Latest news with #TimeLord
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Unlikely star could be next Doctor Who as fans call on producers to give BAFTA winner role
Doctor Who fans have suggested an unlikely face could be the right fit for the future of the show, with the BAFTA winner seemingly interested in taking on the role An unlikely TV veteran could be the next Doctor Who should producers listen to fan requests. The BAFTA winner has since confirmed he would be interested in the role, and would want to bring a "working class" background to the long-running television character. Fans were delighted when familiar face Billie Piper appeared as the next iteration of the Time Lord. Her casting as the titular Doctor follows on from Ncuti Gatwa's departure from the series. But a new star for the role could come from a BAFTA winner whose work on EastEnders, as well as films like The Football Factory and Run For Your Wife. Whether Danny Dyer 's wish of portraying the Doctor is granted is yet to be seen, but fans are hopeful the star will be given the chance. Dyer said: "It's such an iconic thing to do. It's almost – not on the same level – like James Bond. It gives you an opportunity with Doctor Who, because of the nature of the work, to bring something left-field, something a bit mental, a bit stylised, which I love. I love the idea of it." Fans seem to be on board for the "incredibly working-class Doctor Who" Dyer would bring to the screen. A post to the r/DoctorWhoNews Reddit page saw fans discuss the possibilities for the actor. One fan wrote: "Honestly, I dig it. It could never happen as the BBC and Bad Wolf need to save face but I'd love a series of Comic Relief /Children in Need sketches where they put a variety of ill-judged castings in the role and they all smash it. "You could make a solid comedy about the weird choices and misjudgements of the last few years of the show." Another user suggested people forget Dyer is a credible actor, and that his CV of roles fits the bill for what producers may want from a future Doctor Who star. They wrote: "People have forgotten he's actually a bl**dy great actor, really watchable. Let's not forget one of the most celebrated British playwrights, Harold Pinter, thought Dyer was so unbelievably talented he continuously cast him in all his productions. That's a glowing seal of approval. "Now's he's just won a BAFTA for Bigstuff (a part written for him by Luke Rattigan from series 4). He's absolutely sensational in Rivals with David Tennant. I honestly can't see why he wouldn't be a brilliant fresh bit of casting. "Any other actor with cult hits and accolades like that we'd be clawing for." Not everyone was convinced by Dyer in the lead role, with a few detractors sharing their kneejerk reaction was a "no" to the suggestion. But even they have warmed to the idea of Doctor Dyer. One fan wrote: "He's not the best actor, but Doctor Who isn't Shakespeare. Maybe this wouldn't actually be that bad." Another viewer added: "F**k it, why not?"
The Independent
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Ncuti Gatwa reflects on Doctor Who role: ‘It is a gift of a job'
Ncuti Gatwa, who recently departed Doctor Who, revealed he bonded with fellow Time Lord actor Matt Smith at Glastonbury, discussing the demanding nature of the role. Gatwa, who surprisingly left the BBC sci-fi series after just two seasons, described the job as incredibly stimulating but also "very exhausting". He previously stated on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that he left due to being "tired" and the role being physically, emotionally, and mentally "strenuous". Despite the toll, Gatwa expressed deep gratitude for the "gift of a job" and the passionate Doctor Who fanbase. Gatwa is currently promoting his new West End play, Born With Teeth, where he plays Christopher Marlowe, and also commented on his withdrawal from Eurovision due to a busy schedule.
Daily Mail
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Ncuti Gatwa, 32, reveals he quit Doctor Who because he feels he is getting 'too old' and his 'body feels tired'
At 32, he is hardly over the hill. Yet Doctor Who actor Ncuti Gatwa yesterday said he stepped away from the role because he is 'old, tired... and doing ballet instead'. Ncuti became the first black actor to lead the BBC show and was hailed for bringing fresh energy to the Time Lord – but after two series he has called time on the role. It comes amid reports of behind-the-scenes tension and a Eurovision controversy that saw the actor withdraw from presenting the British votes. Speaking to Laura Kuenssberg about leaving Doctor Who, the actor said: 'I'm getting old, and my body was tired... and I've now just started doing some ballet, so I'm making really great decisions.' Ncuti admitted the demands of Doctor Who left him drained 'physically, emotionally, mentally'. However, he described the role as 'the most amazing job in the world' and said 'never say never' when asked if he could return in the future. Ncuti is one of the youngest actors to have played the Doctor, with Matt Smith taking on the role at 26, Peter Davison at 29 and David Tennant at 34. Jodie Whittaker was 35 when she joined the show, while William Hartnell and Peter Capaldi were both 55 when they became the Time Lord. Ncuti's exit follows speculation over his decision to pull out of presenting the UK's Eurovision Song Contest results in May, with suggestions it was linked to Israel's participation in the contest during the conflict in Gaza. Addressing the rumours, he said: 'It all panned out very interestingly. I pulled out of it a long time before it was announced. 'And [I don't know why] it was announced when it was announced but I was just very busy.' Ncuti's final Doctor Who appearance aired in May and he will now star in the West End show Born With Teeth. This comes after the BBC issued a statement after livid Doctor Who fans complained about an episode being 'spoiled'. Doctor Who's 15th season wrapped up last month and saw Ncuti depart as the Time Lord in the series' finale. Ncuti's character regenerated into Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) in scenes that sent viewers into a meltdown. However, some fans voiced concerns that the episode was ruined because the BBC News site published an article with the headline: 'Ncuti Gatwa regenerates into Billie Piper as he leaves Doctor Who'. A spoiler warning was then written underneath, but many felt the headline spoiled the ending. Since then, the broadcaster has acknowledged the complaints and explained the reasoning behind the story. The statement read: 'Some people contacted us to complain that the headline gave away the ending, spoiling this Doctor Who episode for them. 'Others requested that the BBC be more conscious of spoilers going forward, particularly in the use of headlines. 'Ncuti Gatwa's departure from the series had been widely speculated and many fans will have been aware that this was a possibility. 'The headline on the news homepage that evening referred to Ncuti Gatwa's departure because this was a legitimate entertainment news story in its own right, and it is not unusual that we would carry this type of story once a programme has been broadcast and the details in the public domain.' It went on to reveal details of the regeneration was added in later on in the evening. The statement continued: 'While we cannot account for everyone's viewing habits, we initially held back from headlining the announcement of Ncuti Gatwa's regeneration into Billie Piper. 'This extra detail was added later in the evening and our approach was consistent across the BBC site. 'BBC journalists are of course entitled to use their judgement to decide which stories to cover and the manner in which they are reported. We also want our headlines to be as informative as possible. 'Although every story is different, we have discussed your concerns on this occasion with senior editors and we will be mindful of your views for future coverage.' When the episode aired, devout Whovians were not expecting the huge twist at the end when Ncuti's character regenerated into Rose amid his departure after just two series as woke storylines saw ratings for the much-loved show plunge. Billie first starred as the companion to the ninth Doctor in 2005, playing Rose Tyler alongside Christopher Eccleston's Time Lord. She went onto star alongside David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor in the second series. Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, fans were quick to share their reaction to Billie's shock comeback, with one even asking: ''Did my eyes actually deceive me?!' Doctor Who is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
South Wales Guardian
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Ncuti Gatwa says he left Doctor Who as ‘I am getting old and my body was tired'
The Rwandan-Scottish actor, 32, whose breakout role was Eric Effiong in Netflix hit Sex Education, played the Time Lord for two series after first appearing in a 60th anniversary special with the 10th and 14th incarnations of the Doctor, David Tennant. In May, during his final episode as the 15th Doctor, Gatwa appeared to be replaced by former Doctor Who companion Billie Piper when his character regenerated. Gatwa told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: 'I'm getting old, and my body was tired… and I've now just started doing some ballet, so I'm making really great decisions. 'It's the most amazing job in the world, a job that any actor would dream of and – because it's so good – it's strenuous. 'It takes a lot out of you, physically, emotionally, mentally, and so it was time.' Asked if he would ever come back to the show, he said: 'Never say never.' Barbie star Gatwa has played the Doctor since Tennant's Time Lord bi-generated in 2023, after his version of the alien character was brought back to the series as the 14th Doctor. Gatwa was expected to be the UK's spokesperson at the Eurovision Song Contest in May but pulled out, with speculation the decision was connected to controversy surrounding Israel's participation in the competition. 'It all panned out very interestingly. I pulled out of it a long time before it was announced', he said. 'And it was announced when it was announced, I don't know why, but I was just very busy. 'Just had a lot of work schedules, a lot of press around The Roses, around Doctor (Who).' Asked about the speculation surrounding his withdrawal, Gatwa, who did not watch this year's competition, said: 'I was just very busy.' The actor appeared on the Sunday morning news show to discuss the West End premiere of Born With Teeth, a play that re-imagines the relationship between rival playwrights Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare. Gatwa plays Marlowe with his Sex Education co-star Edward Bluemel as Shakespeare in the Royal Shakespeare Company production at London's Wyndham's Theatre from August. 'It's a really great story between these two huge literary icons, and it's very exciting to imagine what could have happened in a room together', he said.
North Wales Chronicle
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Chronicle
Ncuti Gatwa says he left Doctor Who as ‘I am getting old and my body was tired'
The Rwandan-Scottish actor, 32, whose breakout role was Eric Effiong in Netflix hit Sex Education, played the Time Lord for two series after first appearing in a 60th anniversary special with the 10th and 14th incarnations of the Doctor, David Tennant. In May, during his final episode as the 15th Doctor, Gatwa appeared to be replaced by former Doctor Who companion Billie Piper when his character regenerated. Gatwa told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: 'I'm getting old, and my body was tired… and I've now just started doing some ballet, so I'm making really great decisions. 'It's the most amazing job in the world, a job that any actor would dream of and – because it's so good – it's strenuous. 'It takes a lot out of you, physically, emotionally, mentally, and so it was time.' Asked if he would ever come back to the show, he said: 'Never say never.' Barbie star Gatwa has played the Doctor since Tennant's Time Lord bi-generated in 2023, after his version of the alien character was brought back to the series as the 14th Doctor. Gatwa was expected to be the UK's spokesperson at the Eurovision Song Contest in May but pulled out, with speculation the decision was connected to controversy surrounding Israel's participation in the competition. 'It all panned out very interestingly. I pulled out of it a long time before it was announced', he said. 'And it was announced when it was announced, I don't know why, but I was just very busy. 'Just had a lot of work schedules, a lot of press around The Roses, around Doctor (Who).' Asked about the speculation surrounding his withdrawal, Gatwa, who did not watch this year's competition, said: 'I was just very busy.' The actor appeared on the Sunday morning news show to discuss the West End premiere of Born With Teeth, a play that re-imagines the relationship between rival playwrights Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare. Gatwa plays Marlowe with his Sex Education co-star Edward Bluemel as Shakespeare in the Royal Shakespeare Company production at London's Wyndham's Theatre from August. 'It's a really great story between these two huge literary icons, and it's very exciting to imagine what could have happened in a room together', he said.
