Ncuti Gatwa recently opened up about why he left and stepped away from Doctor Who after just two seasons. In a new interview, he reflected on the physical and emotional toll of the role, his plans beyond the TARDIS, and whether he might return to the series in the future.
Ncuti Gatwa on why he left Doctor Who after Season 2
During an interview on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Ncuti Gatwa was asked why he decided to leave Doctor Who. He said, “Because I’m getting old and my body was tired. I’ve now just started doing some ballet, so I’m making some good decisions here.” (via Radio Times)
Gatwa described the role as intense and demanding. “It’s the most amazing job in the world. It’s 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. So, I – it was time,” he explained.
He previously addressed the physical and emotional toll of playing the Doctor in a behind-the-scenes video. “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,” Gatwa said. “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,” he further stated.
When asked recently whether he would return to the franchise in the future, Gatwa replied, “Never say never.” Ncuti Gatwa ended his run as the Fifteenth Doctor in the Season 2 finale, titled “The Reality War,” regenerating into a character played by Billie Piper. Notably, the show has not confirmed if she is the next Doctor.
Gatwa also addressed speculation surrounding his last-minute withdrawal from serving as a spokesperson at the Eurovision Song Contest. “I pulled out of it a long time before it was announced… I was just very busy, had a lot of work schedules – a lot of press around The Roses, around Doctor Who.” (via Radio Times)
Originally reported by Anubhav Chaudhry on SuperHeroHype.
