‘Doctor Who’ Lead Ncuti Gatwa Responds To Critics Of His Casting: “Go And Touch Grass, Please, For God’s Sake”
Spencer Baculi
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Current Doctor Who lead Ncuti Gatwa has pushed back against those critics who rejected his casting as the latest incarnation of the series’ titular protagonist by imploring them to “go and touch grass”.
Gatwa offered this response while speaking to Variety‘s Ellise Shafer in promotion of the upcoming premiere of Doctor Who‘s next season.
Pressed by Shafer as to whether he had anything to say to those individuals who took with his casting – it should be noted that while some did object to his appearance in the role on racial and sexual identity grounds, an overwhelming majority of the criticism was based on the fear that Gatwa’s existence as the first non-white Doctor would lead to the series curving away from sci-fi adventures in favor or hardcore sociopolitical preaching – the 15th Doctor actor declared, “Don’t watch. Turn off the TV. Go and touch grass, please, for God’s sake.”
However, while Gatwa’s criticism was aimed at his general naysayers, current Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies, had specific thoughts for those who found themselves unhappy with the fact that a ‘queer’ actor would be playing the lead in a show watched by children.
Appearing alongside Gatwa, the showrunner opined to Shafer, “I think if you’re 6 years old, you don’t care — not at all. But nonetheless, as the world darkens — and I do think the world is darkening around queer rights — there is a joy and a celebration, and there’s a community.”
“Whether you’re 12 years old and just beginning to work out who you are, 62 years old and you’ve never been who you are, or 61 years old like I am and beginning to worry about where we are in society — there is a hero out there cutting his way through the universe, looking damn good in his suits and doing it with a laugh and a smile,” Davies concluded.
Notably, according to Gatwa, the significant change in the Doctor’s identity facilitated by his casting will play a significant role in the upcoming season.
Asked by UK news outlet Radio Times in Dec 2023 as to whether or not the series would eventually and explicitly comment on the Doctor’s swapping of races between his past and current incarnations, Gatwa confirmed, “Yes, definitely. It would be stupid if we didn’t.”
“The Doctor has always walked into unknown situations and taken charge with authority,” explained the Netflix’s Sex Education actor. “Historically, there’s only really one demographic of people that are able to do that – and it’s certainly not a woman, and it’s certainly not someone black.”
“Thank God, things are changing,” he concluded.
At current, the next season of Doctor Who – the first proper one starring Gatwa – is on track to hit Disney Plus on May 11th.
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