BBC Doctor Who bosses set record straight as fresh Ncuti Gatwa ‘axe’ rumours emerge amid ‘woke’ backlash
The BBC has confirmed that no “decision” has been made on the future of Ncuti Gatwa – or Doctor Who, as a whole – ahead of the second season’s finale later this month.
Gatwa is reported to have been axed from Doctor Who after just two series, with the BBC also reportedly considering pausing the long-running sci-fi show following a significant ratings slump.
The 31-year-old actor took over the role of the Time Lord in 2023, but over the past few months, he’s been plagued by reports that he wouldn’t be returning to the famous TARDIS.
The latest speculation about an axing rather than a voluntary departure comes after Gatwa backed out of announcing the UK’s jury scores in last weekend’s Eurovision Song Contest.
Ncuti Gatwa (right) is the current Doctor in the BBC’s Doctor Who BBC
According to an alleged insider, his withdrawal supposedly disappointed BBC bosses, with sources suggesting it was the “final nail in the coffin” for his tenure.
The Sun published the source’s claims, in which they said: “If the final nail wasn’t already in the coffin, it was well and truly hammered in after that.
“Bosses were incredibly disappointed. Ncuti, as the Doctor, is one of the corporation’s most high-profile faces. His withdrawal was incredibly embarrassing.
“It caps what has been a largely depressing tenure in the Tardis for Ncuti.”
The BBC has now responded to the latest reports, reiterating the statement it shared a few months ago when rumours emerged that Gatwa had decided to leave the role of his own accord.
A spokesperson for the corporation said to GB News: “As we have previously stated, the decision on season three will be made after season two airs and any other claims are just pure speculation.
“The deal with Disney+ was for 26 episodes, and we still have an entire spin-off, The War Between the Land and the Sea, to air. And as for the rest, we never comment on the Doctor and future storylines.”.
The BBC spokesperson also added to GB News: “Whilst we never comment on the future of the Doctor, any suggestion that Ncuti Gatwa has been ‘axed’ is pure fiction.”
The speculation has emerged amid declining linear ratings for the sci-fi series. Critics have pointed to “woke storylines” as a key factor in the show’s declining popularity, with fans reportedly turning off amid plots featuring incels and non-binary aliens. However, fans would cite a new streaming audience as the possible cause behind the linear decline.
Elsewhere, Gatwa has caused political controversy due to the fact that he has been vocal in his support for Palestine, sharing photos of Free Palestine graffiti in Italy on his social media and posting links to fundraisers for Palestinian causes.
The BBC announced his Eurovision withdrawal just two minutes after Israel qualified for the finale, but it is worth noting that his final season two scenes had been filmed months before the announcement.
BBC Doctor Who: Ncuti Gatwa has played the Doctor for two seasons BBC
In other controversial talking points in his tenure, one episode saw Gatwa’s Doctor admit he was gay, while the villain Maestro, played by drag queen Jinkx Monsoon, was reportedly among the show’s flops.
The current series, which began in April, has been described as “wilder than it’s ever been before” by returning showrunner Russell T Davies.
Davies, who previously rebooted the cult series in 2005, returned in 2023 to write and executive produce Gatwa’s seasons. The two-part finale airing on May 31 is expected to bring Gatwa’s second season to a dramatic conclusion.
Insiders believe Disney+, which has invested millions in the show, will not renew its deal with the BBC. This partnership was established to stream Doctor Who internationally while the BBC continued to air it in the UK.
Ncuti Gatwa was supposed to deliver the UK jury’s score to the rest of Europe during Eurovision GETTY
Not everyone is convinced by the news of Gatwa’s sacking, however. Some social media users have claimed that Gatwa filmed a regeneration scene months ago and left on his own accord to pursue Hollywood roles.
However, neither the BBC nor Gatwa has officially commented on these claims.
