing ourselves for now, with the wonderful Jodie’s epic finale yet to come. But I promise you, 2023 will be spectacular!”
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