Ncuti Gatwa & Doctor Who: How He Changed the Show | NPR
- Ncuti Gatwa's tenure as the Fifteenth Doctor on Doctor Who concluded recently, marking the end of a distinctive chapter for the British sci-fi series.Gatwa's casting represented a meaningful...
- Davies, who originally revived doctor Who in 2005, brought a mix of elements to his second stint.
- Despite debates over the show's direction, the casting of Harris and Monsoon underscores a key aspect of Gatwa and Davies' collaboration: an embrace of unapologetic queerness.
Ncuti Gatwa’s time as the Doctor has concluded, ushering in a new era for Doctor Who. His casting as the Fifteenth Doctor was a historic moment, as the first Black, openly queer, and African-born actor to embody the role. Explore how the return of showrunner Russell T. Davies injected elements of fantasy. This bold move, featuring actors like Neil Patrick Harris and Jinkx Monsoon, reshaped the series’ identity by embracing unapologetic queerness. News Directory 3 presents an insightful look at this pivotal change.Discover what’s next for Doctor Who after Gatwa’s departure and Davies’s innovative vision.
Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor Who era ends with fantasy and queerness
updated June 7, 2025
Ncuti Gatwa’s tenure as the Fifteenth Doctor on Doctor Who concluded recently, marking the end of a distinctive chapter for the British sci-fi series.Gatwa’s casting represented a meaningful departure, as he was the first Black, openly queer, and African-born actor to take on the iconic role. He is Rwandan-Scottish, making him the fourth Scottish actor to play the doctor.
The return of Russell T. davies as showrunner further shaped this era. Davies, who originally revived doctor Who in 2005, brought a mix of elements to his second stint. One notable shift was the introduction of overt fantasy themes, with the Doctor encountering gods played by actors such as Neil Patrick harris and Jinkx Monsoon. This move towards fantasy,however,has been divisive among long-time viewers.
Despite debates over the show’s direction, the casting of Harris and Monsoon underscores a key aspect of Gatwa and Davies’ collaboration: an embrace of unapologetic queerness. This element has added a new dimension to the long-running series.
What’s next
The future direction of Doctor Who remains to be seen as the series moves beyond Gatwa’s era and Davies’ renewed vision. How the show balances its sci-fi roots with newfound fantasy elements will likely shape its appeal to both longtime fans and new audiences.