Doctor Who actor Ncuti Gatwa, who plays the 15th Doctor in the long-running British science fiction series told possible viewers to not watch the show and turn their TVs off if they do not like that he was cast as the 15th Doctor.
Ncuti Gatwa as the 15th Doctor and Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday in Doctor Who Christmas Special “The Church on Ruby Road” (2023), BBC
In an interview with Variety to promote the upcoming season, Gatwa discussed his and his co-star Millie Gibson’s comments that implied the two actors would be done with the show following its second season, which is currently film now.
Gibson previously told Fabric Magazine what her plans for 2024 were, “I think, now that the strike’s over, probably auditioning again, for parts, and seeing what’s out there.”
“Every year has seen such change for me, it’s hard to think what might come next. I’d like to play a villain,” she added. “If not that I think I’m really intrigued by biopic roles that you really need to research. I think that would be a great challenge. I don’t know, I think I’m just excited to see what’s to come.”
Shortly after these comments Variety reported that Gibson was being replaced by Varada Sethu after the first season.
Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday in Doctor Who Christmas Special “The Church on Ruby Road” (2023), BBC
Meanwhile, Gatwa told Rolling Stone UK in July 2023 he would return to the stage after Doctor Who, “[Theatre] kept me warm and it held me all night, even if I was broke. But I’m planning on getting back to it next year, after I finish season two of Doctor Who.”
As reported by Doctor Who TV, Gatwa also told Radio Times just last month that he has no plans following the second season of Doctor Who, “No idea, no plan. I just know that I’m loving it and my love for it is growing.”
Ncuti Gatwa as the 15th Doctor in Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Special “The Giggle” (2023), BBC
First, Gibson addressed her comments telling Variety, “It was a little bit of a misunderstanding. But I’m very much in Season 2.”
Gatwa added, “Doctor’s not letting this one go. That’s what the show is, isn’t it? There’s always new actors coming in and doing different things.”
He then addressed individuals who are not a fan of his casting, “Don’t watch. Turn off the TV. Go and touch grass, please, for God’s sake.”
Ncuti Gatwa as the 15th Doctor in Doctor Who Christmas Special “The Church on Ruby Road” (2023), BBC
It’s a bold statement given his debut as the Doctor was the second worst debut in the series history. The BBC reported, the Doctor Who special “The Church on Ruby Road” only saw viewership at 4.7 million. This is just marginally better than the final 60th anniversary special that saw Gatwa take over as the Doctor in “The Giggle.” That episode had viewership of 4.62 million.
The other two previous 60th Anniversary specials featuring David Tennant as the Doctor saw viewership at 5.08 million and 4.83 million.
David Tennant as the 14th Doctor in Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Special “The Giggle” (2023), BBC
Gatwa’s debut ratings as the Doctor are the second worst in the show’s entire history. Jodie Whittaker’s debut episode “The Woman Who Fell to Earth” had overall viewership of 10.96 million.
The only Doctor debut that Gatwa’s debut beat was the first first episode of Doctor Who with William Hartnell as the First Doctor in “An Unearthly Child.” That episode, which aired back in 1963, premiered with 4.4 million viewers. However, Hartnell’s First Doctor would see viewership increase over the next 10 episodes. Initially, it increased to 5.9 million. In the third episode it went up to 6.9 million. By episode 7 it hit 8.9 million. With episode 8 it increased to 9.9 million. By episode 10 it hit 10.4 million.
Ncuti Gatwa as the 15th Doctor in Doctor Who Christmas Special “The Church on Ruby Road” (2023), BBC
When actors or other creatives tell potential viewers to not watch their show or not buy their products, the viewers usually take it to heart. The most prominent example is comic book writer Kelly Sue DeConnick. Back in October 2017, DeConnick told SyFy Wire, “if you don’t like my politics, don’t buy my book.”
Later in the interview she said, “I’m going to make the book that I’m going to make and if you don’t want to read them; don’t read them.”
By 2019, DeConnick was lamenting the state of the comic book industry telling Nerd News, “from our perspective the industry has contracted and we’re very worried about comics right now. So, it’s always interesting to me that the outside perspective is always, ‘Comics are booming!’”
She later stated, “I think I tend to be pretty optimistic, but in this one I’m worried. I’m straight worried.” When asked why she elaborated, “Because stores are closing at a phenomenal rate. Independent comic sales are down. Mainstream comic sales are down except the top three or five books are up. Everything in the mid list is way down.”
“Numbers that used to be numbers that would get you cancelled are now like, ‘No, that’s a hit.’ Independent books making the back the cost of doing floppies is– like names that should be able to do it no sweat are going into the red on singles and not coming out until the trades. And it worries me,” she elaborated.
Given Gatwa’s debut ratings were already terrible, it’s likely that they are going to get even worse as potential viewers take his advice and turn off the TV and find something better to do with their time and lives than spend it on someone who hates them.
What do you make of Gatwa’s comments?
