Ncuti Gatwa has defiantly said any racist troll should “get a hobby” after facing an online backlash for being cast as the first black lead star in Doctor Who.
The Sex Education star, 31, appeared on the cover of Attitude Magazine 30th Anniversary Editionand told the publication that he found it “fascinating” that some viewers were so offended by his casting.
Ncuti was announced as the first black actor to permanently play The Doctor in 2022, and made his debut in the third and final 60th anniversary special in December.
His first full series in the role will begin on May 11 and, ahead of the launch, Ncuti said he feels there is a “change” happening with casting in the TV industry.
He said: “It’s not something I’ll pursue avidly.” Hatred? It’s a fascinating thing to me because there’s so much energy they’re putting into it… I think they need to find a hobby, it’s one thing.
Ncuti Gatwa has defiantly said any racist troll should “get a hobby” after facing an online backlash for being cast as the first black lead star in Doctor Who.
The Sex Education star appeared on the cover of Attitude magazine’s 30th anniversary issue and said she found it “fascinating” that some viewers were offended by her casting.
‘But another thing is that we see a change in the distribution, in the positions of power and in the status quo.
“I mean, it’s not a quick change, things could turn the other way a little quicker, but you see people malfunctioning because things are changing.”
During the interview, Ncuti also revealed that he finds it “scary” that the current political landscape has made it “okay” to attack vulnerable people.
He added: ‘Everything flows from the top, and when you see politicians openly attacking marginalized communities, when you see our politicians openly attacking trans people, that makes everything okay for everyone else.
‘And it’s scary to see that we’ve reached a point where it’s okay to attack vulnerable people because that’s essentially what’s happening.
‘The most vulnerable, most disenfranchised, most disconnected from others are told they are the threat.
‘It’s sick because it’s a hiding place from your own ineptitude. Are you going to blame immigrants, black and brown people, trans people, queer people, to hide the fact that you’re not doing anything for people?
‘It’s easier to just create discord between people. It’s divide and conquer, right?
Ncuti’s first full series as The Doctor will begin on May 11 and ahead of the launch, Ncuti said he feels there is a “change” happening with casting in the TV industry.
Ncuti, who previously identified as queer, also revealed that he has received therapy after struggling with “internalized homophobia.”
Ncuti’s first full series as The Doctor will hit screens on May 11, and the titular hero will travel through space and time with his new companion Ruby Sunday, played by Millie Gibson.
Before the first episodes, Ncuti admitted that the Doctor’s kindness and compassion have never been more vital.
He said: ‘The Doctor constantly fights for every life, even his villains. He shows mercy and compassion toward everyone because he understands that everything is necessary and that we need each other.
“It’s really nice to have a show like Doctor Who running after all these years in this era we’re in now.”
Ncuti, who previously identified as queer, also revealed that he has received therapy after struggling with “internalized homophobia.”
He added: “I didn’t really realize I had internalized homophobia until I came out into the public eye.” I always thought she was the most free-spirited person. No one could tell me what to do.
‘I do what I want. Until I came to light [and] I thought, “Oh, I don’t know.” It’s a constantly evolving journey… What I can do is try to address it every day and feel more proud of who I am, fully. But it’s a long job.
“He was very, very emotionally avoidant. I strictly emotionally avoided everything during my twenties. I caught up with my sister the other day and said, “I think the way we were raised, I think we were taught that we have to earn love.”
‘Instead of being an unconditional thing or an unconditional entity. I’m not saying it’s that.
‘I don’t know if that comes from that African education, from that strict education: getting grades, getting into a good university, becoming a doctor, becoming a lawyer. Start to improve yourself.
‘It was like you had to prove why you’re lovable. We are trained to say, ‘If I am not exceptional, I will not be loved.’ I certainly think that was my thing. So, yeah, I think I’m learning now to say, “Oh, you can be loved.”
“You don’t have to be excellent or aspire to that term, ‘black excellence.’ What the hell? There’s so much white mediocrity celebrated, and we black people have to be absolutely flawless to get half as much.” [that] anyway.
The May/June issue of Attitude is now available
“So I’m slowly training myself to come out of that and say, ‘No, shit. You deserve love just for existing.’ And that has also taught me to be much more affectionate, in a strange way.”
In the upcoming series, audiences will see the Doctor and Ruby travel through time and space on adventures to unknown lands, Regency-era England, outer space worlds and the 1960s.
This season will also see the return of Michelle Greenidge as Carla Sunday, Angela Wynter as Cherry Sunday and Anita Dobson as Mrs Flood.
The eight-episode series will also feature a variety of special guest stars, including Jinkx Monsoon, Aneurin Barnard, Yasmin Finney, Jonathan Groff, Bonnie Langford, Jemma Redgrave, Lenny Rush and Indira Varma, with more to be announced soon.
Showrunner Russell T Davies said: “At last, it is my great pleasure to unleash a brand new season of the Doctor and Ruby’s adventures together.
‘Monsters! Chases! Villains! Mysteries! And a terrifying secret that has been spanning time and space for decades. Don’t miss a second!’
The new series will also launch globally for the first time ever, on BBC iPlayer at midnight on May 11, while it will launch internationally on Disney+.
The episodes will arrive on BBC One on the same day, ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest grand final.
The May/June issue of Attitude is now available.