2025-07-13T11:09:06Z

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Former Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa has recently opened up about his departure from the beloved BBC series, revealing that age and fatigue played significant roles in his decision to leave. At 32 years old, the Rwandan Scottish actor, best known for his role as Eric Effiong in Netflix's critically acclaimed Sex Education, expressed his feelings candidly during an interview on BBC One's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.

Gatwa, who portrayed the iconic Time Lord for two series, made his grand debut as the 15th Doctor during the 60th anniversary special, sharing the screen with David Tennant, who played the 10th and 14th incarnations of the Doctor. His tenure came to a close in May, during his final episode, where his Doctor underwent regeneration, ultimately being succeeded by former Doctor Who companion Billie Piper.

Reflecting on his time in the role, Gatwa stated, I'm getting old and my body was tired... and I've now just started doing some ballet, so I'm making really great decisions. He emphasized the strenuous nature of working on the show, calling it the most amazing job in the world, a job that any actor would dream of. However, he also admitted, It takes a lot out of you, physically, emotionally, mentally, and so it was time. Despite stepping away, he remains open to the possibility of returning to Doctor Who, remarking, Never say never.

In addition to his role in Doctor Who, Ncuti Gatwa was poised to represent the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest earlier this year. However, he withdrew from this commitment, leading to speculation regarding the reasons behind his decision. Gatwa clarified that his withdrawal was not related to the controversy surrounding Israel's participation in the competition, stating, I was just very busy. He elaborated that he had multiple commitments, including promotional activities for both his recent film The Roses and the Doctor Who series.

During his appearance on the Sunday morning show, Gatwa was also there to discuss his exciting new role in the West End premiere of Born with Teeth, a play exploring the relationship between the famous playwrights Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare. Gatwa takes on the role of Marlowe, and his Sex Education co-star Edward Bluemel portrays Shakespeare. The production will be staged at London's Wyndham's Theatre starting from August, and Gatwa described it as a really great story between these two huge literary icons, expressing enthusiasm for the creative possibilities of their imagined interactions.