Ncuti Gatwa is 'terrified' as launch of his first full Doctor Who series rapidly approaches

Release time：2024-05-21 15:33:39 Source：World Warp news portal

Ncuti Gatwa has admitted he's 'terrified' ahead of the start of the new series of Doctor Who in two weeks. 

The actor's first full run in the TARDIS is set to hit screens on Saturday 11 May, with the long-awaited series will release its first two episodes on BBC iPlayer at midnight.

The episodes will then arrive on BBC One later that day, ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final.

Ncuti, 31, made his debut as the Time Lord on Christmas Day in a special episode of the show last year but his first full series will air next month.

When asked how he felt ahead of the release during an appearance on The One Show on Friday, he said: 'Terrifying, terrifying, but exciting as well as we have poured so much love into it.

Ncuti Gatwa has admitted he's 'terrified' ahead of the start of the new series of Doctor Who in two weeks

The actor's first full run in the TARDIS is set to hit screens on Saturday 11 May, with the long-awaited series will release its first two episodes on BBC iPlayer at midnight (Ncuti seen as the Fifteenth Doctor, alongside Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday)

'I’m ready for the world to see it. Heart is racing but ready for it.'

The new season of Doctor Who will see Ncuti return as the Fifteenth Doctor, alongside Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday, after they made their debut on Christmas Day last year in The Church on Ruby Road.

Within the upcoming series, audiences will see the Doctor and Ruby travel through time and space on adventures to unknown lands, to the Regency era in England, to outer space worlds and the sixties.

Ncuti is to become the first queer Doctor Who and the first black Time Lord for a full series. 

He told Variety: 'Do you know what? It makes perfect sense to me. 

'I feel like anyone that has a problem with someone who’s not a straight white man playing this character, you’re not really, truly a fan of the show. You’ve not been watching! 

'Because the show is about regeneration, and the Doctor is an alien — why would they only choose to be this sort of person?'

Showrunner Russell T Davies echoed Ncuti's thoughts: 'They weren’t exactly the straightest men in the past.

The release date for the new series of Doctor Who has finally been revealed, with Ncuti's first full run in the TARDIS set to hit screens on 11 May

Ncuti is to become the first queer Doctor Who and the first black Time Lord for a full series 

Ncuti made his first appearance as The Doctor in the third 60th Anniversary Special in December, when David Tennant also reprised his role as the Time Lord

On how the screen star's Doctor is different, Russell added: 'You’re talking about someone who does have a lightness and a joy about him that, to me, chimes with queer energy. 

'It’s very rarely driving the story vehemently, but you will see moments exploring it. We’re not delivering a neutered Doctor.'

Ncuti made his first appearance as The Doctor in the third 60th Anniversary Special in December, when The Doctor 'bi-generated' meaning two incarnations of him were in existence at the same time.

He and the Fourteenth Doctor (played by David Tennant) thwarted the Toymaker's evil plan.

The previous incarnation decided to stay on Earth with his own TARDIS, best friend Donna Noble and her family. 

Speaking ahead of the festive episode, titled The Church On Ruby Road, Ncuti revealed he wants to bring his 'black beautiful self' to the character, when asked what will be different about his incarnation of The Doctor.

He said: 'It is such a hard question to answer because the role of the Doctor is everything anyway.

'He is an explorer who has been around for a billion years so they have so many quirks and intricacies, rage and joy and they are full of a lot of emotions.

'So to pick what I was going to bring out differently is a very hard question to answer. 

'I guess myself, my black beautiful self. I bring my blackness.'

Ncuti will be the first black actor to take on a full-time stint as The Doctor, after Jo Martin briefly played a version of the character in 2020.

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