Just a couple of weeks after Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson hit the screens with their debut episode of Doctor Who, a cloud of uncertainty is already looming over their future with the show.
While both actors are still filming their second series (to air in 2025), interviews on their futures have cast doubt on whether they’ll be back for a third.
Firstly, Millie Gibson’s recent interview with Fabric Magazine furthered the speculation. Discussing her plans for 2024, Gibson said, ‘I think, now that the strike’s over, I’ll probably be auditioning again for parts and seeing what’s out there.’
She added, ‘Every year has seen such change for me, it’s hard to think what might come next. I’d like to play a villain… If not that, I think I’m really intrigued by biopic roles that you really need to research. I think that would be a great challenge. I don’t know, I’m just excited to see what’s to come.’ Her comments about seeking new challenges and roles suggest a possible departure.
Turning to Ncuti Gatwa, his previous comments in a Rolling Stone UK interview earlier in 2023 pointing to a post-Doctor Who plan, raised eyebrows about his long-term commitment. Gatwa expressed a desire to return to theatre, saying, ‘[Theatre] kept me warm and it held me all night, even if I was broke. But I’m planning on getting back to it [in 2024], after I finish season two of Doctor Who.’
Further adding to the uncertainty, Gatwa’s conversation with the Radio Times in December did little to clarify his intentions. When asked about his future after his second series, Gatwa admitted, ‘No idea, no plan. I just know that I’m loving it and my love for it is growing.’ While this shows positivity about his current experience, it doesn’t provide a clear indication of his long-term plans.
The potential exit of Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson from Doctor Who after a second series would be a departure from the current pattern. Excluding Christopher Eccleston, all other modern-era Doctor actors have completed at least three series, while the tenure of the companion actors is more variable.
It’s still technically possible for the pair to film more episodes but given Russell T Davies’s promise of annual Doctor Who and no more gap years, it seems challenging to imagine how they could fit in another nine-month shoot alongside other projects.
