The Doctor was in… a mood to poke fun at his time aboard the TARDIS, when Ncuti Gatwa hosted Saturday Night Live UK‘s freshman finale this weekend.
Gatwa starred as Fifteen in the two most recent seasons of the long-running sci-fi series Doctor Who. Almost a year ago, though, it was revealed that the Rwandan and Scottish actor had quietly and unexpectedly vacated the role when the Season 15 finale closed with his character “regenerating” to now sport the face of franchise vet Billie Piper (who in the past has played companion Rose Tyler).
Gatwa clocked his time as a Time Lord midway through his SNL UK monologue, saying, “I’ve had so many fantastic roles in my career. Millions of you watched me as Eric in Sex Education. And then about twelve of you watched me in Doctor Who.
“Maybe that’s why I kept crying,” he joked, alluding to his especially emotional portrayal of the time- traveling alien.
Indeed, Doctor Who‘s most recent numbers were far from stellar. The fifteenth season’s fourth episode (of eight), for example, mustered just 1.5 million viewers in the overnights—down 25 percent from the premiere to mark a franchise low. Doctor Who has been in limbo ever since Gatwa’s May 2025 send-off, with the BBC seeking a new co-producer after Disney+ bailed after two seasons.
“Joking aside, it was genuinely a magical role,” Gatwa went on to say in his monologue. “In fact, it was the first time my parents were truly proud of my career. When I told them I got the part, they said, ‘Finally, a doctor in the family!’
“Even though I have since regenerated into Billie Piper,” he added, before shrugging to the camera of that inexplicable callback: “I don’t understand it either.”
Watch Gatwa’s monologue in the video at top.
Gatwa as first-time host did not lampoon Doctor Who itself, but SNL UK had fun with the hometown favorite just weeks ago, when Aimee Lou Wood herself hosted the sixth show. In that sketch, Hammed Animashaun’s Time Lord invited his new companion, played by Wood, to partake of an tree of knowledge that could grant untold wisdom—though Wood’s character was rightfully revolted by the alien plant’s unsightly, drippy appearance.
SNL UK was renewed for a second series just over a week ago. That expanded, 12-episode run will launch in September and stretch into early 2027.
