Doctor Who: Ncuti Gatwa is replacing Jodie Whittaker as new Doctor in 2023

Ncuti Gatwa has been announced as the new star, the Fourteenth Doctor, in Doctor Who.

The 29-year-old, who was born in Rwanda and raised in Scotland, is best known for playing Eric in Netflix comedy Sex Education.

Gatwa had previously teased his casting with a series of symbols on Instagram, with showrunner Russell T Davies replying: “The future is here.” Davies shared the same set of images.

Speaking about his casting, Gatwa said he was “deeply honoured, beyond excited and of course a little bit scared”.

He continued: “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.”

Gatwa will replace Jodie Whittaker in the role when she leaves at the end of 2022. Other stars to have played the iconic Time Lord include Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi.

On Sunday (8 May), the actor shared a fresh reaction to the news while walking the Bafta TV Awards red carpet hours after the announcement. He revealed he had been keeping the news secret since February.

Davies, the former showrunner of the BBC series, has rejoined the series as head writer, in time for the show’s 60th anniversary in 2023.

He started auditions for Whittaker’s replacement last December and said that Gatwa had “dazzled” him.

Davies explained: “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.”

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Gatwa was recently cast in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie film alongside Margot Robbie and fellow Sex Education star Emma Mackey.

Georgia Tennant, the wife of former Doctor Who star David Tennant, reshared Gatwa’s post to her Instagram Stories (as well as a “creepy” text exchange with her husband), and referred to him as her “dad”.

The actor’s father is Peter Davison, another former incarnation of the Time Lord.