Up until now, Ncuti Gatwa was best known as the hilarious student Eric Effiong from Netflix's hit comedy series Doctor Who, the actor is sure to become a household name in the weeks to come.
As expected, Gatwa's unexpected casting has been widely ired by fans on social media, with many Whovians excited to see what the actor is planning on bringing to the role. His distinct personality and hilarious mannerisms have many fans looking forward to his inevitably entertaining turn as the signature Time Lord.
His Emotional Range
Although Gatwa's most famous up to this point is a comedic one, there are still several emotional and grounded moments in the show that prove Eric is one of Sex Educations's best characters. He balances humor and emotion perfectly, which makes him incredibly captivating in the role.
Despite the Time Lord's childish antics and upbeat adventures, there's still an element of the show that requires emotional, demanding performances from its actors. According to Redditor bamchk, Gatwa will be "fantastic in the more serious scenes/storylines".
His Star Power
Although Gatwa is far from the most famous actor to play The Doctor, those that do know him love him. He's extremely likable and entertaining, and he's managed to gather a huge following of fans from his time on Sex Education alone.
Reddit asnd4751 describes Ncuti as "a real star", proving just how beloved he is by his existing fans. And this group is only going to get bigger and bigger with every ing month as people visit his previous work and fall in love with his style long before he even appears as The Doctor.
His Screen Presence
Despite only really being known for his role in Sex Education, Ncuti steals almost every single scene that he appears in. He demands the audience's attention whenever he's on-screen, which is the perfect trait for somebody who's going to be playing a character as beloved as The Doctor.
Reddit engr242throwaway argues that "he really steals the show in Sex Education", so hopefully he'll be able to do the same in Doctor Who. If he can, then his stories could be some of the most engaging and exciting in the show's history.
His Critical Acclaim
Ncuti was nominated for a BAFTA for his performance as Eric Effiong in Sex Education, so it's already clear that the actor is extremely talented and widely acclaimed. Redditor rhawk187 says that his BAFTA nomination "gives [them] some confidence" in Gatwa's abilities.
Although it's always great to highlight new talent in the role of The Doctor, Gatwa's previous acclaim for Sex Education dismisses any claims that he's underqualified or not talented enough for the part. He's proven himself already, and Doctor Who will just allow him to do this further.
His Energy
The Doctor has always been an upbeat and energetic character, so it totally makes sense that someone like Ncuti Gatwa would fit perfectly. Reddit benh79985 expects that Gatwa will "bring a lot of energy to the role", allowing him to fit in perfectly with the other incarnations.
Doctor Who takes place across hundreds of different planets and solar systems, so it's no wonder that The Doctor is always full of energy and optimism across his adventures. There's no doubt in anybody's mind that Gatwa will embody this expertly.
His Unexpected Casting
There are always rumors floating around about who's going to become the next Doctor, but Ncuti Gatwa's name didn't seem to be anywhere in the predictions during the run-up to his casting announcement. Although it came as a surprise to many people, others speculate that it must be a testament to his talent rather than his status.
Redditor one of Doctor Who's best Doctors yet.
His Age
Except for Matt Smith, all of the actors that have played The Doctor since the show's reboot in 2005 have been at least 35, with a couple being notably older. Gatwa is currently only 29, so many fans are excited to see how another younger Doctor will play out in the modern age of Doctor Who.
Reddit medievalhoneycake suggests that it "feels like the right move to have a younger Doctor again", especially with Russel T. Davis and his childlike wonder returning to the writers' room. It's certainly an interesting concept, and Gatwa feels like a great choice to embody the younger side of The Doctor.
His Wisdom
One of the most important parts of playing The Doctor is being able to convince the audience that inside this young actor is a 1,000-year-old Time Lord. And Redditor marmosetohmarmoset believes that Gatwa will portray this cosmic intelligence perfectly, describing his previous character Eric Effiong as "wise but always getting into trouble".
If Gatwa can bring this energy to the new series of Doctor Who, there's almost no doubt that his incarnation is going to be a huge hit with audiences. He's proven that he can be funny, but this could allow him to tap into his more emotional, weighted acting skills too.
His Charisma
Whatever you might think of the casting choice, there's no denying that Gatwa is an extremely charismatic actor with a distinct charm that makes him extremely watchable and likable. Reddit bloodfart claims that charisma is "the first thing I think of for Doctor Who", so Gatwa is already shaping up to be a great choice.
His eccentric energy in Sex Education is very reminiscent of the style that Tennant and Smith brought to the role all those years ago - and with Russell T. Davis returning to write, that could make Gatwa's seasons some of the most exciting we've had for a long time.
His Sense Of Humor
Comedy might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Doctor Who, but every single one of the actors playing The Doctor has had a distinct sense of humor that's shone through in their character. Gatwa has already proven that he's a hilarious actor, so hopefully, he can bring this to the role.
Reddit equally wise and hilarious quotes from The Doctor.