Controversial Doctor Who actor Ncuti Gatwa hosted the SNL UK season finale last weekend. During his monologue, he mocked his poorly received run on the legacy science-fiction series. For many fans, his remarks served as a reminder of an era they would rather forget.
Ncuti Gatwa as The Doctor and Jonathan Goff in Doctor Who (2024), BBC
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Doctor Who has remained a major pop culture property for more than 60 years. Yet during Gatwa’s run, the series hit historically low viewership numbers. Now, the future of the beloved franchise is in question — and for many fans, that is no laughing matter.
Gatwa Jokes About Doctor Who’s Low Ratings
Ncuti Gatwa opened the eighth episode of SNL UK by noting that he checks all the ideological boxes as the first black host, first queer host, and first openly Scottish host. After another brief bit, Gatwa turned the conversation toward Doctor Who.
“I’ve had so many fantastic roles in my career. Millions of you watched me as Eric in Sex Education,” he said. “And then about 12 of you watched me in Doctor Who. Maybe that’s why I kept crying,” Gatwa joked.
Ncuti Gatwa as The Doctor, Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday, and Bonnie Langford as Mel in Doctor Who (2024), BBC
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The series had already begun struggling before he took the role. Many longtime fans felt the show leaned too heavily into identity politics and convoluted lore. Critics argued those divisive elements became even more pronounced once Gatwa stepped into the TARDIS.
At the time, Gatwa responded to critics of his portrayal by saying, “Don’t watch. Turn off the TV. Go and touch grass, please, for God’s sake.” He later blamed prejudice for the low viewership. After his second season, he exited the series, claiming that at 32 years old, “I’m getting old and my body was tired.”
Gatwa Reflects More Fondly on the Role
Speaking to the audience during SNL UK, Ncuti Gatwa reflected more warmly on his time on Doctor Who. “Joking aside, it was genuinely a magical role,” he said. “In fact, it was the first time my parents were truly proud of my career. When I told them I got the part, they said, ‘Finally, a doctor in the family.’”
Ncuti Gatwa as The Doctor in Doctor Who (2024), BBC
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He also poked fun at his Doctor’s confusing exit from the series. “Even though I have since regenerated into Billie Piper,” he joked, before pausing to look into the camera and adding, “I don’t understand it either.” Turning back to the audience, he continued, “I still love Doctor Who, and I got to meet so many crazy characters — sort of a bit like this place.”
Many Doctor Who fans felt Billie Piper’s apparent regeneration into what could be the 16th Doctor was more stunt casting than meaningful storytelling. The next actor to officially take over the role has still not been confirmed.
The Future of Doctor Who Remains Unclear
Ultimately, the future of Doctor Who remains uncertain. In October 2025, longtime Doctor Who writer Robert Shearman — best known for the beloved 2005 episode “Dalek” — declared the franchise “as dead as we’ve ever known it.” Around the same time, Disney reportedly ended its global distribution deal for the series. That partnership had also helped finance the show’s larger-budget revival era.
Ncuti Gatwa as the 15th Doctor in Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Special “The Giggle” (2023), BBC
While Ncuti Gatwa can stand on SNL UK and joke about Doctor Who’s historically low viewership, many fans feel the franchise suffered serious damage during his run. Not all of that responsibility falls on Gatwa himself. Still, the ease with which he laughs about the show’s decline may say more than the monologue intended.
Do you think Doctor Who will recover its audience? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
