{"id":16033,"date":"2022-05-26T14:21:32","date_gmt":"2022-05-26T12:21:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1651717"},"modified":"2022-05-26T14:44:11","modified_gmt":"2022-05-26T12:44:11","slug":"russell-t-davies-on-tension-of-keeping-ncuti-gatwa-doctor-who-secret","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/russell-t-davies-on-tension-of-keeping-ncuti-gatwa-doctor-who-secret\/","title":{"rendered":"Russell T Davies on \u201ctension\u201d of keeping Ncuti Gatwa Doctor Who secret"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By James Hibbs\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 26 May 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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When Ncuti Gatwa\u2019s casting<\/a> as Doctor Who<\/a>\u2018s new Doctor was announced earlier this month, it seemed to come out of the blue, with a crytpic Tweet setting off a day of revelations and press.<\/p>\n

Now, Russell T Davies has spoken about the behind-the-scenes preparation and planning that went into the reveal, noting the importance of the announcement being made the same day as the BAFTA Television Awards ceremony, and how tense the team had been at the idea the news could lead.<\/p>\n

In the latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine<\/a>\u2018s Production Notes column, Davies called Gatwa\u2019s reveal \u201ca spectacular operation\u201d, noting that the plan was to \u201crelease a cryptic post online at 11:30am. Let that go viral. Then an official statement at 12:30pm, released to the press.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy mate Stefan texted me, always ready with a complaint. \u2018Bit low-key,\u2019 he said. Oh you wait, I thought, as we hit 13:30 and\u2026 Flash, bang, pop, scream, the new Doctor walked onto the biggest red carpet in the world! People going crazy for him! That was quite a sight, camera crews and microphones and journalists in the blazing sunshine yelling, \u2018Ncuti! Ncuti!’\u201d<\/p>\n

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Ncuti Gatwa<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Davies acknowledged that the reveal took a \u201chell of a lot of planning\u201d and said \u201cthe fact that we had to do all this in secret meant we were rattling with tension. Not only had Ncuti\u2019s name not been leaked, but he hadn\u2019t even been guessed. His casting had been locked away, since February, with all of us worrying that it would be spoiled, any day now.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it worked. It absolutely worked.\u201d<\/p>

Davies previously confirmed to RadioTimes.com<\/a> and other press that he also planted \u201ca few false stories\u201d<\/a>, \u201cfalse tales\u201d and \u201ca couple of misleading things\u201d in order to keep Gatwa\u2019s casting a secret, saying \u201cwe\u2019re very pleased that that kind of worked.\u201d<\/p>\n

You can read the full notes in Doctor Who Magazine\u2019s latest issue, available to purchase now.<\/p>\n

DWM issue 578, on sale from 26 May 2022 – introducing the new Doctor, Ncuti Gatwa! Available from https:\/\/t.co\/M0TUeDw7E2<\/a> (UK\/Ireland only), selected supermarkets and WH Smith. Digital edition from https:\/\/t.co\/qO8LWKfSU3<\/a> #drwho<\/a> #doctorwho<\/a> #NcutiGatwa<\/a> #Ncuti<\/a> #Gatwa<\/a> #SexEducation<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/7bzlybxCSU<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Doctor Who Magazine (@DWMtweets) May 22, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote>