Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies has shed light on the BBC show's casting process prior to securing Ncuti Gatwa as the 15th incarnation of the Doctor.
Gatwa, who shot to global stardom in Netflix's Sex Education, will take over from David Tennant who reprised the iconic role last month.
Tennant returned to see in the new era of Doctor Who with Davies at the helm for the first few episodes of the current series but on Christmas Day, Gatwa steps into the TARDIS for the first time.
He'll be accompanied by new sidekick Ruby Sunday, played by Coronation Street's Millie Gibson, for the remainder of the current run.
And the new duo clearly has the backing of Doctor Who bosses as Gatwa and Gibson are already filming scenes for a second series at the forefront which will air in 2025.
However, Davies has revealed the show could've broken new ground before landing Gatwa as the show's leading man as Davies auditioned male, female and non-binary people for the role.
David Tennant reprised the role of the Doctor earlier this year
BBC
“For the Doctor we auditioned men, we auditioned women, we auditioned non-binary people," Davies admitted. "So I didn’t fix anything in that regard.
"But I did the reading with him [Gatwa], and he blasted me off the face of the Earth.
“He was completely different from how he was in Sex Education. He had all this joy and menace and cheek.
"Many Doctors had a streak within them that’s withdrawn and guarded. Somehow, he manages to be all that, and yet he cries and he laughs.
Russell T Davies was speaking in the new issue of the Radio Times
RADIO TIMES
"He’s a much more emotional Doctor, powerfully so. And that works beautifully. It makes us all reach into new areas, and try new things, and write new things.
"It’s very exciting," Davies added during an interview with the Radio Times.
Davies's take on Doctor Who has already hit headlines for wading into the gender debate due to scenes between trans actor Yasmin Finney's character Rose and the Doctor.
A scene between Rose and Tennant's Doctor sparked debate after the Time Lord asked an alien-like character known as a Meep what its pronouns were.
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Ncuti Gatwa debuts as Doctor Who on Christmas Day
BBC
The moment led to some BBC viewers vowing to boycott the series after fuming it had gone "woke" and had become "cringe".
For those who want to stick with the series, Gatwa's debut will air on December 25.
While "Whovians" will be excited by the prospect of seeing in a new era for the Doctor, a number of licence fee payers have been left less than impressed with the rest of the BBC's festive schedule.
With the likes of Call the Midwife and Mrs Brown's Boys securing a spot in the Christmas Day schedule, several members of the public have slammed the broadcaster's festive offering - with some even calling for it to be "defunded".
