Former Time Lord Matt Smith has offered his congratulations to Ncuti Gatwa, who was recently announced as Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor Who replacement.
The Sex Education star, 29, will step inside the TARDIS later this year when Jodie bows out as the 13th Doctor.
Jodie has just one special left to air before she hangs up her sonic screwdriver, with the episode set to air this autumn.
News of Ncuti’s new role broke the internet over the weekend, since stars from It’s A Sin – including Olly Alexander and Lydia West – were frontrunners to take over in the role.
But, Doctor Who fans and celebs are offering their support, including Matt, 39, who took on the role of the Doctor in 2010, as the youngest Doctor in history at the age of 26.
Speaking at Paris Fan Festival this weekend, the Northampton-born actor revealed he is positively buzzing for Ncuti to get started on the BBC sci-fi show.
‘I think he’s going to be brilliant,’ he said.
‘I think he’s going to be truly brilliant. I think it’s an inspired piece of casting, and along with Russell, who’s such a great leader of that show.’
It turns out Matt is a Sex Ed fan too, praising Ncuti’s portrayal of Eric Effiong, the shool boy with incredible comic timing and one-liners, and a striking fashion sense.
Matt added: ‘I don’t know if you’ve seen him in Sex Education, there’s a warmth and wit and a real depth to his talent that I think, honestly, I think it’s an inspired bit of casting and I’m really, really excited for the show.’
The actor played Doctor Who for three years until 2013, taking over from Scotsman David Tennant, who played the role from 2005 until 2010.
Matt’s time-travelling companions were Amy Pond (Karen Gillan), her husband Rory Williams (Arthur Darvill) and Clara Oswald (Jenna Louise Coleman), but it remains to be seen who could join the cast to accompany Ncuti later this year when he fills Jodie’s boots – the first female Doctor.
Ncuti – who has also been cast in the upcoming Barbie movie alongside Sex Education’s Emma Mackey – said he has no idea how he’ll follow his ‘incredibly talented’ predecessors but is excited to make the iconic character his ‘own.’
He told Metro.co.uk at the 2022 Baftas: ‘Each Doctor that’s gone before has been so incredibly talented and so incredibly brilliant, I don’t know how I’m going to follow in their footsteps but I’m going to try my best!’
Credit: Original article published here.You can read this post on My Celebrity Life.
