Ncuti Gatwa has said the decision to leave Doctor Who was a tough one, but that the pull of home and family was too great.

Gatwa, who played the Fifteenth Doctor, explained:

“I was tired and burnt out at the end of [Series 15]. It was exhausting. But it was a magical time, magical.

“There was never an opportunity to recoup the energy – it’s just go, go, go. I was doing seven-day weeks for eight months, and I found it hard being away from home and family. I’d already been shooting in Cardiff for five years [on and off] prior to that with Sex Education, and we started shooting Doctor Who while I was still doing Season four of Sex Ed.

“I had to wrestle with myself – I fell in love with that show. I’ll miss it, but I was ready to move on.”

This is a lot more believable than his knees wearing out!

It does seem as if deciding to leave the show was more down to a combination of things, and that missing home and his family was a bigger reason than he’s previously let on. Again, this is more understandable than the previous reason given which was purely that he was too tired to carry on.

Gatwa bought a home in London in 2023, a few years after being effectively homeless — shortly before being cast in Sex Education, Ncuti was couch-surfing, temping at Harrods but not having enough money to afford a roof over his head. He’s done remarkably well, and you can see why: he’s an excellent actor.

Of course, there are lots of opportunities in London, including Born With Teeth, the play he’s currently starring in, playing Christopher Marlowe.

There’s been speculation that Disney dragging its feet in regards to recommissioning Doctor Who, leading Gatwa unable to commit to any other work long-term might also have played a part in his leaving the series. Either way, it’s sad to see him go, and the future for Doctor Who is uncertain.