Since Ncuti Gatwa was announced as the new lead of Doctor Who, Doctors from throughout the series’ history have been giving their thoughts on his casting, with Eighth Doctor Paul McGann becoming the latest to add his voice.
Speaking with a Liverpool Echo journalist, as was reported by CultBox, McGann said the show was in “good hands” with Ncuti, explaining, “I love it that he’s young because they needed that. Another middle-aged so-and-so, particularly a white male as well, would have been wrong.”
He said: “I had not watched any Sex Education until someone made me watch it. I really thought it was good and he looks great.
“And it’s another Scottish actor! When he was cast, [Sylvester] McCoy texted me and just said ‘Scots four, Scousers two!’”
![""]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2022/05/ncuti-gatwa-dd48660.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"\"")
McGann also praised incoming showrunner Russell T Davies, saying he’s “made up” that Davies is taking charge of the show once more.
He said: “He really knows what he’s doing. And there’s genuine love for it, you know, for Doctor Who. The reason that it’s survived and thrived as long as it has is because generally, down the years, people who have genuinely loved it have run it.”
Asked whether he has any insider knowledge of plans for next year’s 60th anniversary, McGann said that while it is “exciting for everyone”, he didn’t have any information “yet”.
He continued: “We’ll find out much nearer the time, that’s how showbiz works, usually at the very eleventh hour. But it’s my guess that most of us who are still around will probably be asked to get involved in things and that’s how it should be because the fans like it that way.”
McGann joins Sylvester McCoy and Matt Smith who have spoken about Gatwa’s casting publicly, and David Tennant and Jodie Whittaker, who have sent their well-wishes in private.
Doctor Who is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide to see what’s on tonight.
The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now – subscribe now and get the next 12 issues for only £1. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.