Doctor Who star on the way to becoming multi-millionaire after show debut despite ratings drop
THE jury may be out on his performance on Doctor Who, but Ncuti Gatwa is still raking it in.
I can reveal the former Sex Education actor, who had his first series as the new Tardis-dweller earlier this year, has seen his money almost double to £1.9million.
Ncuti, 31, paid himself a nice little wage of nearly £700,000 from the cash he made through his company, Gemini Moon.
But the overnight ratings for his first stint as the Doctor are less impressive — particularly as they came from a peak slot on a Saturday night.
A TV insider said: “Landing one of the most sought-after roles on TV was always going to help Ncuti’s career and earning power.
“That much is clear from his latest accounts. But some might be wondering if his financial success has been matched by his success as the Time Lord.
“The number of people tuning in for a show that revelled in being a shared experience for all the family is somewhat underwhelming, to say the least.”
‘A bit underwhelming’
The first two episodes of the fourteenth series, which premiered on iPlayer hours before being broadcast on BBC One on Saturday May 11, were watched by just 2.7million and 3.2million.
The third episode’s viewing figures fell to 2.3million a week later.
Ratings for subsequent episodes rallied slightly to 3million before dipping to around 2.3million for the rest of the season.
A BBC spokeswoman said: “Overnight ratings no longer provide an accurate picture of all those who watch drama in an on demand world.
“This season of Doctor Who premiered on iPlayer nearly 24 hours before broadcast, and episode one has already been viewed by over 6million viewers and continues to grow.”
Ncuti is filming the second season, a co-production between the Beeb and Disney.
A third with him as the leading man is uncertain as Disney has yet to renew.
Maybe they’re trying to scrape together the cash to pay him.
Chloe’s kidnap
CHLOE AYLING’s kidnapping ordeal will be acted out in a new true-crime series for the BBC.
The model was abducted in Italy in 2017 after travelling there for a photoshoot, and the drama will follow the terrifying ordeal right through until the court case that put her kidnappers in jail.
Writer Georgia Lester, who is behind hit show Killing Eve, used documented legal proceedings and Chloe’s book, Kidnapped, to form the six-part series.
It aims to unpack the controversies surrounding the case, including conspiracy theories that Chloe orchestrated the abduction for media attention.
Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story stars Nadia Parkes in the lead role and Julian Swiezewski as one of Chloe’s kidnappers.
Other cast members include Nigel Lindsay, Olive Gray, Eleonora Romandini and Christine Tremarco.
The series airs on BBC Three, August 14, at 9pm, when it will also be on BBC iPlayer.
Alice is top of K-Pops
WATCH out, boy bands of the past – there are some new kids on the block.
The BBC has announced the five lads who will feature in its new series, Made In Korea: The K-Pop Experience.
Blaise Noon, Dexter Greenwood, James Sharp, Olly Quinn and Reese Carter were flown to Seoul to form new group, Dear Alice.
The six-part show, narrated by radio DJ Vick Hope, follows the band’s progress as they are put through their paces at a 100-day boot camp inside K-Pop giant SM Entertainment.
As well as being mentored by some of the world’s greatest choreographers and songwriters, Dear Alice are critiqued by Hee Jun Yoon, the force behind some of Korea’s biggest bands.
The series airs on BBC One and iPlayer later this month.
Gillian is up to trouble
GILLIAN ANDERSON and Tom Cullen will star in a new Channel 4 drama set in The Troubles.
Trespasses will tell the story of Catholic school-teacher Cushla who meets Michael, a Protestant married man, while working at a pub near Belfast.
They know a relationship could spell major trouble, but they are irresistibly drawn to one another.
The four-part series is based on the best-selling debut novel of the same name by Louise Kennedy.
Gillian, who is also executive producer, stars as Gina, mother to Cushla – played by Lola Petticrew – while Tom plays Michael.
Gillian said: “I was immediately drawn to the tragi-comic creation that is Gina and couldn’t resist.
“Reading the brilliant scripts confirmed how vividly this story could translate to screen, I’m delighted to be part of the Trespasses family.”
Filming commences in Belfast this autumn.
Miriam’s cheeky promo
MISCHIEVOUS Miriam Margolyes could get a bit of a slap from BBC advertising police – because she has slyly promoted a haemorrhoid cream on her new show.
It is the same product she does the voiceover for when it appears on rival channels including ITV and Channel 4.
On her BBC Two documentary Miriam Margolyes: A New Australian Adventure, which airs tonight, she is seen packing her bags and includes what she calls “bum cream”.
The actress proudly holds up the Anusol for the camera to clearly capture the logo and packaging before popping it into her suitcase.
Cheeky thing.