New Doctor will ‘wear two hearts on his sleeve’
DOCTOR Who showrunner Russell T Davies has said it is time for a new Doctor who carries “emotions on the surface more visibly instead of hiding them away” after years of an emotionally reserved Time Lord.
The BBC sci-fi show will return to screens on May 11 with two episodes titled Space Babies and The Devil’s Chord starring Ncuti Gatwa as the new Doctor, opposite former Coronation Street actress Millie Gibson as his companion Ruby Sunday.
Davies described Sex Education star Gatwa as “already one of our great actors”.
“Quite by chance, I wanted a more emotional Doctor, and lo and behold, we have cast someone whose emotions are vast, turbulent and visible,” Davies said.
“Historically, Doctors have tended to keep their emotions to themselves and play the game of being reserved. And the actors have done that brilliantly.
“But right now in 2024, I want a man who cries when it’s sad. And Ncuti does that to an astonishing degree.”
Davies, from Swansea, said he could not take his eyes off Gatwa during Netflix series Sex Education, in which he played Eric Effiong, and predicts in five years’ time he will be starring as the next James Bond in the MI6 film franchise.
The showrunner, executive producer and writer said the new sci-fi series will see an “emotional” Doctor open up about his family “in a way that he’s never done before”.
“It’s time for a new Doctor who carries those emotions on the surface more visibly instead of hiding them away,” Davies said.
“The Doctor doesn’t just wear one heart on their sleeve; they wear two hearts on their sleeve. I thought it was the right time for that to be centre stage.”
The first two episodes of the new season will premiere at midnight on Saturday on BBC iplayer.
Space Babies will later air at 6.20pm on BBC One, followed by The Devil’s Chord at 7.05pm.
Outside the UK, Doctor Who will begin streaming on Friday on Disney+.