Warning! Spoilers ahead for the Doctor Who season 15 finale!Doctor Whostar Ncuti Gatwa shares an emotional goodbye following the end of his tenure as the Doctor. Gatwa began his run onDoctor Whoin 2023 in an era that was designed to be a jumping-on point for new viewers. With a deal that hadDoctor Whostream on Disney+ as well as release on the BBC, Gatwa’s run became the second shortest since the series rebooted in 2005, after Christopher Eccleston only had one season as the Ninth Doctor.Doctor Whoseason 15saw the Doctor trying to return to Earth before it could be destroyed.
Gatwa issued a farewell via the officialDoctor WhoYouTube page. Gatwa acknowledges thatevery actor who plays the Doctor goes in knowing that the role is temporaryand will be passed on to someone else. He notes that the role is both physically and emotionally taxing and that it is time for him to depart. He shares hisgratitude towards the fans and how important it was to increase the representation of the Doctor. Check out his statement below:
It was always the plan. You know it’s going to happen when you get cast. You’re like, ‘I’m gonna have to hand this baton over. One day, it’s all going to come to an end.’ It’s been bittersweet, as I can imagine it’s been for all Doctors. It’s a role that demands a lot of you, physically, and emotionally, and mentally. The actors playing the Doctor are only actors playing the Doctor. Unfortunately, we are mere mortals. I would love to have the energy and the youth to be able to do this full-time for the rest of my life, but my knees are telling me it’s time.
I’ll just always remember after I was cast and the first Notting Hill Carnival I went to, the amount of people at Carni that were coming up to me being like, ‘I’m a fan of Doctor Who. I can’t believe you’re Doctor Who, ‘and I remember thinking, admittedly, ‘I didn’t know that this was a demographic that Doctor Who reached.’ I just didn’t know Black people watched Doctor Who like that.
This level of representation, it means a lot. And that’s beautiful to be able to be a part of that message that anyone can play the Doctor. That’s felt really beautiful. And also, it’s just great to be able to play a part as rich as that. As an actor, all you want is, like, good writing and a good role, good cast. And that’s what this job provides. So it was beautiful to do.
What This Means For Doctor Who
The Finale Saw The Return Of A Surprising Face
As soon as a new Doctor is cast in the modern era, some of the discourse almost immediately turns to who will take on the role after the new actor, and this was certainly true for Gatwa. Gatwa entered following the divisiveChris Chibnall run asDoctor Whoshowrunnerwhen the series needed to be injected with new energy. Despite some controversial storylines, returning showrunner Russell T Davies referenced the previous run extensively.
Doctor Whoseason 16has yet to be announced, and it isunknown if the series will return to Disney+. However, theDoctor Whoseason 15 finalewould make the series hard to cancel as it introduced fan-favorite companion actor Billie Piper as the Sixteenth Doctor. For the 50th anniversary, Fourth Doctor actor Tom Baker returned as the Curator, telling the Eleventh Doctor, “In years to come, you might find yourself revisiting a few [familiar faces], but just the old favorites,” something already seen with David Tennant returning.
Our Thoughts On Gatwa’s Run As The Doctor
He Played The Role Wonderfully
As with every run onDoctor Who, some ofGatwa’s episodes were excellent, while others ranked lower. However, Gatwa was always tremendous as the Doctor. He brought a greater emotional range to the character, while still having energy, confidence, gravitas, and anger. The natural curiosity and intelligence of the Doctor was always present, and he had an outstanding take on the character. While it is sad to see him go, the next iteration ofDoctor Whois sure to get viewers excited.
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Doctor Who: Released on July 19, 2025, this series follows the Doctor and their companion as they journey across time and space, encountering a range of extraordinary friends and adversaries, expanding the universe of the long-running British science fiction series.
