Ncuti Gatwa ended his time on Doctor Who last season, making it one of the shortest runs in the TARDIS. His Fifteenth Doctor regenerated into Billie Piper – though it’s still unclear if she’ll actually be the next Doctor.
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Gatwa’s sudden exit means he’s the first Doctor since Christopher Eccleston to do less than three seasons.
Also Read: Doctor Who’s Ncuti Gatwa Reveals He Doesn’t Know Who the Next Doctor Will Be
Now, appearing on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Gatwa has shared why he decided to leave the BBC’s sci-fi series.
Why did you walk away from Doctor Who? Because I’m getting old and my body was tired. I’ve now just started doing some ballet, so I’m making some good decisions here. It’s the most amazing job in the world. It’s a job that any actor would dream of. And because it’s so good, it’s strenuous, it takes a lot out of you physically, emotionally, mentally. So, I – it was time.
Kuenssberg asked him. Then the actor replied
Even though the role took a toll on him – physically, mentally, and emotionally – Gatwa hasn’t completely closed the door on returning to the world of Doctor Who someday.
Never say never.
When Kuenssberg asked if he might come back like David Tennant did, he simply said
This isn’t the first time Gatwa has mentioned how demanding the role is.
It was always the plan to do this amount of seasons, because it’s a role that demands a lot of you, physically and emotionally and mentally. Actors playing the Doctor are only actors playing the Doctor, unfortunately, we are mere mortals. I would love to have the energy and the youth to be able to do this full time for the rest of my life but my knees are telling me it’s time.
In a behind-the-scenes YouTube video after his exit, he said
Source: RadioTimes