Ncuti Gatwa, the star of Doctor Who, has described his experience exploring the relationship between the Doctor and his new companion as “beautiful” in the upcoming series of the iconic BBC sci-fi show.
The new season introduces Belinda Chandra, portrayed by Andor actress Varada Sethu, who joins the Doctor on a quest to return to Earth. Together, they will face “great dangers” and “ferocious enemies”, with a mysterious force attempting to prevent them from completing their mission.
Speaking at the premiere, Gatwa, who made history as the first Black Doctor, expressed his excitement about the new season.
“(It’s) so exciting to be back. We’ve got a new companion. We’ve got new stories to tell. We go to new places and we can’t get back to the place we want to get back to.”
Gatwa continued, highlighting the new challenges and opportunities in this season.
“There’s challenges that we haven’t had before in Doctor Who. So, yeah, super excited to be back.”
As an actor, Gatwa emphasized how rewarding it is to be given “meaty roles” that allow him to grow as a performer, and he explained how the introduction of Belinda offers a chance for both the Doctor and his companion to evolve.
“All you want as an actor is a really good, meaty role to sink your teeth into, and to craft. With this job, you get the opportunity to do that time and time again.”
In this season, Belinda Chandra plays a pivotal role in the Doctor’s journey. According to Gatwa, she becomes a “catalyst of growth” for the Doctor.
“It’s just been so lovely to expand on everything that happened in season one. Belinda, really, is like a catalyst of growth for the Doctor this season. So that was such a beautiful relationship to explore.”
Millie Gibson, who portrays Ruby Sunday, the Doctor’s companion from last season, returns in the new series. Ruby, who travelled across time and space with the Doctor during Gatwa’s first series, now faces a more mature storyline.
Gibson shared how her character has evolved.
“It’s a much more kind of mature take on Ruby. She’s older and it’s life after the Doctor. So, whatever happens after you’ve fought goblins, hung off a rope ladder above London and got swallowed by a double bass! So, it’s seeing the companion after doing all these crazy things, and if they’ve got PTSD, if they can get back to their normal life.”
The actress also spoke of her deep connection to her character, stating,
More Read
“I feel so connected to Ruby. I feel like, as I’ve grown up, I’ve grown up with Ruby.”
This season also features a star-studded guest list, including former EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis, Slow Horses actors Christopher Chung and Freddie Fox, as well as Scottish actor Alan Cumming, who lends his voice to the quirky character of “runaway cartoon” Mr Ring-a-Ding.
The new series will see the Doctor and Belinda face off against powerful forces, with the threat of a “mysterious force” trying to prevent them from completing their journey. Fans can expect a blend of exhilarating action, heartfelt moments, and thrilling time-traveling escapades.
The highly anticipated Doctor Who season will launch on Saturday, April 12 at 8 am on BBC iPlayer, followed by a broadcast on BBC One later that day.
For the full details on the season, tune in to the premiere of the series on April 12.
