Ncuti Gatwa, widely celebrated for bringing a fresh energy to Doctor Who, has found himself at the centre of a different kind of spotlight—one that blends celebrity, activism, and controversy.
Just days before his final appearance as the Fifteenth Doctor aired, Gatwa took a very public stand at a pro-Palestinian rally, leaving fans and media asking whether this was connected to his earlier surprise exit from his Eurovision role.
The Eurovision No-Show That Sparked Questions
It all started last month, when Gatwa unexpectedly pulled out of his scheduled Eurovision Grand Final appearance.
He was supposed to announce the UK jury’s points live on air, but singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor stepped in at the last minute.
The switch happened just two minutes after Israel was confirmed as a finalist, which only added fuel to the fire of speculation.
At the time, the BBC blamed it on “unforeseen circumstances,” but the timing raised more than a few eyebrows.
A Rally in Westminster, Just Days Before His Doctor Who Exit
Fast forward to May 29, and Gatwa was seen speaking to a crowd outside the UK Parliament, standing in front of a banner that read “Gaza: Actions Not Words.”
The rally was organised by the charity Choose Love—also recently linked to Greta Thunberg’s controversial Gaza-bound “selfie yacht” journey.
Gatwa spoke passionately at the event, just two days before his final Doctor Who episode aired.
This appearance has cast a new light on his Eurovision withdrawal, with many wondering if it was a quiet form of protest all along.
A History of Solidarity with Palestine
This wasn’t Gatwa’s first sign of support for the Palestinian cause.
He’s previously shared social media posts with “Free Palestine” graffiti and promoted donation drives for humanitarian aid.
His activism hasn’t been loud, but it’s been consistent—and this rally appearance made it impossible to overlook.
One person who attended the demonstration said Gatwa even read out the names of Palestinian children who had died in the conflict, showing how personally invested he is in the issue.
Was the BBC in the Loop?
With Gatwa’s exit from both Doctor Who and Eurovision occurring so close together, questions are now being raised about whether the BBC knew he planned to withdraw from Eurovision if Israel made the final.
And more broadly, was his increasingly outspoken stance on Palestine seen as incompatible with his high-profile role at the BBC?
The network has maintained that Gatwa and his former Doctor Who co-star Varada Sethu—who also spoke at the rally—were no longer employed by the corporation at the time.
Since they were working as actors and not journalists, they weren’t subject to the BBC’s strict impartiality guidelines.
A Short but Groundbreaking Time in the TARDIS
Ncuti Gatwa made history in 2023 when he became the first Black actor to take on the lead role in Doctor Who.
He brought flair, charisma, and depth to the Fifteenth Doctor, but his time in the TARDIS was relatively short—just two seasons.
In May 2025, his character regenerated into Rose Tyler, played by returning star Billie Piper.
His 18-month run makes him the second shortest-serving Doctor, behind only Christopher Eccleston, who starred in a single series back in 2005.
A Final Farewell or a New Chapter?
At the Westminster rally, Gatwa was joined by comedian Alexei Sayle and Varada Sethu, who played his companion Belinda Chandra on Doctor Who. Sethu, like Gatwa, also departed the show recently.
Their joint appearance at the protest only deepened the sense that both actors were choosing to speak more freely now that they were no longer tied to the BBC.
Representatives for both Gatwa and the BBC have yet to offer further comment on the matter, but one thing’s clear:
Ncuti Gatwa isn’t fading quietly from public life—he’s using his platform to speak out, even if it comes at a cost.