Doctor Who's brand new Time Lord Ncuti Gatwa has admitted that he's relieved that his appointment as the 14th Doctor has finally been announced.
Appearing on the BAFTA TV Awards red carpet this evening, he confessed that he felt that he could "finally breathe" after being cast in the role months ago.
The Sex Education star will be taking over from Jodie Whittaker following her announcement last July that she would be leaving the show.
Scottish actor Gatwa, who was born in Rwanda, told PA this evening: "I feel really happy that I can now talk about it because I got cast in February and I have been keeping it a secret since then.
“So it is nice to finally breathe. But also really nervous.
“It is an incredibly iconic role and an incredibly iconic show.
“I just hope I do it justice. I am following in some very, very big footsteps so I am just hoping that I fill them up.”
In 2020, Gatwa was named the winner of the actor category at the Scottish BAFTAs for his role in Sex Education, and has been nominated at this year’s Bafta TV awards in the best male performance in a comedy programme.
Whittaker took over the Tardis in 2017 becoming the first female Doctor.
Speaking about how Doctor Who relates to diversity, Gatwa said of the Time Lord: “He is literally an alien – ‘they’ are an alien. And so they can regenerate into anything and anyone.
“And for me, I just find the show to be the most beautiful form of escapism. You can forget about all your worldly troubles and you get to go to space and battle aliens.
“I feel like anyone can put themselves in those shoes. The Doctor is not from anywhere.
“They don’t fit in anywhere and I think for marginalised people they have been a real beacon of feeling seen in a way.
“They are someone that can help people escape, which I love.”
