There's a lot of buzz surrounding the next era of Doctor Who, particularly with Russell T Davies back in charge. However, the actor who plays the Fifteenth Doctor, Barbie star Ncuti Gatwa, has revealed he found himself in trouble with the returning showrunner while shooting the series.
After starring in Netflix's raunchy series, Sex Education, Gatwa is no stranger to colourful language and soon learned it wasn't okay to use that while working on this beloved sci-fi series.
"The only time I've ever gotten in trouble for anything was when I swore while wearing a Doctor Who costume," the actor revealed (via SFFGazette.com). "I got called into [producer Russell T Davies'] office. Woo! And he let me know that that's not acceptable. Do what you want when you're out of costume, but when you're in costume, do not let us catch you swearing.' I was like, 'Fair enough.' And I guess that was a lesson."
"For the last four years I've been co-leading an X-rated show, and so I'm on a constant journey of learning what it is to be a PG role model and the lead of a family show."
This may seem daft, but it shows that Davies cares a great deal about Doctor Who remaining a family show and that he doesn't want there to be footage of Gatwa swearing while in costume as the character. They're both expected to stick around for at least four seasons, anyway, so there's plenty of time for Gawtwa to familiarise himself with what the showrunner expects from whoever plays the Doctor.
Of course, Gatwa may not be the only Doctor we see on screen in the years ahead. Following an unprecedented "bi-generation," David Tennant's Fourteenth Doctor (and his TARDIS) still exists and is currently taking a break by resting up with the Noble family.
Asked what that means for the franchise moving forward, Davies said, "Sorry, it's the age of Ncuti now - it's 'David who?' No plans, genuinely, yet, because it's a busy TARDIS - these two [Gatwa and Millie Gibson as companion Ruby Sunday] are gonna just sail across the universe and capture your heart, so it's time to look at these two."
Needless to say, we'll be shocked if Tennant doesn't take centre stage in a spin-off somewhere down the line! However, for now, Davies wants to establish Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor as the Doctor in the eyes of fans.
"Bigeneration, we discover, is an ancient myth of the Time Lords where, instead of a new body taking over from the old body, the new body separates from the old body and both are left alive," the showrunner added.
"David [Tennant] is parked. For once, we’ve got a happy Doctor who is no longer saving the universe, but is parked with Donna (Catherine Tate) for a happy life, while the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) - which is always the next Doctor, and that’s always true of Doctor Who, the Doctor is the next Doctor - is out amongst the stars."
What are you most excited to see in the next era of Doctor Who?