Ncuti Gatwa says he binge-watched 21st Century Doctor Who and was completely enchanted by it.

It’s aways lovely to hear the new lead takes research this seriously, and Gatwa apparently spent a week watching “every Doctor Who episode since its 2005 revival”. He’s watched some episodes before, but hadn’t seen enough to classify himself as a fully-fledged fan; now, that’s changed!

“I fell in love with it. When you watch it, you forget all your troubles.. You go to space, or to another time. You have adventures.”

Can you get through all of 21st Century Doctor Who in a week? Perhaps, without sleep, but he likely watched every story from Russell T Davies’ first era on the show, then maybe dipped in and out subsequent showrunning tenures (i.e. Steven Moffat’s and Chris Chibnall’s).

Whatever happened, we’re overjoyed to hear Gatwa threw himself in so deep. The story of the time-displaced Time Lord, lost from his people after the Time War, particularly resonated — a young Ncuti and his family fled Rwanda, escaping the genocide against the Tutsi minority, and came to Scotland. Gatwa says of the Doctor, then:

“This person survived a genocide. This person fits in everywhere and nowhere. I am the Doctor. The Doctor is me.”

Very promising talk. Oh, and there’s a joy to him too, as he jokes:

“I love Jon Pertwee, the Third Doctor’s, outfits. Lovely velvet jackets and frilly shirts. I feel a connection to him; our Doctors are the only two who dress like sluts.”

That might be the first time the Third Doctor has been described as thus, outside of Twitter (yes, we’re still calling it Twitter, like the rest of the world).

Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor will debut later this year, likely during the 60th anniversary.