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The Doctor is in, and he's ready to take on new adventures across time and space. Ncuti Gatwa, best known for his role as Eric Effiong in Netflix's Sex Education, is the 15th actor to play the iconic Time Lord in the long-running sci-fi series Doctor Who.
Gatwa made his debut as the Doctor in the 60th anniversary special, which aired on December 9, 2023, on BBC and Disney+. He took over from Jodie Whittaker, who played the first female Doctor for three seasons and bowed out in the same episode.
The new Doctor will be joined by a new companion, Ruby Sunday, played by Millie Gibson, who starred in the British soap opera Coronation Street. The pair will embark on a series of thrilling and dangerous missions in the 14th season of Doctor Who, which will premiere over the "festive period" on Disney+.
The show also marks the return of Russell T. Davies, who revived Doctor Who in 2005 and helmed it until 2010. Davies will serve as the showrunner and executive producer for both the anniversary specials and the new season.
Here's everything you need to know about the new Doctor Who and what to expect from the upcoming episodes.
Who is Ncuti Gatwa?
Ncuti Gatwa is a 34-year-old Scottish-Rwandan actor who rose to fame for his portrayal of Eric Effiong, a gay teenager who struggles with his identity and sexuality, in the comedy-drama series Sex Education. He received critical acclaim and several award nominations for his performance, including a BAFTA TV Award for Best Male Comedy Performance in 2020.
Gatwa was born in Nyarugenge, Rwanda, and moved to Scotland with his family when he was three years old. He grew up in Edinburgh and Dunfermline, and studied drama at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow. He began his acting career in theatre, appearing in various plays and musicals, such as The Lion King, Kinky Boots, and The Last King of Scotland.
Gatwa was announced as the new Doctor Who in May 2022, after months of speculation and rumours. He is the first actor of African descent to play the role, and the second person of colour after Peter Capaldi, who is of Italian ancestry.
Gatwa expressed his excitement and gratitude for landing the coveted part in a press release. "There aren't quite the words to describe how I'm feeling," he said. "A mix of deeply honoured, beyond excited and of course a little bit scared. 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 utmost to do the same."
Davies, who cast Gatwa as the Doctor, praised his talent and charisma in the same statement. "Ncuti dazzled us, seized hold of the Doctor and owned those TARDIS keys in seconds," he said. "It's an honour to work with him, and a hoot, I can't wait to get started."
Who is Ruby Sunday?
Ruby Sunday is the new companion of the Doctor, played by Millie Gibson. She is a 19-year-old aspiring journalist who works at a local newspaper in London. She is smart, curious, and adventurous, but also has a rebellious streak and a knack for getting into trouble. She meets the Doctor when he crashes into her office, and decides to join him on his travels.
Gibson is a 22-year-old English actress who started her career as a child star. She appeared in several TV shows and films, such as The Dumping Ground, Love, Lies and Records, and The Bay. She is best known for her role as Kelly Neelan in the popular soap opera Coronation Street, which she played from 2019 to 2022.
Gibson was revealed as the new companion in November 2022, and shared her enthusiasm for the role in a press release. "Whilst still being in total disbelief, I am beyond honoured to be cast as the Doctor's companion," she said. "It is a gift of a role, and a dream come true, and I will do everything to try and fill the boots the fellow companions have travelled in before me. And what better way to do that than being by the fabulous Ncuti Gatwa's side, I just can't wait to get started."
Gatwa also welcomed Gibson to the Doctor Who family on his Instagram account. "Far too excited to sail the universe and battle monsters with this one," he wrote. "Believe me we got SO much in store for you."
What will the new season be about?
The new season of Doctor Who will consist of eight episodes, which will air on Disney+ in 2024. The first episode will be a holiday special, titled "The Church on Ruby Road", which will air on December 25, 2023. It will be the first Christmas Day premiere since 2017, as the previous four winter specials aired on New Year's Day.
The plot of the new season is still under wraps, but Davies teased some hints in an interview with Radio Times. He said that the new season will be "a celebration of everything Doctor Who", and that it will feature "some old friends, some new friends, some old enemies, some new enemies, some surprises, some shocks, some laughs, some tears, and a lot of fun".
He also said that the new season will explore the origins and mysteries of the Doctor, who is a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey. "We're going to find out things about the Doctor that we never knew before, and we're going to see him in a way that we've never seen him before," he said.
Davies also revealed that the new season will have a "big, epic, cinematic" style, and that it will be filmed in various locations around the world, such as New Zealand, Japan, and Morocco. He said that the new season will be "a visual feast" for the viewers, and that it will showcase the diversity and beauty of the planet.
What does the new Doctor look like?
In December 2022, Disney+ and BBC unveiled the first official photo of Gatwa and Gibson in their character costumes. The photo showed them standing in front of the TARDIS, the Doctor's time-travelling spaceship that looks like a blue police box.
Gatwa's outfit consisted of a bright orange shirt with a dark orange plaid jacket and trousers. He accessorized with some silver rings and Gallifreyan nail art, which is the language of the Time Lords. Gibson's outfit featured a denim jacket with blue shorts and tights underneath. She also wore a red beret and a backpack.
The photo received a lot of positive feedback from the fans, who praised the new Doctor's colourful and quirky look. Some also noticed that Gatwa's outfit had some similarities to the previous Doctors, such as the plaid pattern of Matt Smith's 11th Doctor, the orange hue of Christopher Eccleston's 9th Doctor, and the rings of Peter Capaldi's 12th Doctor.
Gatwa and Gibson also shared the photo on their social media accounts, and expressed their excitement for the new season. "Here we go," Gatwa wrote on his Instagram. "Can't wait for you to meet the new Doctor and his companion. It's going to be a wild ride." Gibson posted the same photo on her Twitter, and added: "The Doctor and Ruby Sunday are ready for action. Are you?"
