Ncuti Gatwa will star as Doctor Who’s Fourteenth Doctor

Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Doctor Who's Fourteenth Doctor is named Ncuti Gatwa. Jodie Whittaker will be replaced by Gatwa in 2023.

Gatwa said in a statement that each one of his predecessors has handled that unique responsibility and privilege with care.

The Scottish actor will play Eric Effiong in the upcoming Barbie movie, as well as playing in the comedy series Sex Education. Gatwa will be the first Black man to play the Doctor, a role that has been passed around to different actors since Doctor Who's debut in 1963.

Whittaker is the first woman to play the Doctor in the history of the show. In line with tradition, Whittaker will appear in one last episode that will introduce Gatwa as the Fourteenth Doctor. This episode is expected to premiere at the end of the year to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the BBC.

In near-death situations, the Doctor takes on a different form in a process called regeneration. This was introduced to smooth out the transition between actors after the First Doctor, William Hartnell, left the show.