The long-running British sci-fi series Doctor Who is at risk of cancellation, as lead actor Ncuti Gatwa is said to be leaving the show amid poor ratings and fan dissatisfaction with recent storylines.
Reports suggest that Gatwa has already filmed his regeneration scene and plans to leave after his second season airs later this year.
Crew members claim they have been laid off, and insiders fear the BBC might shelve the series for the next 5 years.
A source told The Sun that Gatwa, 32, is eyeing a move to Hollywood, with several projects lined up.
According to the site, “Ncuti doesn’t want to be tied to the series beyond this and plans to relocate to Los Angeles with several Hollywood projects standing by for him.”
“His team also see a lot of fan backlash from the series, and don’t want the perception of him still being The Doctor to get in the way of any future work.”
Ratings for Gatwa’s first season have been lower than expected, with episodes pulling in between 2.25 million and 3.18 million viewers—significantly down from Doctor Who’s peak.
Meanwhile, the show has faced criticism from some quarters for its storylines, which have tackled themes such as capitalism, Christianity, and LGBTQ+ representation.
The insider added, “The show has been poorly managed in recent years and there’s a lot of people who’ve been working on this show for years and now being cast aside due to poor leadership.”
The 60th-anniversary specials, starring David Tennant, also sparked debate, particularly a plot in which The Doctor developed a crush on Sir Isaac Newton.
Despite the report, the BBC has denied that the show is being axed.
A BBC spokeswoman said, “This story is incorrect, Doctor Who has not been shelved. As we have previously stated, the decision on season 3 will be made after season 2 airs.”
They also added, “The deal with Disney Plus was for 26 episodes – and exactly half of those still have to transmit. And as for the rest, we never comment on the Doctor and future storylines.”
Adding to the show’s uncertainty in terms of its future, reports claim that showrunner Russell T Davies already has another project lined up if Doctor Who fails.
This has left some crew members feeling abandoned as they struggle to find work while production remains in limbo.
According to insiders, filming wrapped last week with “no fanfare or celebration,” and some believe the BBC may put the show on hold for at least five years.
If Gatwa does leave after two seasons, he will have one of the shortest runs as The Doctor since Christopher Eccleston, who exited after just one season in 2005.
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