Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor Who Exit: The 32-Year-Old’s “Old and Tired” Excuse Debunked

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In an interview that seemed rather insensitive, Ncuti Gatwa, who played the 15th Doctor in “Doctor Who”, stated on BBC’s “Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg” that he chose to leave the role because he felt his age and fatigue were taking a toll on him.

“I’m getting old and my body was tired”

Actor Ncuti Gatwa expresses that working as Doctor Who was an “incredible opportunity” that he wouldn’t rule out revisiting the show someday. (Laura Kuenssberg, BBC)

— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) July 13, 2025

He strongly affirmed his statement, expressing that the role is incredibly demanding – both physically, emotionally, and mentally. He further described it as “the most incredible job anyone could have.” However, he left a hint of potential future involvement by saying, “One should never say never.

At 32 years old, Gatwa’s storyline is so fragile it might break with the touch of a sonic screwdriver. This isn’t a dignified exit for a tired actor; rather, it seems like an anxious attempt to divert attention from the true narrative—a tenure marked by poor ratings, disenchanted fans, and a show precariously close to being cancelled.

As a die-hard movie fan, let me break down this puzzling situation bit by bit to reveal the so-called “regeneration” for what it truly is – a desperate attempt to patch up a faltering TARDIS.

The Age Lie: Gatwa’s Barely Out of Diapers Compared to Predecessors

Gatwa began playing his role in the 2023 Christmas special titled “The Church on Ruby Road” at the age of 31, as he was born on October 15, 1992.

In the climactic finale of his last season, “The Reality War,” which aired in May 2025, he was a lively 32 years old before undergoing the surprising transformation into Billie Piper.

“Getting old”? That’s laughable.

Over a span of 60 years, Gatwa is recognized as the third-youngest actor to take on the role of the Time Lord in Doctor Who, with Matt Smith being the youngest at just 26 when he debuted as the 11th Doctor in 2010, and Peter Davison starting his tenure as the 5th Doctor at age 29 in 1981.

Contrast that with the grizzled veterans who defined the role.

William Hartnell, who played the first Doctor, started the show in the year 1963 with the series premiere An Unearthly Child. Despite facing serious health problems such as arteriosclerosis, he persevered for three demanding seasons until regenerating in the year 1966.

Instead of expressing fatigue, he performed his lines with weight and substance, all while visibly losing energy. At the age of 55, Peter Capaldi effectively portrayed this role for his debut as the 12th Doctor in 2013, handling demanding scripts and physical challenges well into his late fifties.

The majority of Doctors on Doctor Who began their tenure in their forties or beyond, such as Tom Baker starting at age 40, Colin Baker and Christopher Eccleston also joining at 40, and even David Tennant becoming the 14th Doctor at 51 after having initially taken on the role of the 10th Doctor when he was 34.

After starring in Netflix’s “Sex Education” as the energetic character Eric, Ncuti Gatwa seems to be at his best physical shape. He appears fit, agile, and free of any signs of age-related issues that he mentions. If playing such a demanding role at 32 years old leaves an actor exhausted after 19 episodes, how did 55-year-old Hartnell handle alien invasions and chase scenes in the 1960s, with only primitive effects and no CGI support?

Why didn’t Tom Baker, who spent seven seasons in his forties without complaining, ever complain about being tired, when compared to Gatwa’s excuse, it seems disrespectful towards actors who faced much more hardship with minimal recognition?

It’s not age; it’s an alibi.

The Ratings Abyss: From Hype to Historic Lows

2024 saw the debut of Gatwa’s initial season, which some referred to as either Season 1 or Season 14. However, the excitement surrounding it quickly subsided.

The ratings (live viewings) over night were approximately 2.4 to 2.6 million in the UK, however when taking into account 7-day catch-up and iPlayer streams, the overall average rose to about 3.71 million. This is a significant decrease compared to Jodie Whittaker’s averages which ranged from 4.95 to 7.96 million throughout her seasons.

By Season 15 in the year 2025, the situation became reminiscent of an apocalypse. The viewership for episodes such as ‘Lux’ and ‘Lucky Day’ dipped down to a mere 1.5-1.58 million, which represented the lowest ratings ever recorded for the show during its over 60 years on air. These figures even fell below the ratings from the 1980s that had previously led to the series’ initial cancellation.

As a devoted movie enthusiast, I’ve got to say, the average attendance during this period has been holding steady at approximately 3.17 million, which is surprisingly low compared to the modern renaissance era we’re in. It’s also worth noting that it’s dropped a significant 800,000 from the previous season.

BBC representatives tend to focus on accumulated figures rather than overnight ratings, but even these show a dismal trend – significantly lower than the 7-10 million highs reached during the eras of David Tennant and Matt Smith.

According to showrunner Russell T Davies, the figures aren’t just less than ideal; they’re more accurately described as a significant setback, which has sparked speculation about another break in production by April 2025.

It seems that a key factor contributing to its downfall was an overemphasis on delivering social messages at the expense of engaging sci-fi adventures, as noted by both critics and enthusiasts.

In a response to critics, Gatwa himself said, “If you’re not interested, just switch off the TV,” whereas fellow actors, such as drag artist Jinkx Monsoon, labeled the critics as biased.

The episodes frequently focused on PRIDE topics, which left many viewers disappointed as they were seeking time-travel excitement rather than educational content. GB News labeled it as “woke” and “unwatchable,” with viewers sharing similar opinions on forums and social media platforms. IMDb users typically rate Gatwa’s seasons at 5 to 6 out of 10, criticizing poor writing, weak villains (he didn’t properly encounter the Daleks, despite his intentions), and a Doctor who seemed more focused on emotional expression than exploring new worlds.

The Verdict: Time for a Real Regeneration

Gatwa’s “outdated” justification appears to be a sham, serving as a distraction for an unsuccessful endeavor where priorities were placed on fulfilling an agenda rather than providing amusement.

It’s crucial for Doctor Who to take something from this experience. Instead, fans seek a sense of escape rather than explanations. As the series seems to be struggling to reach its destination (if it even does…), one fact is evident: Gatwa’s Doctor didn’t regenerate due to aging; he did so because viewers had already lost interest.

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2025-07-16 17:58