The BBC has denied that Doctor Who is set to be cancelled, but refused to comment on the future of lead star Ncuti Gatwa – who is rumoured to be quitting the show
The BBC has come out swinging, furiously dismissing any whispers that Doctor Who might soon face the chopping block. At the same time, they’ve clammed up on confirming whether Ncuti Gatwa will depart from the legendary series.
There was speculation that 32-year-old Ncuti is mulling over his exit strategy after a mere two seasons’ stint as the lead. Stepping into the Tardis in 2023, inheriting the mantle of the Doctor from Jodie Whittaker, rumours are swirling that he’s plotting to jump ship post the upcoming season 15.
Such talks have sparked dread amongst fans, who are worried over the potential axing of the beloved show as it has witnessed viewership dwindle from its golden age glory to a current tally of only 3.5 million viewers in recent episodes, despite Disney now investing in the show since series 14.
However, a BBC spokesperson has told the Mirror: “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.”
Rumours are flying after The Sun claimed that Ncuti Gatwa might have already filmed his last scenes as the iconic Time Lord, set to exit Doctor Who at the close of season 15 this year. According to an insider: “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,” reports the Mirror.
The source didn’t stop at that, adding: “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 show has been poorly managed in recent years, and there’s a lot of people who’ve been working on this show for years and now being cast aside due to poor leadership.”
Meanwhile, let’s not forget that Doctor Who first captured audiences back in the swinging sixties, weathered its cancellation in the late 80s, got a brief reboot with a TV film in the 90s, and then made a spectacular comeback in 2005 with none other than Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper leading the new era, with Piper becoming the nation’s darling as the lovable Rose.
The rebooted series saw a surge in viewership, with David Tennant and Billie attracting over 13 million viewers. The show’s writer, Russell T Davies, was lauded by fans for his captivating and relatable narratives.
However, when Russell left the show in 2010, viewership began to dwindle. Hence, expectations were sky-high when he made a comeback in 2022.
Want all the biggest Showbiz and TV news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Daily Star Showbiz newsletter.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
