Ncuti Gatwa Is The New Doctor Who

 Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa has been confirmed as Doctor Who ‘s 14th actor and the first black man to take on the primary role of the Time Lord, the BBC revealed on Twitter.

Jodie Whittaker, the show's first female Doctor, announced her retirement in July after three seasons.

As Eric Effiong in Netflix's smash hit British adolescent comedy-drama Sex Education, Rwandan-Scottish actor Mr. Gatwa, 29, portrays a gay Nigerian guy trying to figure out his sexuality and identity in a devout home.

When  he came for the BAFTAs, where he had been nominated for for his work on Sex Education, Mr. Gatwa said, "It feels absolutely fantastic, it's a true honor.”

“This role is established," he declared of the Doctor's position. “There are so many people who love it, including myself, that it makes us all feel seen. Thank you for handing along the baton, and I'll do my best," he says.

There were ecstatic tweets from Doctor Who fans who couldn't contain their joy over the news. They highlighted the low-key announcement: a tweet that was followed by a news release that was published on the BBC's social channels. A commercial that aired after the Wimbledon men's final in July 2017 announced Ms. Whittaker's selection by the BBC.

While speaking to the BBC about his feelings for Doctor Who, Mr. Gatwa recognized his "deep honor, beyond excitement and of course, a little bit scared" in a statement.

Then he continued, "Unlike the Doctor, I may only have one heart, but I'm giving it all to this show."

Over the course of over 60 years, the BBC has transmitted 39 episodes of Doctor Who. Dedicated Whovians have formed around the show, which depicts an alien known as the Doctor traveling across time and space in an old-fashioned British police telephone box known as the TARDIS.

The show's principal actor is replaced every few years since the Doctor regenerates into different individuals. The show's prior attempts to alter and diversity have not been completely appreciated, even if new Doctors are expected and anxiously anticipated by viewers. One of the first hashtags associated with the Doctor's new incarnation, #NotMyDoctor, was created by fans outraged by the character's unexpected transition into a woman in 2017.

Russell T. Davies, the series' showrunner, said in a statement that the last episode will feature Ms. Whittaker. According to a promo for the show, it will air in the fall as part of the BBC's centenary celebrations.

Gatwa's first appearance as a Time Lord will be made  in 2023.