Ex-Doctor Who star Matt Smith comments on his most recent successor Ncuti Gatwa, describing his casting as the Fourteenth Doctor as "sensational."
Former Doctor Who star Matt Smith recently praised the casting of Ncuti Gatwa as the Fourteenth Doctor in the long-running BBC sci-fi series.
Smith, who portrayed the eleventh incarnation of the show's protagonist from 2010 to 2013, discussed his latest successor in an interview with Variety. "I think it's the most sensational bit of casting," he said. What an actor -- he's brilliant in [Netflix comedy] Sex Education. I think he's got something 'other' that that part really needs. I think [incoming showrunner] Russell [T Davies] has such a sense of the show as well, and I'm really, really excited to see where Doctor Who is going. I love Doctor Who, it's forever in my heart."
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Former Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat echoed Smith's endorsement of Gatwa in a recent interview, calling the actor "magnificent." Moffat, who oversaw both Smith and Twelfth Doctor Peter Capaldi's tenures in the TARDIS, revealed that he was shown Gatwa's audition tape by Davies and recalled being very impressed by it. He described the star's take on the Time Lord as "all at once a brand-new hero and the same wonderful, mad old Doctor we’ve always known."
Ncuti will headline Doctor Who's fourteenth series in 2023, after Jodie Whittaker's Thirteenth Doctor bows out in the last of three specials airing throughout 2022. He'll have to share the screen with at least one other version of the character, however, as David Tennant will reprise the Tenth Doctor role for the show's 60th anniversary special. Davies recently teased the circumstances surrounding Tennant's return, throwing out the possibility that the star might actually be playing the Tenth Doctor from an alternate universe.
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However Tennant's comeback happens, one thing is certain: he'll be sporting new threads for at least some of his scenes. The Scottish actor was spotted on the set of the Doctor Who 60th Anniversary special in a costume that differed from those he wore during his original stint as the Tenth Doctor. The previously unseen outfit includes a maroon suit with a purplish-blue tartan or madras pattern, a white shirt and gray knitted tie and a navy overcoat.
The Tenth Doctor may have traded in his old clothes for the Doctor Who 60th Anniversary special, but he's still sticking with at least one of his familiar companions. Davies confirmed that the Time Lord's good friend Donna Noble will appear alongside him in the upcoming special, portrayed once again by Catherine Tate.
Leon is an Associate News Writer at CBR. He reports on the latest developments in film and TV, covering everything from popcorn cinema to prestige mini-series. His previous freelance writing credits include articles on film, TV, comics, and video games for Screen Rant, Polygon, The Things, Cultured Vultures, and Taste of Cinema. Originally from Australia, Leon is currently based in the UK.
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