And just like that, with the pressing of a few keys and hit of a send button, the official Doctor Who Twitter account announced that Ncuti Gatwa is going to become the 14th Doctor.
“The future is here! Ncuti Gatwa is the Doctor,” the message read, to the excitement of fans.
Just hours later, Ncuti was on stage at the BAFTAs cracking the heart-warmingly bad joke: “Knock knock”, “who’s there?” “Doctor Who!”
Ncuti’s selection has come as something of a surprise for many, as he wasn't one of the names thrown around each week as Jodie Whittaker's successor.
But his appointment is one that is sure to bring joy and optimism to fans both avid and casual.
So who is Ncuti Gatwa and how has he reached this new height in his career?
Who is Ncuti Gatwa?
Ncuti Gatwa is a Rwandan-Scottish star born in Nyarugenge in Kigali, Rwanda, but was largely raised in Edinburgh and Dunfermline, Scotland.
His family moved to Scotland during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Growing up in an area with fewer black families, he said he became an “easy target” at school but “always had faith in my charisma”.
He trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland before moving to London to make a go of acting.
Things didn’t go to plan straight away - he ended up burning through his savings and staying on friends sofas.
Writing in the Big Issue he said: “Being a 25-year-old man with no money or job affected my sense of self-worth.
“Rejection became unbearable. Auditions weren’t just acting jobs, they were lifelines.”
What has Ncuti Gatwa been in?
Ncuti Gatwa made his name as a part of the celebrated Netflix original Sex Education.
The 29-year-old played Eric Effiong, a larger-than-life school student who casts off the shackles of social pressure through his own journey of discovery on the show.
Ncuti was nominated for three BAFTAs for his work on the series and also won a BAFTA Scotland award.
In 2014 he landed a part in Bob Servant on the BBC and a 2015 adaption of the novel Stonemouth.
In 2019 he also appeared in Horrible Histories: The Movie - Rotten Romans and The Last Letter from Your Lover in 2021.
Gatwa is due to feature in the upcoming 2023 film Barbie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Reynolds, as well as his Sex Education co-stars Emma Mackey and Connor Swindells.
Does Ncuti Gatwa have Instagram?
Yes, Ncuti Gatwa does have Instagram. He can be found at @ncutigatwa.
Ncuti’s rise has been unstoppable. Before he got his part as Eric in Sex Education, he had fewer than 1,000 followers on Instagram. At the time of writing, this number has risen to 2.6 million.
What has Ncuti Gatwa said about being the Doctor?
“Unlike the Doctor, I may only have one heart but I am giving it all to this show," he told fans.
“There aren’t quite the words to describe how I’m feeling. A mix of deeply honoured, beyond excited and of course a little bit scared.
“This role and show means so much to so many around the world, including myself, and each one of my incredibly talented predecessors has handled that unique responsibility and privilege with the utmost care.
“I will endeavour my upmost to do the same. Russell T Davies is almost as iconic as the Doctor himself and being able to work with him is a dream come true. His writing is dynamic, exciting, incredibly intelligent and fizzing with danger.
“An actor’s metaphorical playground. The entire team have been so welcoming and truly give their hearts to the show.
“And so as much as it’s daunting, I’m aware I’m joining a really supportive family.”
He is expected to make his first appearance as the Doctor at the Centenary special in October 2022.
How to pronounce Ncuti Gatwa
The correct pronunciation of Ncuti Gatwa is SHOO-ti GAT-wa.
