Doctor Who Director Discusses Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor and LGBTQ Representation

Insights on Ncuti Gatwa’s Role in Doctor Who Season 15

Ncuti Gatwa’s return as the Fifteenth Doctor reignites dialogue about the character’s potential queerness.
Director Waris Hussein questions whether Gatwa feels added responsibility as the first Black lead and how the portrayal of the Doctor’s sexuality should unfold.
Hussein emphasizes the importance of queerness in shaping identity, suggesting that if the Doctor is gay, it should be clearly portrayed while preserving an element of mystery.

Ncuti Gatwa is set to reprise his role as the Fifteenth Doctor when Doctor Who returns for Season 15. With the premiere approaching next month, discussions surrounding his casting have intensified, notably regarding the representation of the Doctor’s queerness.

As the first openly queer actor to take on this iconic role, Gatwa’s portrayal certainly brings a new dimension to the character. Director Waris Hussein, who famously directed the inaugural episode of Doctor Who titled “An Unearthly Child, ”shared his thoughts in a recent interview. He raised the question of whether Gatwa feels the weight of responsibility, given his historical significance as the first Black actor to lead the series.“I wonder if the burden of responsibility on him is greater because he’s the first Black actor [to lead the show]?” Hussein remarked.

Hussein further expressed curiosity about showrunner Russell T Davies’ vision for the character, particularly concerning the Fifteenth Doctor’s sexuality. He stated, “I’m curious about Russell T [Davies] ‘s thinking. Where’s he taking the character? What’s the mystery? If Russell T has made the Doctor queer, is there reference to it? There should be a curiosity among the people the Doctor meets.” This highlights the director’s desire for deeper exploration into the character’s identity and relationships.

“There’s no point in saying, ‘Well, it doesn’t matter.’ It does. Queerness matters. Queerness shapes you, ” Hussein asserted, indicating that understanding the Doctor’s queerness could enhance viewer appreciation without diminishing the character’s mystique.

In recent weeks, speculation arose regarding Gatwa’s future on the show, with rumors suggesting a potential cancellation of Doctor Who on Disney Plus due to declining viewership. However, the BBC has refuted these claims, clarifying that the show is not being shelved and that their agreement with Disney Plus includes a commitment to 26 episodes, half of which are still in the pipeline. Notably, they mentioned, “Doctor Who has not been shelved, ” while elaborating that they “never comment on the Doctor and future storylines.”

While the future beyond Season 15 remains uncertain, the emphasis on exploring the Fifteenth Doctor’s sexuality is a pertinent topic. Gatwa’s queerness does not necessarily dictate the Doctor’s orientation, but if the character is portrayed as queer, it shouldn’t be trivialized. In fact, the Doctor has always been a fluid entity, making space for the evolution of identity.

Previous incarnations of the Doctor have predominantly been portrayed as straight or ambiguous, so a more explicit representation of queerness could significantly add to the Doctor’s rich backstory. Audiences have already witnessed hints of queerness, especially with Jodie Whittaker’s Thirteenth Doctor, who had a complex and unaddressed emotional connection with Yaz (Mandip Gill).Although the relationship remained largely unspoken, it signaled a broader acceptance of same-sex attraction within the franchise. Degree of queerness could be further expanded through Gatwa’s portrayal in the upcoming season.

Doctor Who Season 15 is slated to premiere on April 12, 2025.

Source: RadioTimes

Source & Images