Ncuti Gatwa ‘did not realise magnitude’ of Doctor Who when he took on role

Ncuti Gatwa has reflected on his first year playing Doctor Who and said he did not “quite realise the magnitude” of what he was taking on.

The actor, 32, also known for playing Eric in the hit Netflix series Sex Education, first appeared on the show during the last instalment of the 60th anniversary specials in December 2023 when David Tennant’s 14th Doctor bi-generated and split in two.

Speaking at a screening for this year’s Christmas special, Gatwa said: “I’d always said, before properly starting, that I didn’t quite realise the magnitude of what I was taking on.

“And I certainly felt it as soon as actually stepping in, but it’s a magnitude of joy as well.”

“It’s pushed me as an actor and as an artist”, he added.

“It’s just a lot of fun. I get to do a lot of fun things. I’m always in a harness.

“Once a week I’m like flying from the ceiling. It’s been a rollercoaster stepping into this institution.”

His first series as the Time Lord aired on the BBC from May and included cameos from Bridgerton’s Golda Rosheuvel and Glee actor Jonathan Groff, with former Coronation Street actress Millie Gibson playing his companion Ruby Sunday.

In the upcoming festive special, Joy To The World, directed by Alex Pillai, Gatwa stars opposite Bridgerton actress Nicola Coughlan.

The actors both appeared in Greta Gerwig-directed film Barbie in 2023.

“We were Barbie and Ken, but we never worked together on that film”, Gatwa said.

“But I’d always been a huge fan of Nicola’s work, and she worked with Alex (Pillai) quite a lot on Bridgerton, so there was that connection.

“But, what a talent and what a joy. It’s hard to not go into that pun when talking about Nicola because she’s just so full of light, and was just so up for everything.”

Speaking about the “pinch me moments” he has had since filming the show, he said: “Riding around New York on a subway that was like, wrapped in Doctor Who lore, and my face, it was wild.

“Anytime going to the States and hearing that there are fans of Doctor Who there always blows my mind as to how global the show is and the reach of it.

“The San Diego Comic Con was also another pinch me moment just because the reach of the show is so huge, I didn’t expect to be getting approached out there.”

In this year’s Christmas episode, which promises “danger, dinosaurs and the Doctor”, Coughlan plays Joy who opens a secret doorway to the Time Hotel.

Joy To The World will air on BBC One at 5.10pm on Christmas Day and will also be available on BBC iPlayer.

On Christmas Eve, Catherine Tate will present the Doctor Who Prom, for BBC One Wales, BBC Two and BBC iPlayer, featuring soundtracks from the series at London’s Royal Albert Hall.