The latest rumors surrounding the demise of Doctor Who include that star Ncuti Gatwa has been fired, which has less to do with the showâs ratings, but more the actorâs politics.
Donât be fooled, the ratings are in the gutter, and it was already said Gatwa was likely leaving the series, said to have a future in Hollywood.
The present season of Doctor Who has the worst viewership in the showâs 60+ year history, even with the return of Russell T Davies, who saw a ratings bonanza during the David Tennant years. However, Davies made the new Who all about sending The Message instead of about telling a good story.
What is said about Ncuti Gatwa?
Regarding Ncuti Gatwa allegedly getting fired, which the BBC is denying, Ncuti Gatwa was supposed to appear on the UKâs  Eurovision results showcase, which is watched by some 160 million viewers. Gatwa was supposed to announce the winning score, but at the last minute, he bailed without giving a reason. Well, it turns out that Gatwa has been an outspoken supporter of Palestine and only bailed after Israel qualified for the grand final.
âInsidersâ filled in the UK gossip sites that if Ncuti Gatwa wasnât done as Doctor Who before, he is now.
The Sun has ran a second article this week titled âEXTERMINATED! Doctor Whoâs wokest ever lead star Ncuti Gatwa exits after just two series with show to be paused after ratings nosedive.â
The article goes over the recent rumors that Disney+ wonât be renewing for a third season, which has provided a hundred million dollars into new Who and says Gatwa is done in his role as the Timelord following his exit from Eurovision:
 âBosses were incredibly disappointed. Ncuti, as the Doctor, is one of the corporationâs most high-profile faces. His withdrawal was incredibly embarrassing. It caps what has been a largely depressing tenure in the Tardis for Ncuti.â
Tomorrow’s front page: Doctor Who exterminated â BBC bin star Ncuti after Eurovision row
â The Sun (@TheSun) May 22, 2025
Read more: https://t.co/LujJz1bGPJ pic.twitter.com/xDAQThGbS5
Doctor Who: a ratings disaster
Weâre not done yet, as now the Hollywood trades have picked up on the story. Deadline reports on the rumors and goes over the ratings, providing the seven-day viewing figures, which just like the 24 hour numbers that I go over, are a complete disaster.Â
The data reveals that the first four episodes of the new season have averaged 3.1 million viewers â 800,000 fewer than the same stretch last year during Ncuti Gatwaâs debut as the Doctor.
Stack that against Jodie Whittakerâs final season in 2021, and the drop is even steeper. The first four episodes of Whittakerâs Season 13 pulled in 5 million viewers, a full 2 million more than the current run led by Ncuti Gatwa. Check out the ratings numbers below.
Whatâs next for Doctor Who?
The BBC has responded, as they have been, saying no decision will be made until after Season 2.
Rumors offer there will be no regeneration scene showing the new Doctor at the end of the season because the show will go on hiatus and they wonât have a new actor in the role.
Itâs also said Davies has been working on the next seasons.
Additional rumors offer that the BBC is looking for a new backer, as Disney is out, to continue Doctor Who.
Update: In the latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine, Davies teases the events leading to the season finale, stating the show is âwilder than itâs ever been beforeâ in a climactic storyline that is both âvery epicâ and also âvery personalâ.
Davies added: âIt takes some very unexpected turns⊠There are big surprises, from the Doctor and for the Doctor. Some of it shakes up the lore of Gallifrey. Some of it re-contextualizes the Doctor, the Rani, and their relationship.â
Doctor Who Ncuti Gatwa ratings:
Season 1:
- Ep 01 â 2.60m
- Ep 02 â 2.40m
- Ep 03 â 2.04m
- Ep 04 â 2.62m
- Ep 05 â 2.12m
- Ep 06 â 2.11m
- Ep 07 â 2.02m
- Ep 08 â 2.25m
Season 2:
- Ep 01:Â 2M
- Ep 02:Â 1.58M
- Ep 03:Â 1.86M
- Ep 04:Â 1.5M (new all-time low)
- Ep 05:Â 1.59M
- Ep 06: 2.57M
- Ep 07: 1.83M
