Fifteenth Doctor
The Fifteenth Doctor is the current incarnation of the Doctor, the protagonist of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. He is portrayed by Rwandan-Scottish actor Ncuti Gatwa. His first series companion is Ruby Sunday, played by Millie Gibson.
| The Fifteenth Doctor | |
|---|---|
| Doctor Who character | |
Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor | |
| First regular appearance | "The Church on Ruby Road" (2023) |
| Introduced by | Russell T Davies |
| Portrayed by | Ncuti Gatwa |
| Preceded by | David Tennant |
| Information | |
| Tenure | 25 December 2023 – present |
| Appearances | 1 story (1 episode) |
| Companions | Ruby Sunday |
| Chronology | |
| Previous version | Fourteenth Doctor |
Within the series' narrative, the Doctor is a millennia-old alien Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey, with somewhat unknown origins, who travels in time and space in their TARDIS, frequently with companions. Usually, at the end of each incarnation's life, the Doctor regenerates; as a result, their physical appearance and personality changes. However, the Fifteenth Doctor emerged unconventionally, via "bi-generation", in which he split from his predecessor, the Fourteenth Doctor's body, rather than replacing him, allowing both incarnations to co-exist.
Gatwa had previously been announced as Jodie Whittaker's successor as the programme's lead, and many reports stated he would play the Fourteenth Doctor and that Whittaker's Thirteenth Doctor would regenerate into an incarnation portrayed by Gatwa. Upon Whittaker's final appearance as the character, she instead regenerated into a form seemingly similar to the Tenth Doctor. This character, portrayed by David Tennant, was confirmed to be the Fourteenth Doctor, with later clarification that Gatwa would portray the Fifteenth Doctor.
His first episode as lead actor aired on 25 December 2023, and the fourteenth series will screen in 2024.