Ncuti Gatwa reveals shock Doctor Who twist in new series as major star returns
SOMETHING truly supernatural is shaking up Doctor Who this festive season.
New Time Lord Ncuti Gatwa — who makes his debut during the Christmas Day episode — has revealed he’s “recorded scenes” with the late show legend William Hartnell.
Ncuti was partying at the GQ Men of the Year Awards in association with Boss on Wednesday evening when he let the news slip.
William was the original Doctor, playing him from 1963 to 1966 before his death in 1975.
But Ncuti has claimed the show icon will feature in the new episode — though he stopped short of revealing whether Hartnell had been brought back to the screen by technical wizardry using old footage, or if we will be watching a lookalike.
Speaking at the star-studded bash in London’s Covent Garden, Ncuti said: “It has been a crazy year. I shouldn’t say this but there was a scene that I somehow shot with the first ever Doctor, William Hartnell.
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“We ended up in the same scene together…and to see that history and now a black man is the Doctor is just very wild.”
Hopefully Ncuti’s loose tongue won’t annoy BBC bosses, who go all out to keep details of the show under lock and key.
The upcoming specials of Doctor Who are shrouded in secrecy, although David Tennant will also return to mark the show’s 60th anniversary.
He will be joined by his former companion Catherine Tate, who first played Donna Noble in 2006.
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Ncuti was among stars honoured at GQ’s Royal Opera House bash, including his Sex Education co-star Asa Butterfield. Speaking earlier this summer, Ncuti admitted his Doctor, the 15th reincarnation, will be more in touch with his feelings than predecessors.
He teased: “My Doctor is emotionally vulnerable. He hides it with humour, but he’s lonely. But he’s also energetic! The poor cameramen struggled to keep up.”
Ncuti partied into the early hours at the official afterparty, watching girl group FLO’s surprise performance.
Bet he wished he could time travel past the inevitable hangover!
James on party line
LAST year, James McAvoy hit the dancefloor hard after making use of the free bar.
And while he wasn’t able to make this year’s event, he was still there in spirit, calling on this year’s celebs to do the same in his honour.
The Scots actor sent a text to host Jack Guinness joking it would be insulting if they didn’t make good use of the free bar. Jack said: “James asked me to pass on an urgent message, ‘You must party. To do anything less would be a mark of disrespect to me, the actor James McAvoy, and to the building, which has stood for hundreds of years, and GQ. Do not insult us!’”
SQUEEZY DOES IT, NICOLE
I’M surprised Nicole Scherzinger was able to raise a smile after being squeezed into this outfit.
Clearly not bothered about boozed-up guests spilling anything on her, she wore this all-white look including an eye-watering corset to cinch in her tiny waist.
Tom Daley had a good reason to grin, as he enjoyed his first night out since his husband Dustin Lance Black’s assault case was chucked out of court last week.
Screenwriter Dustin laid low and skipped the afterparty, but Tom wrapped up in a woollen jumper and cream suit.
Other stars spotted leaving the glitzy after-party included Gary Lineker in a classic grey suit, singer Mabel, in a brown leather dress, Emma Corrin, who was almost unrecognisable in a blue suit, and England footballer Chloe Kelly.
Despite plunging temperatures, model Leomie Anderson was in the skimpiest outfit of the evening.
Guinness isn't good for celebs
THIS year’s awards were hosted by comic Jack Guinness – and no one was safe from his acid tongue.
He called out a raft of stars in front of their peers, including Gary Lineker, footballer Mary Earps, TV’s Louis Theroux and even King Charles.
Here are some of his savage one-liners:
“He’s played in some of the biggest matches and hosts Match Of The Day, but he’s best known simply as Wayne’s brother – it’s Gary Lineker.”
“We have a national treasure here tonight. Mary Earps. Mary, you gave us the most iconic ‘f*** off’ we have ever seen on the pitch.”
“It’s been a great year. We had the Coronation – actually meh, no one cares about that. We had the World Cup.”
“We have one of the biggest rappers in the UK here tonight. It’s Louis Theroux.”
EX JOE ON JACK TRACK
TAYLOR SWIFT’s actor ex Joe Alwyn partied without a care in the world, knocking back red wine and cocktails, despite his proximity to top songwriter and producer Jack Antonoff.
I told yesterday how event organisers feared the pair could have an awkward run-in, given Jack – who is Taylor’s regular collaborator – had encouraged her to move on with The 1975 frontman Matty Healy just weeks after she ended things with Joe.
Thankfully, they were seated away from each other.
But while it was Joe who was letting loose at the GQ event, it was the hitmaker who appeared to stick the knife in.
Just before the ceremony started, Jack announced the tracklist to his band Bleachers’ self-titled album, due out in March, which includes a song called Hey Joe.
Logically, many fans suggested the track could be a dig at his best pal’s ex-boyfriend.
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Bleachers will kick off their UK tour in London next March, where Jack is likely to be singing Hey Joe.
It’s just a shame Jack couldn’t ease the tension by actually saying those words to him on Wednesday.