Ncuti Gatwa: "Sex Education" star will be the new Doctor Who

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Actor Gatwa: Soon the new »Doctor Who«

Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Actress Jodie Whittaker announced her departure from the popular British TV series Doctor Who last year.

Since then there has been much speculation as to who will succeed her in the series that started in 1963.

The BBC announced on Sunday that Ncuti Gatwa will replace Whittaker in the title role of Doctor Who.

"Sometimes talent walks through the door and it's so bright and bold and brilliant that I just go in awe and thank my lucky stars," said Russell T Davies, the series' returning director after about 12 years.

"Ncuti blinded us, took hold of the Doctor, and possessed the Tardis Keys in a matter of seconds."

Tardis is the name of the spaceship that the extraterrestrial "Time Lord", usually just called "Doctor", and his terrestrial companions use to experience interdimensional and intergalactic adventures.

It has the shape and color of an old British police emergency call box for camouflage.

Elegant trick for quick staff changes

Ncuti Gatwa, whose first name is pronounced "Shooty," is currently co-starring in the high school comedy-drama "Sex Education" as the flamboyant Eric Effiong, who is openly gay but comes from a strictly religious family.

The series is one of the most recent hits on Netflix.

Born in Rwanda and raised in Scotland, the 29-year-old will be the first black actor to star in the iconic sci-fi series, but he's not the first black Doctor.

British actress Jo Martin has played the role of the so-called Fugitive Doctor in previous episodes of the series.

Jodie Whittaker became the series' first female lead when she succeeded Peter Capaldi in 2017, making her the 13th overall Doctor Who in the character's long history.

Gatwa is now number 14. The trick to making the change of personnel permanent lies in the extraterrestrial nature of the »Doctor«: whenever its body has been pulled or injured too much, the creature can transform itself into a new body and gender form reincarnate.

»I give everything for this series«

The original series ran from 1963 to 1989. Since the 2005 revival, »Doctor« has also been played by Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant and Matt Smith.

Stars like Karen Gillan or Billie Piper appeared in the series as the so-called companions of the doctor.

Whittaker's final episode is expected to air later this year.

"This role and this series means so much to so many people around the world, including me, and each of my incredibly talented predecessors has handled this unique responsibility and privilege with the utmost care," Gatwa said, according to the BBC release.

"I will endeavor to do the same."

He describes his feelings as "a mixture of great honor, great excitement and, of course, a little fear."

Unlike the Doctor, he may only have one heart, "but I'm giving everything for this series," Gatwa added.

boron/AFP