Ncuti Gatwa will take over from Jodie Whittaker as the Time Lord in Doctor Who, the BBC has announced.
The 29-year-old will become the 14th Doctor on the popular BBC show, after Whittaker announced last July she will be leaving the role.
Scottish actor Gatwa, who was born in Rwanda, starred as Eric Effiong in Netflix’s hugely popular Sex Education about socially awkward high school student Otis (Asa Butterfield) and his sex therapist mother Jean (Gillian Anderson).
New guard: Ncuti Gatwa will take over from Jodie Whittaker as the Time Lord in Doctor Who, the BBC has announced
Whittaker took over the Tardis in 2017 as the first female Doctor.
Queer As Folk and It’s A Sin writer Russell T Davies is returning as the programme’s showrunner after departing the show in 2009.
Davies, who was responsible for Doctor Who’s revival in 2005, will be back to celebrate the show’s 60th anniversary in 2023, the BBC previously said.
The announcement was teased by Davies and Gatwa on Instagram, with a post featuring two heart emojis, a plus symbol and a blue square.
Debut: The official Doctor Who Twitter account broke the news on Sunday
Last month Doctor Who fans descended into a frenzy following Sunday’s Easter Special, as the time traveller confessed her love for her female companion Yasmin.
In emotional scenes after defeating the villainous Sea Devils, the heroine admitted that ‘if it was going to be anyone, it’d be her,’ but noted that she could never act on her feelings because of her immortality.
Following hints that the pair would finally address their growing feelings, the touching scene sent Who fans into a frenzy, with one even admitting they were ‘absolutely sobbing’ after watching the scene.
At last! Last month Doctor Who fans descended into a frenzy following Sunday’s Easter Special, as the time traveller confessed her love for her female companion Yasmin
During the episode, which saw The Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) and her companions Yaz (Mandip Gill) and Dan (John Bishop) transported to 19th Century China, the trio were tasked with battling the iconic Sea Devil villains.
In a standout moment, The Doctor transported the TARDIS to the bottom of the ocean leaving both herself and Yaz in awe of the stunning underwater views.
As the Time Lord quipped: ‘Not a bad date, am I?’ Yaz could be seen gazing at her in the emotionally-charged moment.
Love is in the air! In emotional scenes after defeating the villainous Sea Devils, the heroine admitted that ‘if it was going to be anyone, it’d be her’
While Yaz later came dangerously close to confessing her feelings, it was The Doctor who made the move first, telling her companion: ‘Dates are not something I really do. I mean I used to. Have done. And if I was going to, believe me: it would be with you.
‘I think you’re one of the greatest people that I’ve ever known… If it was going to be anyone, it’d be you. But I can’t.’
Questioned by Yaz, she added: ‘There’s no point. Time always runs out,’ alluding to her immortal state, famously noted by The Tenth Doctor (David Tennant) in response to his growing feelings for companion Rose Tyler (Billie Piper).
Love is in the air! In a standout moment, The Doctor transported the TARDIS to the bottom of the ocean, before she quipped: ‘Not a bad date am I?’
So much romance! Yaz could be seen gazing at her in the emotionally charged moment
In the episode’s final scene, the pair once again addressed their growing feelings, with The Doctor telling Yaz: ‘I can’t fix myself to anything, anywhere, or anyone. I’ve never been able to. That’s what my life is.
‘Not because I don’t want to, because I might. But if I do fix myself to somebody, I know sooner or later it’ll hurt… Can we just live in the present of what we have, while we still have it?’
Making a wish on a skipping stone, she added: ‘I wish this could go on forever.’
It can’t happen: While Yaz later came dangerously close to confessing her feelings, it was The Doctor who made the move first
Tragic: While she noted that Yaz was ‘one of the greatest people she had never known,’ they could never act on their feelings due to her immortal state
The vindication that Yaz’s feelings for The Doctor were reciprocated sent die-hard fans into a frenzy, with many flooding Twitter with their reaction.
One wrote: ‘that thasmin beach scene is actually one of my favourite scenes in chibnalls whole era,’ while another added: ‘nah, last night’s ep actually happened? thasmin is canon? thirteen reciprocates? what timeline do we live in?’
‘IF IT WAS GOING TO BE ANYONE ITD BE YOU. EXCUSE ME WHILE I DIE,’ one hysterical fan tweeted.
It’s happening! The vindication that Yaz’s feelings for The Doctor were reciprocated sent die-hard fans into a frenzy, with many flooding Twitter with their reaction
A fan tweeted: ’13 said if she’d date anyone it’d be Yaz…. she just told Yaz she loves her too OH MY GOD.’
‘Absolutely sobbing omg. Love them #Doctorwho #Thasmin,’ a hysterical fan added.
Fans have been calling for Doctor Who to address the time traveller’s growing feelings for Yaz, marking her first same-sex relationship with a companion.
Coming soon: Following the episode, Doctor Who teased the return of two former companions in the spellbinding trailer for its centenary special (pictured in-character)
Following the episode, Doctor Who teased the return of two former companions in the spellbinding trailer for its centenary special, airing later this year much to the excitement of fans.
The titular character, played Jodie Whittaker, is told that she is going to die in the gripping footage, having announced her departure from the iconic role last year.
She’ll be joined by Aussie air stewardess Tegan Jovanka (Sophie Aldred) who starred alongside Sylvester McCoy in the late 80s, as well as Ace (Janet Fielding) having worked with Tom Baker and Peter Davison earlier in the same decade.
Return: The Doctor will be joined by an Aussie air stewardess Tegan Jovanka (Sophie Aldred) who starred alongside Sylvester McCoy in the late 80s
Usual favourites including the Daleks and Cybermen feature in the 30-second extravaganza while the Doctor is seen regenerating in another clip, despite being told it would be the ‘end of her existence’.
The sci-fi drama hit the small screen in 1963, however the BBC is celebrating one hundred years since its launch as a radio station in October 1922.
Current Time Lord Jodie’s role comes to an end this autumn with a regeneration episode after she became the first ever female Doctor in 2017.
Doctor Who will return later this year for BBC’s Centenary Special.
Here she is: Ace (Janet Fielding) worked with Tom Baker and Peter Davison earlier in the same decade, is also set to return for the special
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