Ncuti Gatwa defends BBC Doctor Who exit amid series controversy: ‘Always the plan!’
Following his surprise regeneration in The Reality War, Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa has confirmed his exit after just two seasons was always part of the plan.
In a behind-the-scenes video shared on YouTube, Gatwa explained the demanding nature of the role, saying: “It was always the plan to do this amount of seasons, because it’s a role that demands a lot of you, physically and emotionally and mentally.
“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.”
Gatwa departs after two seasons and 19 episodes, making his tenure one of the shortest in the modern era of the show.
Only Christopher Eccleston, who appeared in one season comprising 13 episodes, had a shorter run.
His predecessors – David Tennant, Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi and Jodie Whittaker – each stayed on for at least three seasons.
Interestingly, in 2024, while promoting the first season and filming the second, Gatwa had told fans he planned to “be around for a while”, joking: “You’re not getting rid of me yet.”
Speculation had been mounting in recent months that Gatwa was dropped from Doctor Who amid a significant ratings decline.
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Rumours intensified after Gatwa abruptly pulled out of announcing the UK’s jury scores during last month’s Eurovision Song Contest.
According to an alleged insider, his withdrawal left BBC bosses disappointed, with some sources claiming it was the “final nail in the coffin” for his time on the series.
Reflecting on his departure during Doctor Who: Unleashed, Gatwa described feeling a sense of closure.
He said: “You know it’s gonna happen when you get cast, you’re like, ‘I’m gonna have to hand this baton over one time, it’s all gonna come to an end soon.’ So I feel like I’ve been in constant preparation for that. It’s been bittersweet, as I can imagine it’s been for all Doctors.”
He added: “Just looking at the console before regenerating was like, ‘My god, this console. It’s been here for 60 years. And I was here for some of those years. And how magic.’
“But also, ‘My body is tired, you’ve tired me. You’ve tired me and I’m old now and I’m ready to settle down.’”
The finale delivered a major twist as Gatwa’s regeneration ended not with a traditional new Doctor reveal, but with the unexpected appearance of Billie Piper emerging from the regeneration energy.
Whether Piper is stepping in as the Sixteenth Doctor, reprising her iconic role as Rose Tyler, or playing someone new entirely is still unknown.
Doctor Who is available to stream on BBC iPlayer in the UK and on Disney+ internationally.