Ncuti Gatwa has played the Doctor since 2023 and his second series in the iconic role will be broadcast later this year, with Doctor Who bosses sharing an announcement this week
The BBC has made an announcement over the new series of Doctor Who after addressing the show’s future recently.
Ncuti Gatwa, 32, has reprised his role as the Doctor for a second series of the revived show. The Time Lord will be joined by new companion Belinda Chandra (played by Varada Sethu) as well as Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson).
It’s now been announced that the new series will launch on April 12. It will launch at 8am on BBC iPlayer and later that day on BBC One in the UK. At the same time, fans in other countries will be able to watch on Disney+ where available.
The new season stars Ncuti as the Fifteenth Doctor, with the actor having taken over from David Tennant, in the role of the Fourteenth Doctor, in 2023. He’s joined by Varada and Millie in upcoming episodes, alongside guest stars like Rose Ayling-Ellis, Anita Dobson, Christopher Chung, Michelle Greenidge, Jonah Hauer-King, Ruth Madeley, Jemma Redgrave and Susan Twist.
It’s also been announced this week that Alan Cumming will guest star in the second episode as Mr Ring-a-Ding. The character is described as a “happy, funny, singalong cartoon” who lives in Sunny Town with his friend Sunshine Sally. It’s teased: “However, in 1952, after years of repeats in cinemas across the land, Mr Ring-a-Ding suddenly looks beyond the screen and sees the real world outside – and the consequences are terrifying.”
Doctor Who showrunner Russell T. Davies teased: “Only Alan Cumming could give a runaway cartoon so much wit, malice, danger and fun. He makes the whole universe of Doctor Who wilder and madder than ever, and it’s an absolute honour to welcome him on board the TARDIS.”
The announcement comes following speculation over the future of Doctor Who and rumours that Ncuti could soon leave. Although Ncuti has previously suggested that he will return for a third series, the Sun reported this month that he is “poised to quit,” adding that he’s already believed to have filmed his regeneration scene ahead of his second series airing.
A source told the outlet: “Ncuti doesn’t want to be tied to the series beyond this and plans to relocate to Los Angeles with several Hollywood projects standing by for him. His team also see a lot of fan backlash from the series, and don’t want the perception of him still being The Doctor to get in the way of any future work.”
The BBC then issued a statement on the show’s future following concerns that Doctor Who could be shelved amid signs of audience fatigue. The broadcaster dismissed the suggestion that the show has been shelved in the statement shared with the Mirror earlier this month.
It said: “This story is incorrect, Doctor Who has not been shelved. As we have previously stated, the decision on season 3 will be made after season 2 airs. The deal with Disney+ was for 26 episodes – and exactly half of those still have to transmit. And as for the rest, we never comment on the Doctor and future storylines.”
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