Ncuti Gatwa reveals awkward wardrobe malfunction after making Doctor Who demands

Ncuti Gatwa made his debut in Doctor Who during the bi-generation scene in The Giggle. (Image: BBC)

Ncuti Gatwa has revealed his Doctor Who costume demands ahead of the beloved sci-fi show’s return. The former Sex Education star is due to step out as the Fifteenth Doctor alongside companion Millie Gibson next month.

On May 11, Ncuti, 31, will star as the titular character in the fourteenth series of Doctor Who. The move comes after the actor debuted on the BBC show alongside David Tennant as part of the 60th Anniversary celebrations last year.

Deviating from the norm, the Doctor is due to forgo a signature look this season. Instead, the character’s wardrobe will be composed of an eclectic range of items and will differ in each episode.

These include a 70s pinstriped power suit and a recency-inspired getup that wouldn’t go amiss on Bridgerton. While costume duties fell to Pam Downe, Ncuti has surprisingly had some influence over his TV look.

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In a new interview, the star detailed how he persuaded the make-up department to incorporate facial hair — even when he wasn’t growing any. Speaking to Radio Times, the Netflix actor admitted he wanted to look his age in the role after portraying clean-shaven schoolboy Eric Effiong on Sex Education.

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Ncuti revealed he has had some influence over his character's look this season. (Image: BBC)

Due to working on Doctor Who at the same time as the coming-of-age drama though, Ncuti was forced to stick synthetic hair on his face for the first two months of filming.

“Bella [Arghiros], my make-up artist, would present me with a little bag of pubes every morning,” he joked.

“I went through the process of sticking them on for two months.”

The performer continued to say that his make-up artist had to reapply and trim the faux hair after every take as it would “flap off in the wind”.

“I’m chasing a monster and the director says, ‘We’ll have to go again because his moustache is half off.’ So when it grew back, I felt very liberated,” he added.

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Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson grace the latest edition of Radio Times. (Image: RADIO TIMES) SUBSCRIBE Invalid email

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Earlier this month, the Barbie actor slammed those spouting vitriol regarding the news he’d be portraying the latest incarnation of the Doctor.

“It’s not something I’ll avidly keep up on,” Ncuit said about trolls.

“The hate? It is kind of fascinating to me because there's so much energy they're putting into it ... I think they need to go find a hobby is one thing.”

"But another thing is that we do see a shift happening in casting, in positions of power and in the status quo,” he continued to tell Attitude magazine.

“I mean, not a fast shift, things could tip over the other way a little bit quicker, but you see people kind of malfunctioning because things are changing.”

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The latest series of Doctor Who is set to premiere on BBC One ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest on May 11.

However, keen sci-fi fans can tune into BBC iPlayer from midnight to get their fix ahead of the official broadcast.

This history-making move is due to the show's new partnership with Disney+.

International and US viewers will be able to watch the brand-new projects from May 10 at 7pm ET.

The new series of Doctor Who will air on BBC One ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest on May 11.