Ncuti Gatwa jokes about Doctor Who casting on stage at the BAFTA TV Awards

He will take over as Doctor Who from Jodie Whittaker after her departure as the Time Lord later this year. 

And Ncuti Gatwa was already having fun with his new role while enjoying a playful joke onstage at the BAFTA TV Awards 2022 on Sunday evening.  

As the actor, 29, was introduced by fellow Sex Education star Aimee Lou Wood on stage to present the Best Scripted Comedy category she set up a ‘knock knock’ joke. 

‘Who’s there?’ Ncuti responded, with Aimee Lou following up ‘Doctor’. ‘Who?’ Ncuti asked, with both of them then cheering ‘ayyy!’

The 29-year-old is the first black actor to take on the leading role as The Doctor, after Jodie made history as the first permanent female Time Lord in 2017.

Jo Martin played the first black incarnation of the Time Lord in a January 2020 episode, Future of the Judoon, as Ruth Clayton, but Gatwa has become the first black Doctor to be cast as the series lead. 

Hysterical: The new Dr. Who was left in fits of laughter on stage with Aimee Lou

 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).

Just hours after the announcement, Gatwa and Davies, who is returning as Doctor Who’s showrunner, grinned and posed for snaps at the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards at the Royal Festival Hall on Sunday.

Gatwa showed off his sensational sense of style in a black suit with a plunging neckline and dramatic floor-length tassels, while he completed the look with a pair of sandals.

Congrats! Ncuti was on stage to present the cast of BBC comedy Motherland with their first BAFTA for its final season in the Best Scripted Comedy category 

Exciting: Ncuti attended this year’s BAFTA TV Awards ceremony alongside returning Doctor Who writer Russell T Davies after it was confirmed that he will take over from Jodie Whittaker as the Time Lord in the hit BBC series

New guard: Gatwa is the first black actor to take on the leading role as The Doctor in the show’s history, after Jodie made history as the first permanent female Time Lord

History maker: 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 after five years

Davies cut a smart figure in a black suit and a pink tie with gold leaf patterning as he joined Gatwa on the red carpet, where they both spoke about their excitement at the Sex Education star taking over from Whittaker.

On the red carpet, Gatwa admitted that he has kept his casting in Doctor Who under wraps since February and praised the popular sci-fi series for making people feel ‘seen’.

In his first interview since the announcement, he said: ‘I’ve known since February. It’s been tricky keeping this under wraps because I’ve got a very big mouth. We did it.

‘It feels amazing, this role is an institution and it’s so iconic and means so much to so many people, including myself.

‘It makes everyone feel seen. I’m very grateful to have the baton handed over and I’m going to try and do my best.’

Meanwhile, Davies said the team thought they had already chosen someone for the role of The Doctor when Gatwa came in and ‘stole’ the job.

Success story: 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 – pictured together)

 ‘It was talent. He was the very last one, we thought we had someone and then in he came in and stole it,’ Davies said.

‘Genuinely loved Sex Education and loved his work, didn’t quite know what we were going to get. I am properly thrilled.’

At this year’s BAFTA TV Awards, Gatwa has been nominated for Male Performance in a Comedy Programme for his role as Eric in Sex Education and is up against Jamie Demetriou (Stath Lets Flats), Joe Gilgun (Brassic), Samson Kayo (Bloods), Steve Coogan (This Time With Alan Partridge) and Tim Renkow (Jerk).

Queer As Folk and It’s A Sin writer 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.

Keeping quiet: Speaking on the red carpet, Gatwa (pictured with Davies) admitted that he has kept his casting in Doctor Who a secret since February and praised the popular series for making people feel ‘seen’ 

Debut: The official Doctor Who Twitter account broke the news on Sunday

The announcement of the new Doctor was teased by Davies and Gatwa on Instagram on Sunday, with a post featuring two heart emojis, a plus symbol and a blue square.

Previously speaking about his new role, Gatwa said he was ‘deeply honoured’ and ‘beyond excited’, but admitted that he was also a ‘little bit scared’ to join the franchise.

He told the BBC : ‘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.’

He 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.

Joy: Just hours after the news, Gatwa and Davies stepped out at the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards at the Royal Festival Hall together on Sunday 

 ‘Unlike the Doctor, I may only have one heart but I am giving it all to this show.’

Davies said that Gatwa ‘dazzled’ in his audition, adding: ‘The future is here and it’s Ncuti! 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.’

He continued: ‘Ncuti dazzled us, seized hold of the Doctor and owned those TARDIS keys in seconds. It’s an honour to work with him, and a hoot, I can’t wait to get started.

‘I’m sure you’re dying to know more, but we’re rationing ourselves for now, with the wonderful Jodie’s epic finale yet to come. But I promise you, 2023 will be spectacular.’

BAFTA TV AWARDS 2022: THE WINNERS

Comedy Entertainment Programme

The Graham Norton Show

The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan – WINNER

Race Around Britain

The Ranganation

Current Affairs

Fearless: The Women Fighting Putin (Exposure) – WINNER 

Four Hours at the Capitol

The Men Who Sell Football (Al Jazeera Investigations)

Trump Takes on the World

Daytime

The Chase – WINNER 

Moneybags

Richard Osman’s House of Games

Steph’s Packed Lunch

Drama Series

In My Skin -WINNER

Manhunt: The Night Stalker

Unforgotten

Vigil

Entertainment Performance

Alison Hammond (I Can See Your Voice)

Big Zuu (Big Zuu’s Big Eats) – WINNER

Graham Norton (The Graham Norton Show)

Joe Lycett (Joe Lycett’s Got Your Back)

Michael McIntyre (Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel)

Sean Lock (8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown)

Entertainment Programme

An Audience with Adele

Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway – WINNER 

Life & Rhymes

Strictly Come Dancing

The Factual Series

The Detectives: Fighting Organised Crime

9/11: One Day in America

Undercover Police: Hunting Paedophiles

Uprising – WINNER

Features

Big Zuu’s Big Eats – WINNER

Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing

Sort Your Life Out

The Great British Sewing Bee

Female Performance in a Comedy Programme

Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education)

Aisling Bea (This Way Up)

Anjana Vasan (We Are Lady Parts)

Natasia Demetriou (Stath Lets Flats)

Rose Matafeo (Starstruck)

Sophie Willan (Alma’s Not Normal) -WINNER

International

Call My Agent!

Lupin

Mare of Easttown

Squid Game

Succession

The Underground Railroad – WINNER 

Single Documentary

9/11: Inside the President’s War Room

Grenfell: The Untold Story

My Childhood, My Country – 20 Years in Afghanistan – WINNER 

Nail Bomber: Man Hunt

Single Drama

Death of England: Face to Face

Help

I Am Victoria

Together – WINNER 

Specialist Factual

Black Power: A British Story of Resistance

Freddie Mercury: The Final Act

The Missing Children – WINNER 

Silenced: The Hidden Story of Disabled Britain

Sport

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – WINNER 

ITV Racing: The Grand National

Tokyo 2020 Olympics

UEFA Euro 2020 Semi-Final: England v Denmark

 

 

 

Leading Actor

David Thewlis (Landscapers)

Hugh Quarshie (Stephen)

Olly Alexander (It’s A Sin)

Samuel Adewunmi (You Don’t Know Me)

Sean Bean (Time) – WINNER 

Stephen Graham (Help)

Leading Actress

Denise Gough (Too Close)

Emily Watson (Too Close)

Jodie Comer (Help) – WINNER 

Kate Winslet (Mare of Easttown)

Lydia West (It’s A Sin)

Niamh Algar (Deceit)

Live Event

The Brit Awards 2021

The Earthshot Prize 2021 – WINNER 

The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance

Springwatch 2021

Male Performance in a Comedy Programme

Jamie Demetriou (Stath Lets Flats) – WINNER 

Joe Gilgun (Brassic)

Ncuti Gatwa (Sex Education)

Samson Kayo (Bloods)

Steve Coogan (This Time With Alan Partridge)

Tim Renkow (Jerk)

Mini-Series

It’s A Sin

Landscapers

Stephen

Time – WINNER

News Coverage

Channel 4 News: Black to Front

Good Morning Britain: Shamima Begum

ITV News at Ten: Storming of the Capitol – WINNER 

Sky News: Afghanistan: Endgame

Reality and Constructed Factual

Gogglebox – WINNER 

Married at First Sight UK

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK

The Dog House

Scripted Comedy

Alma’s Not Normal

Motherland

Stath Lets Flats – WINNER 

We Are Lady Parts

Short Form Programme

Hollyoaks Saved My Life (Hollyoaks IRL)

Our Land – WINNER 

People You May Know

Please Help

Soap & Continuing Drama

Casualty

Coronation Street – WINNER 

Emmerdale

Holby City 

Supporting Actor

Callum Scott Howells (It’s A Sin)

David Carlyle (It’s A Sin)

Matthew MacFadyen (Succession) – WINNER

Nonso Anozie (Sweet Tooth)

Omari Douglas (It’s A Sin)

Stephen Graham (Time)

Supporting Actress

Cathy Tyson (Help) – WINNER 

Celine Buckens (Showtrial)

Emily Mortimer (The Pursuit of Love)

Jessica Plummer (The Girl Before)

Leah Harvey (Foundation)

Tahirah Sharif (The Tower)

Virgin Media’s Must-See Moment

An Audience with AdeleI

I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!

It’s A Sin

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK

Squid Game

Strictly Come Dancing – WINNER