Doctor Who’s Ncuti Gatwa shares reason for show departure: “It was time”

Ncuti Gatwa has spoken about his exit from Doctor Who.

In an unexpected turn of events, the actor from “Sex Education” departed the BBC sci-fi series following its second season, with Billie Piper stepping into his role in the final episode titled ‘The Reality War’.

During an interview on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Gatwa mentioned that portraying the role of Doctor was quite strenuous from a physical perspective.

He mentioned that his age and fatigue were taking a toll on him. To counteract this, he recently began practicing ballet, which he believes is leading to wise choices for him at this time.

He mentioned: “It’s an incredible occupation, one that every actor yearns for. Given its quality, it’s demanding. It drains you, not just physically, but also emotionally and mentally. Consequently, I felt it was time for a break.

Gatwa also said “never say never” when asked about the possibility of a return one day.

Earlier this month, showrunner Russell T Davies expressed uncertainty about the future of Doctor Who.

He expressed optimism, saying, “We should hear some news shortly,” and went on to say, “There are avenues pointing towards possible outcomes.

In another part of his interview yesterday, Gatwa mentioned that he relinquished his role as the UK’s representative speaker at the Eurovision Song Contest because he was excessively occupied with media engagements.

Things turned out quite intriguingly, as I had already withdrawn from the situation well before it became public knowledge,” he revealed.

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The British television series known as “Doctor Who” is broadcast on BBC One within the United Kingdom, while it can be found on Disney+ everywhere else. In the UK specifically, the classic episodes of “Doctor Who” can be accessed via BBC iPlayer.

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2025-07-14 14:19