Just by way of a followup to my note on “Dot and Bubble” yesterday, someone on Bluesky linked to this article about Ncuti Gatwa, which ends with this:
Before we leave, I’m reminded of a story that Gatwa had told me about his first day filming the new series of Doctor Who. It was a night shoot and Gatwa was tired. Even so, he says, he came down the steps onto the sound stage, saw the Tardis, and laughed in disbelief.
The first scene Gatwa shot, he claims, is a pivotal point in the new series – “the final scene in episode five. People will remember that scene.” As the cameras started rolling, it was the make-or-break moment. Gatwa remembers thinking: “You have to dig deep and pull out something that will blow everyone on this set away – and I bloody well did.” Ncuti Gatwa leans back, and lets out that laugh again.
“I heard someone say: ‘That’s why he’s the Doctor.’”
Yes. He bloody well did indeed. I had no idea that was his first scene for the new series (apart from “The Giggle”, I presume). I imagine everything after that was comparatively easy for him.
