Doctor Who executive producer Joel Collins praised Ncuti Gatwa’s audition and performance as the Fifteenth Doctor in Doctor Who Magazine 587.

Collins described a “clandestine meeting” in a London hotel to audition actors to portray the Fifteenth Doctor.

“We all went in the front door, and Ncuti came in the back entrance, so the world couldn’t see we were talking to him,” Collins recalled to DWM. “I just stood there, staring at him. I was blown away by this character who somehow embodied the Doctor, just by being there.”

Gatwa’s first day of filming Doctor Who was for his scenes for the Doctor Who 60th anniversary on June 21, 2022. His scene can be viewed on the 60th Anniversary teaser trailer. The teaser trailer contains scenes from Special One and Special Three only. Gatwa’s trailer scene, dressed in the shirt and tie from David Tennant’s Fourteen Doctor, is likely from Special Three — the last of three 2023 60th anniversary specials.

“And then, the first time he came on set… I can’t quite describe it, but he just had a kind of confidence in who he was as the Doctor,” Collins further described to DWM. “He’s just so magnetic. “…for me, it was mind-blowing.”

Collins is also full of praise for Millie Gibson as the Fifteenth Doctor’s companion Ruby Sunday.

“She’s wise beyond her years. And she’s funny. …But she also just has this energy, which is why she and Ncuti together are going to be electric.”

Doctor Who will return in November 2023 with three 60th anniversary specials starring David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor. In the following festive period, Ncuti Gatwa will star in his first full Doctor Who episode as the Fifteenth Doctor.

Doctor Who Magazine Issue 587 is available Thursday, 2 February from Panini and WH Smith. A DWM digital edition is available from PocketMags.