Ncuti Gatwa jokes about Doctor Who regeneration into Billie Piper: “I don’t understand it either”

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I just watched Ncuti Gatwa host the season finale of SNL UK, and honestly, it was full of fun nods to his role as the Doctor! He didn’t shy away from referencing Doctor Who throughout the show, which was a real treat for fans like me.

Following a brief preview showing a humorous take on his character changing, Ncuti Gatwa began the episode with the classic opening speech, where he playfully referenced his unexpected exit from the series.

Playing the Doctor felt truly magical, Gatwa explained. It was also the first time his parents really celebrated his work. When he shared the news, they happily exclaimed, ‘At last, a doctor in the family!’

Even after becoming known as Billie Piper – and honestly, I still don’t quite get it myself – I remain a big fan of Doctor Who. It was amazing meeting all the eccentric characters on the show, and this place reminds me a little of that world.

You can check out the whole monologue—where he also playfully complained that only around twelve people actually tuned in to see me on Doctor Who—right here below.

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Since Ncuti Gatwa became the Doctor, viewers have been wondering about the significance of Piper’s character appearing. Unlike previous actors taking on the role, she wasn’t listed as playing the Doctor, which has led to theories that there’s more to her appearance than meets the eye.

Alex Kingston, who played River Song on the show, has expressed her surprise, stating she finds it hard to accept that the character isn’t from Gallifrey, as she’s always understood her to be human.

Something feels off about all of this. I just don’t believe she’ll be the next Doctor, and if she is, they’ll need to do a lot to change my mind, especially since she isn’t from Gallifrey.

Mark Gatiss, who writes and sometimes acts in the show, described the regeneration as a classic cliffhanger, drawing a parallel to the dramatic events of “Sherlock”‘s “The Reichenbach Fall”.

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We’ll probably find out the answers in the show’s Christmas special, which will be the next episode of this long-running sci-fi series.

Murray Gold, the composer for the show for many years, recently shared on the Half the Picture podcast that Russell T Davies, the showrunner, has prepared several different versions of the script for the upcoming special, based on how certain events turn out.

Saturday Night Live UK is available to watch on Sky and NOW – sign up to Sky TV to watch.

You can now watch Doctor Who on BBC iPlayer. For a complete guide to the show – including reviews of every episode from 1963 onwards, information about the cast and crew, behind-the-scenes details, and exclusive content from the TopMob archive – check out our Doctor Who story guide.

Don’t miss out on Doctor Who! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app today for daily TV suggestions, articles, and more.

Authors

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs writes about TV dramas for TopMob, covering shows on streaming services and traditional channels. Before becoming a writer, he worked in public relations, first at a business-to-business agency and then at Fremantle, a global TV production company. He has a BA in English and Theatre Studies, and a Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.

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2026-05-17 12:34