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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
Leila Latif

Doctor Who Christmas special review – Ncuti Gatwa is so charismatic you want to leap into the TV with him

Ncuti Gatwa stars in The Church on Ruby Road.
Ncuti Gatwa stars in The Church on Ruby Road. Photograph: James Pardon/BBC Studios/Bad Wolf

The Doctor can be many things. They can change race, gender, age and even be from Salford, but one thing has to remain for each version to be convincing. They have to be so charismatic that their companion would undoubtedly leave their life behind to follow them through space and time. Now, with the Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa perfectly cast in the role, not only does it make complete sense for young Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) to race straight into the Tardis, but it’s hard not to make a run at the telly and beg him to take you, too.

He was briefly introduced at the end of the 60th anniversary special where David Tennant’s Doctor “bi-generated” and Gatwa stepped out of his predecessor wearing just a shirt and a grin. This Christmas special, The Church on Ruby Road, sees the Fifteenth Doctor in full lead mode, taking on carnivorous baby-snatching goblins with Sunday at his side.

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