The BBC has issued a statement in response to reports that Doctor Who is set to be axed following news that Ncuti Gatwa has stepped down from the titular role.

By Jennie Buzaglo, Showbiz Reporter
08:36, Tue, Feb 18, 2025 | UPDATED: 09:05, Tue, Feb 18, 2025

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The BBC has shut down rumours that Doctor Who is facing cancellation. However, they have declined to comment on speculation surrounding Ncuti Gatwa’s departure from the legendary series

Whispers about the 32-year-old’s possible exit recently began circulating, with exit rumours coming just three years after he was announced as The Doctor.

The Rwandan-Scottish star stepped into the famed role in 2023, first appearing in the 60th anniversary special ‘The Giggle’ for the sci-fi show’s first ever ‘bi-generation’, where David Tennant handed over the reins.

But now it is reported he is looking to leave the role behind after the 15th series airs later this year.

Concerns have emerged amongst fans that Gatwa’s potential exit could prompt the BBC to axe the series, which has suffered a decline in popularity, plummeting from its peak viewership to just 3.5 million for recent episodes.

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Ncuti Gatwa has reportedly quit Doctor Who (Image: James Pardon/Bad Wolf/BBC Studios)

Gatwa made his debut as The Doctor in 2023 (Image: Natalie Seery/Bad Wolf/BBC Studios)

This is in spite of Disney’s investment in the show since season 14 kicked off. In response to the growing anxiety, a BBC representative has come forward with a vehement rebuttal, insisting that Doctor Who remains firmly on the roster.

A source said: “This story is incorrect, Doctor Who has not been shelved. As we have previously stated, the decision on season 3 will be made after season 2 airs.

“The deal with Disney+ was for 26 episodes – and exactly half of those still have to transmit. And as for the rest, we never comment on the Doctor and future storylines.”

The BBC’s statement comes after The Sun reported that Gatwa has wrapped up his role as the iconic Doctor in the series and is set to leave at the conclusion of season 15.

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The show came under fire for its “woke” storylines (Image: James Pardon/Bad Wolf/BBC Studios)

Allegedly eyeing a move to Los Angeles to pursue other projects, an insider told the publication: “Ncuti doesn’t want to be tied to the series beyond this and plans to relocate to Los Angeles with several Hollywood projects standing by for him.”

The source expressed concerns about the potential impact on Gatwa’s career due to negative reactions from fans, adding: “His team also see a lot of fan backlash from the series, and don’t want the perception of him still being The Doctor to get in the way of any future work.

“The show has been poorly managed in recent years, and there’s a lot of people who’ve been working on this show for years and now being cast aside due to poor leadership.”

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The recent series suffered poor ratings as fans expressed their outrage over woke storylines. If Gatwa decides to depart Doctor Who, it will be the earliest exit since Christopher Eccleston, who left after just one series in 2005.

David Tennant and Billie Piper drew in audiences surpassing 13 million (Image: PA)

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First airing back in the ’60s, Doctor Who remained on screens until the late 80s before it was cancelled. It was officially revived in 2005, with Davies signing up as showrunner and head writer.

The rebooted series saw a surge in viewership, with Tennant and Billie Piper drawing in audiences surpassing 13 million. Meanwhile, Davies was lauded by fans for his ability to weave captivating and relatable narratives.

However, when he stepped down from the show in 2010, there was a noticeable dip in viewership. Hence, expectations were sky-high among fans when he made a comeback to the show in 2022.

It was at this point that Davies brought in Gatwa, as well as Millie Gibson who took on the role of Ruby Sunday.