Ncuti Gatwa critiques 'Doctor Who' ratings in 'Saturday Night Live UK' monologue

Ncuti Gatwa made a playful jab at Doctor Who during his hosting role on SNL UK.

The former Time Lord poked fun at the BBC sci-fi programme’s viewership and storylines during his Saturday Night Live UK opening remarks.

Speaking at the SNL venue in London, Gatwa commented: "I've played so many incredible roles throughout my career. Millions of you tuned in to watch me as Eric in Sex Education, whereas only about a dozen of you caught me in Doctor Who. Perhaps that's why I found myself in tears often."

He added: “Kidding aside, it truly was an enchanting role. It was, in reality, the first time my parents actually felt proud of my career. When I informed them I had secured the part, they exclaimed, ‘Finally, a doctor in the family.’ Even though I’ve now transformed into Billie Piper… It’s baffling to me too… I still have a fondness for Doctor Who, and I met so many eccentric characters, much like what I experience here.”

Gatwa departed from Doctor Who last year amidst varied reviews surrounding his time on the cherished series. Disney also concluded its joint production arrangement with the BBC regarding the show.

As Gatwa alluded to, Doctor Who experienced a significant drop in viewership on the BBC. Season 15 garnered an average audience of 3.8 million, according to the esteemed 28-day viewing statistics from Barb, the official UK ratings agency.

This marked a decrease of 1 million from the previous season, the first featuring Gatwa and produced by Bad Wolf. Both of Gatwa's seasons saw a dip compared to Jodie Whittaker’s final season in 2021, which was viewed by 5.2 million people, a time not regarded as a classic era for Doctor Who.

With the conclusion of Saturday Night Live UK‘s initial season, Sky has the opportunity to consider a programme that has surpassed expectations, generated viral moments, and provided some of the highest ratings for the Comcast-owned network this year. The series was renewed for a second season, which is set to launch in September.

SNL UK is crafted by UTAS UK and Broadway Video for Sky and Now. James Longman leads in production.

Lorne Michaels takes on the role of executive producer; Erin David is the producer for Broadway Video; Helen Kruger Bratt manages production for UTAS UK.