'Sex Education' Star Ncuti Gatwa Is The Fourteenth Doctor: 'It's A Dream Come True'

We have a new Time Lord!

The next Doctor in the show Doctor Who has been announced. Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa is set to play the Fourteenth Doctor, as he takes the reins from Jodie Whittaker. This marks a landmark moment in the nearly six decades of the show as the 29-year-old actor will be the first Black person who has been cast to play the role of the Doctor. He is also one of the youngest Doctors so far after Matt Smith who was the Eleventh Doctor. The announcement was made on Sunday by the BBC. 

"It feels really amazing. It's a true honor. This role is an institution and it's so iconic," he told the BBC. "I feel very grateful to have had the baton handed over and I'm going to try to do my best." Russell T Davies, who is the showrunner, was all-praise about Gatwa who blew them away during the audition he described as "blazing." Speaking about Gatwa he recalled, "It was our last audition. It was our very last one. We thought we had someone, and then in he came and stole it." He added, "I'm properly, properly thrilled. It's going to be a blazing future."

In a BBC press release, Gatwa said, "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. This role and show mean 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 endeavor my utmost to do the same." Speaking highly of Davis he stated that he is "almost as iconic as the Doctor himself and being able to work with him is a dream come true."

Gatwa added, "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.” Davies also shared, "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 honor to work with him, and a hoot, I can’t wait to get started."

Davies also teased, promising that "2023 will be spectacular!" Whittaker's take on the role as the thirteenth incarnation of The Doctor will be coming to an end later this year. "It's a British institution and it means so much to so many people and yeah Jodie is lovely, incredible, and going to be a very, very, very difficult act to follow," Gatwa told Sky News. He was awarded the Best Actor Award at the Scottish BAFTA in 2020 and also has three BAFTA Television Award nominations for Best Male Comedy Performance.