Doctor Who's showrunner Russell T Davies has shared a heartwarming picture with the newly confirmed Time Lord, Ncuti Gatwa, ahead of the TV BAFTAs. 

Davies, who also created Channel 4's smash hit It's A Sin, shared the snap of the pair on Instagram just hours after the BBC confirmed the new Doctor.

The Welsh screenwriter, 59, captioned the selfie with the now notorious string of emojis including two hearts, a plus sign and a blue box to echo Gatwa's earlier cryptic Doctor Who announcement. 

Fans of the popular BBC Sci-Fi Fantasy programme flocked to Davies' comments to share their adoration. 

One user wrote:" Absolutely love this! INCREDIBLE"

While a second fan added: "AMAZING CHOICE!!! cant wait for this era!"

With a third person writing:" you’ll both be a fantastic duo."

The BBC confirmed earlier on Sunday that Ncuti Gatwa will take over from Jodie Whittaker as the new Time Lord in Doctor Who.

He will become the 14th Doctor of the show, working alongside the Queer As Folk who is returning to celebrate the show’s 60th anniversary in 2023.

Whittaker announced last July that she would be leaving the role, creating speculation as to who would replace here. She took over the role in 2017 as the first female Doctor.

The Scottish actor who was born in Rwanda, starred as Eric Effiong in Netflix’s hugely popular Sex Education about socially awkward high school student Otis (Asa Butterfield) and his sex therapist mother Jean (Gillian Anderson).

Gatwa said: “There aren’t quite the words to describe how I’m feeling. A mix of deeply honoured, beyond excited and of course a little bit scared. This role and show means so much to so many around the world, including myself, and each one of my incredibly talented predecessors has handled that unique responsibility and privilege with the utmost care.

“I will endeavour my upmost to do the same. Russell T Davies is almost as iconic as the Doctor himself and being able to work with him is a dream come true. His writing is dynamic, exciting, incredibly intelligent and fizzing with danger."

Both men are attending the TV BAFTA ceremony, held on Sunday, May 8, which is being hosted by comedian Richard Ayoade. 

The Sex Education star is being recognised in the Male Performance in a Comedy Programme category and is among the famous faces presenting an award on Sunday, alongside  Olympic champion Tom Daley and Heartstopper star Joe Locke.

Meanwhile, Davies's Channel 4 drama, It's A Sin, is nominated for best mini-series as well as multiple acting nominations for many members of its cast including Olly Alexander, Lydia West, Omari Douglas, Callum Scott Howells and David Carlyle.

The Virgin Media Bafta TV awards will be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on May 8 at 6pm.