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Fifteenth Doctor

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The Doctor
The Fifteenth Doctor
Doctor Who character
Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor wears a brown patterned suit and a bright orange top. The night sky is behind him.
Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor
First regular appearance"The Church on Ruby Road" (2023)
Introduced byRussell T Davies
Portrayed byNcuti Gatwa
Preceded byDavid Tennant (Fourteenth Doctor)
Information
Tenure25 December 2023 – present
No of series1
Appearances8 stories (9 episodes)
Companions
Chronology

The Fifteenth Doctor is the current incarnation of the Doctor, the protagonist of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. He is portrayed by Rwandan-Scottish actor Ncuti Gatwa.[1] His first series companion is Ruby Sunday, played by Millie Gibson.[2]

Within the series' narrative, the Doctor is a millennia-old alien Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey, with somewhat unknown origins, who travels in time and space in their TARDIS, frequently with companions. Usually, at the end of each incarnation's life, the Doctor regenerates; as a result, their physical appearance and personality changes. However, the Fifteenth Doctor emerged unconventionally, via "bi-generation", in which he split from his predecessor, the Fourteenth Doctor's body, rather than replacing him, allowing both incarnations to co-exist. In contrast to his predecessors, Gatwa portrays a Doctor who is attempting to let go of much of his recent emotional trauma, with a more emotionally balanced, liberated, fun-loving, and affectionate outward persona. In contrast to previous Doctors, the Fifteenth Doctor's stories include a greater focus on fantasy elements, intended by showrunner Russell T Davies to "increase the danger" and have a "bigger, wider sense of imagination".[3]

His first episode as lead actor aired on 25 December 2023,[4] and his first full series premiered on 11 May 2024.[5]

Casting

[edit]
Ncuti Gatwa

Before Gatwa's casting was announced, several actors were heavily rumoured to be taking over from Whittaker, including Hugh Grant, Michael Sheen, Kris Marshall, Richard Ayoade, Michaela Coel, Kelly Macdonald, and Lenny Henry. Russell T Davies' return as the programme's showrunner also led to speculation that an actor he had previously worked with in other projects would join him as the Fourteenth Doctor, with Olly Alexander, Lydia West, Omari Douglas, T'Nia Miller, and Fisayo Akinade ranking highly in bookies' odds.[6] Rumours also circulated that David Tennant would reprise his role, having previously portrayed the Tenth Doctor during Davies' initial time as showrunner, or that Jo Martin, who debuted as the Fugitive Doctor during Whittaker's tenure, would be revealed as the Fourteenth incarnation.[7]

On 8 May 2022, Gatwa posted an Instagram picture featuring two red heart emojis, a plus sign, and a blue box emoji.[8] The post, alongside comments from incoming Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies,[9] led to speculation that Gatwa had been cast as the Doctor. This was later confirmed that same day by the official Doctor Who Twitter account.[10]

Gatwa is the first black actor,[11] first African-born actor, and first openly queer actor to headline as the Doctor.[12][13] He is also the fourth Scottish actor to play the character.[14][15]

In an article released on the Doctor Who website, Gatwa said, "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 utmost to do the same."[10]

Davies added, "Ncuti dazzled us, seized hold of the Doctor and owned those TARDIS keys in seconds... I promise you, 2023 will be spectacular!"[10]

Gatwa had previously been announced as Jodie Whittaker's successor as the programme's lead, and many reports stated he would play the Fourteenth Doctor and that Whittaker's Thirteenth Doctor would regenerate into Gatwa's incarnation.[1][16] At the conclusion of Whittaker's final episode, "The Power of the Doctor" (2022), her Doctor instead regenerated into a form similar to the Tenth Doctor. Gatwa was subsequently confirmed as the Fifteenth Doctor, following Tennant's Fourteenth Doctor's tenure over the 2023 specials. Executive producer Russell T Davies stated "the path to Ncuti's 15th Doctor is laden with mystery, horror, robots, puppets, danger and fun!"[5] Gatwa appeared in character for the first time in the trailer for the 2023 specials.[17]

Costume

[edit]

I came to the show with that notion, thinking, 'Why do we keep repeating the same clothes?' To be blunt, with the bigger budget, we have the freedom to play and explore this stuff.

Russell T Davies[18]

Gatwa, wearing his leather coat, while filming "The Church on Ruby Road"

In a departure for the character of the Doctor, the Fifteenth Doctor wears a variety of clothing rather than adopting one distinct style.[19] Pam Downe, a costume designer who had previously worked on the 60th anniversary specials, was tasked with designing the Doctor's extensive wardrobe. Downe first drew up numerous mood boards containing different ideas for the costumes, and presented them to Gatwa and the production team; the boards included "all kinds of gender-pushing, societal-pushing outfits".[20] One of them was an image of a "well-known American football player" wearing a "suit skirt"; though Downe thought they would have to "wait a bit of time" before introducing that, as it's "such a big jump from former Doctors."[21] Gatwa likened the Doctor to Captain Britain, and wanted "to travel through all the subcultures of Britain" through the Doctor's fashion.[20] Davies said he was familiar with cosplay and wanted cosplayers to have "a great big swimming pool" of costumes to replicate. He also wanted to "put it back into the children's house", with clothes that every child has "under the stairs somewhere."[22]

Gatwa's initial inclination for the Fifteenth Doctor's style was inspired by Ralph Lauren's "preppy" designs in collaboration with Morehouse College and Spelman College, noting the colleges' Black histories. The production team opted for less "traditional" looks, wanting to "push it forward".[23] Interviewer Devan Coggan disclosed that the Fifteenth Doctor's costumes were designed to reflect the planet or time period visited in each episode, including a Regency era costume for the episode "Rogue" and a "meticulously tailored pinstripe suit" for the 1960s-set "The Devil's Chord".[20] The Doctor's suit was inspired by images of the Rolling Stones.[24] In the 2023 Christmas special "The Church on Ruby Road", the Doctor wears three different costumes; including a kilt and vest when dancing in a nightclub. Downe said this was a "chance to see how far we could go and it works because he can really wear it."[24] The leather coat worn by the Doctor in both the special and first episode "Space Babies" was inspired by "seventies America" mixed with "UK-based eighties ska", with the trousers inspired by Gurkha trousers.[24] The photoshoot for Coggan's interview also revealed two costumes from series 15, described as "an elaborate tartan jacket with a kilt and a stunning all-white look".[20]

Downe also incorporated references to previous Doctors in Gatwa's costumes; Louise Griffin of Radio Times noted that Gatwa's costume for "Rogue" includes a burgundy velvet jacket reminiscent of the Third Doctor's (Jon Pertwee) costumes.[25] Gatwa expressed an affinity for the style of Pertwee's Doctor, jokingly claiming that "our Doctors are the only two who dress like sluts".[26] Writing in British Vogue, Radhika Seth described the Fifteenth Doctor's early costumes as ranging "from a tangerine-coloured knit and a bright blue double-breasted pinstripe suit, to a glossy leather trench paired with a sweatshirt zipped down to expose his chest and a set of delicate gold necklaces, summarising that "Doctor Who is getting sexy".[23]

Appearances

[edit]

Prior to the first appearance of the Fifteenth Doctor, Gatwa made an uncredited cameo as himself, in costume as the Doctor, during an edited repeat of the 2013 docudrama An Adventure in Space and Time, airing on 23 November 2023, Doctor Who's sixtieth anniversary. In the original version, while preparing to film his regeneration scene, William Hartnell (David Bradley) looks across the TARDIS console and sees a vision of Matt Smith, the actor who played the then-incumbent Eleventh Doctor during the show's fiftieth anniversary year. For the 2023 repeat, the scene was edited to replace Smith with Gatwa.[27]

Gatwa first appears as the Fifteenth Doctor in the 60th anniversary special episode "The Giggle", appearing in the final third of the story as the Fourteenth Doctor (David Tennant) appears to regenerate but instead "bi-generates", introducing the new Doctor as a separate physical entity. The two Doctors team up to defeat the malevolent deity the Toymaker (Neil Patrick Harris), and later use the remaining power of the latter's lingering reality-warping domain to duplicate the TARDIS. The Fifteenth Doctor shares some words of wisdom with his predecessor, who returns the favour by wishing him luck, before setting off for new adventures in his version of the TARDIS.

The Doctor next appears in "The Church on Ruby Road" in which he meets new companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) and faces off against goblins. In the subsequent episodes, the Doctor and Ruby encounter a surprising amount of magical and supernatural threats, including a fairy circle in "73 Yards" and Maestro (Jinkx Monsoon), the child of the Toymaker, in "The Devil's Chord". Maestro warns that more evil extra-dimensional gods from their pantheon are pursuing the Doctor, including "The One Who Waits". Ruby herself also exhibits strange qualities when her life is endangered, frequently conjuring the heavy snow from the day she was abandoned at the church of Ruby Road as baby. Late in the season, the Doctor begins a romance with a time and space travelling male bounty hunter known as Rogue (Jonathan Groff) in the episode of the same name.[28] Over the course of the season, the Doctor and Ruby repeatedly encounter the same woman's likeness (played by Susan Twist) across time and space, which they first begin to notice in "Dot and Bubble". In "The Legend of Ruby Sunday", the Doctor attempts to solve the mystery of Ruby's origins and the mysterious woman. They uncover that "The One Who Waits" is the Doctor's old enemy Sutekh (Gabriel Woolf), the god of death, and that he has been secretly attached to the Doctor's TARDIS for most of his travels. In the end, the Doctor and Ruby defeat Sutekh, and say a bittersweet goodbye in "Empire of Death" after reuniting Ruby with her birth mother.

In "Joy to the World", the Doctor is expected to meet one-off companion Joy (Nicola Coughlan). In series 15, the Doctor and Ruby are set to be joined by a new companion, Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu).[29]

Reception

[edit]
Gatwa

Announcement and responses

[edit]

Angus Robertson, Scotland's Culture Secretary, congratulated Gatwa on his casting.[30] Actor and singer Olly Alexander, thought to be among the front-runners for the role,[31] tweeted his joy at the casting.[30]

Fellow Scot Sylvester McCoy, who portrayed the Seventh Doctor, tweeted his pleasure over another Scottish actor taking the reins of the Doctor. At the 2022 Paris Fan Festival, Matt Smith, who portrayed the Eleventh Doctor, openly expressed his support to Gatwa taking on the role.[32] In an interview with STV News, Peter Capaldi, who portrayed the Twelfth Doctor, stated that he believed that Gatwa would be "an amazing Doctor." During the 2022 British Academy Television Awards, Gatwa stated that David Tennant, who portrayed the Tenth Doctor, and Jodie Whittaker, who played the Thirteenth Doctor, both called him to express their support.[33]

Critical reception

[edit]

Following the broadcast of "The Church on Ruby Road", Martin Belam of The Guardian said Gatwa "totally owned the episode".[34] Jordan King of Empire Magazine described his performance as "a breath of fresh air" and said he was "a real gift".[35] Gatwa's performance in series 14 earned praise from critics. Many writers for The Independent called Gatwa's acting "interstellar" and "mesmerising".[36][37] Naina Bajekal of Time magazine believed that Gatwa was "bringing Doctor Who into a new era".[38] Mary McNamara of Los Angeles Times called Gatwa "an absolute delight" and wrote that his "unbridled exuberance makes this an easy sell and serves as a data bridge between new viewers and old."[39]

Conversely, some reviewers were critical of the Fifteenth Doctor's characterisation, or the scripts of Gatwa's tenure.[40][41]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Ncuti Gatwa: BBC names actor as next Doctor Who star". BBC News. 8 May 2022.
  2. ^ Travis, Emlyn. "'Doctor Who' reveals first look at Ncuti Gatwa as 15th Doctor". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  3. ^ "Russell T. Davies turned to fantasy to make Doctor Who think harder". The Verge. Vox Media Inc. 17 May 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  4. ^ Laford, Andrea (6 November 2023). "Doctor Who Christmas special air date and title revealed". CultBox. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  5. ^ a b Kilbane, Aoife (23 October 2022). "Doctor Who: Here they come..." BBC Media Centre. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  6. ^ "Doctor Who: Every 14th Doctor Actor Rumor, Candidate & Favorites Explained". Screen Rant. 5 April 2022.
  7. ^ "Doctor Who: 6 People Rumored or Speculated to Play the 14th Doctor, So Far". 19 July 2021.
  8. ^ "♥️♥️➕🟦 – Ncuti Gatwa – @ncutigatwa Mystalk". mystalk.net. Archived from the original on 18 May 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  9. ^ "♥️♥️➕🟦 – Russell T Davies – @russelltdavies63 Mystalk". mystalk.net.[permanent dead link‍]
  10. ^ a b c "Ncuti Gatwa is the Doctor | Doctor Who". www.doctorwho.tv. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  11. ^ Belam, Martin (8 May 2022). "Doctor Who: Ncuti Gatwa to replace Jodie Whittaker, BBC announces". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  12. ^ Ward, Victoria (8 May 2022). "Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa announced as first black Doctor Who". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  13. ^ "Why Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor Is a Step Forward for 'Doctor Who'". Collider. 4 September 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  14. ^ "Ncuti Gatwa to take over from Jodie Whittaker as new Doctor Who, BBC announces". The Scotsman. 9 May 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  15. ^ "Ncuti Gatwa becomes first person of color to play Doctor Who and fourth Scot". The National. 8 May 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  16. ^ Martin Belam (8 May 2022). "Doctor Who: Ncuti Gatwa to replace Jodie Whittaker, BBC announces". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  17. ^ Hegarty, Tasha (23 October 2022). "Doctor Who trailer confirms when 60th anniversary specials and Ncuti Gatwa's first episode will air". Digital Spy. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  18. ^ "Russell T. Davies' 'Doctor Who' Dreams, From Cosplay To Theme Parks". Forbes. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  19. ^ Cormack, Morgan (27 April 2023). "Doctor Who changes things up with Ncuti Gatwa costume twist". Radio Times. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  20. ^ a b c d Coggan, Devan (16 April 2024). "A new (re)generation: Inside Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor Who". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  21. ^ Shafer, Ellise (11 May 2024). "'Doctor Who' Costume Designer on What Inspired Ncuti Gatwa's Bold Look, From '70s New York to Men in Skirts". Variety. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  22. ^ "Russell T. Davies' 'Doctor Who' Dreams, From Cosplay To Theme Parks". Forbes. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  23. ^ a b Seth, Radhika (25 December 2024). "Ncuti Gatwa On Doctor Who And Baring It All In British Vogue". British Vogue. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  24. ^ a b c Quinn, Jason (29 February 2024). "Time Lord Style: Dedicated Follower of Fashion". Doctor Who Magazine 601. Panini UK: 25–29.
  25. ^ Griffin, Louise (29 February 2024). "Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor Who costumes will include "nods" to past Doctors". Radio Times. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  26. ^ Rumfitt, Alison (10 July 2023). "Ncuti Gatwa on Doctor Who: 'The Doctor is me'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  27. ^ Griffin, Louise (23 November 2023). "Doctor Who's Ncuti Gatwa appears in revamped An Adventure in Space and Time". Radio Times. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  28. ^ Opie, David (8 June 2024). "Doctor Who's groundbreaking Bridgerton episode 'Rogue' finally gives us the queer love story fans deserve". Games Radar. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  29. ^ Edwards, Molly; West, Amy (26 July 2024). "Doctor Who unveils first look at Christmas special and confirms Varada Sethu's companion name – and her potential link to an existing character". Games Radar. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  30. ^ a b Rowlands, Robert (8 May 2022). "Doctor Who fan reaction as Ncuti Gatwa announced as new Time Lord". CoventryLive.
  31. ^ "Olly Alexander talks about Doctor Who rumours". Belfast Telegraph.
  32. ^ Craig, David (9 May 2022). "Matt Smith and Sylvester McCoy congratulate Ncuti Gatwa on Doctor Who role". Radio Times. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  33. ^ Carr, Flora (13 May 2022). "Doctor Who's Peter Capaldi says Ncuti Gatwa will make "amazing" Doctor". Radio Times. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  34. ^ Belam, Martin (25 December 2023). "Doctor Who: The Church on Ruby Road – 2023 Christmas special recap". The Guardian.
  35. ^ "Doctor Who: The Church On Ruby Road". Empire. 22 December 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  36. ^ Power, Ed (11 May 2024). "Doctor Who: Space Babies and The Devil's Chord review – Ncuti Gatwa is the perfect Doctor with megawatt charm". The Independent. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  37. ^ Spencer-Elliott, Lydia (7 May 2024). "Doctor Who review roundup: Critics praise 'mesmerising' performance from Ncuti Gatwa". The Independent. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  38. ^ "How Ncuti Gatwa Is Bringing 'Doctor Who' Into a New Era". Time. 16 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  39. ^ "Being a 'Doctor Who' fan means learning how to love and lose and love again". Los Angeles Times. 17 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  40. ^ Elvy, Craig (29 July 2021). "Ncuti Gatwa Is Great, But Doctor Who's Fifteenth Doctor Is So Bad At His Job". ScreenRant. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  41. ^ https://metro.co.uk/2024/06/21/ncuti-gatwas-doctor-season-one-major-flaw-cant-get-21073739/ Metro.co.uk
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