11/05/2022
LGBTQIA fans of science fiction, a genre which has always appealed to members of our community, are tweeting and expressing their delight as Ncuti Gatwa, who is already well known for playing a gay young man in the series Sex Education, was confirmed by the BBC as the fourteenth incarnation of “Doctor Who”. The new Doctor will take over from the incumbent Jodie Whittaker after her finale programme this November which will be broadcast to mark the one hundredth anniversary of the BBC as the UK’s public broadcaster. Mr Gatwa told journalists, “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 upmost to do the same.” Mr Gatwa will be guided through his tenure as the Doctor by gay showrunner Russell T Davies, who is returning to the programme after fifteen years. Davies said “The future is here and it’s Ncuti! Sometimes talent walks through the door and it’s so bright and bold and brilliant, I just stand back in awe and thank my lucky stars.” Mr Gatwa is first African born incarnation of the Doctor, but is not the first black incarnation. Jo Martin has portrayed an unspecified future incarnation in recent series who has interacted with the present Doctor.
