Ncuti Gatwa has revealed that he’s in a scene with the First Doctor, William Hartnell.

Hartnell, of course, passed away in April 1975, so we can only presume some computer jiggery-pokery allows the Fifteenth Doctor to meet the First Doctor. Either way, it’s an intriguing idea and highlights that this is all just one show, despite the current production team referring to the next series as Doctor Who Season 1 — the past is still very much alive.

At GQ’s Men of the Year party, Gatwa said:

“I shouldn’t say this, but there was a scene that I somehow shot with the First Doctor, William Hartnell. We ended up in the same scene together and to see that history, and now a black man as the Doctor… I’m very very, very grateful.”

Okay, so how might this happen?

Ncuti actively namechecking Hartnell means it’s likely David Bradley won’t be returning as the First Doctor in a multi-Doctor episode. Scenes from the First Doctor era might be reimagined for a modern story, just as The Name of the Doctor and The Day of the Doctor did.

But the prevailing notion right now is that Ncuti is taking Matt Smith’s place in An Adventure in Space and Time, the 50th anniversary docudrama that retold the show’s origins, featuring Hartnell played by Bradley, and which will be repeated on BBC4 on 23td November, the actual 60th anniversary of Doctor Who. That will also be available on BBC iPlayer as part of The Whoniverse afterwards.

We should find out soon enough…