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David Tennant was confronted about the Neil Gaiman sexual assault allegations for the first time on ITV’s The Assembly.
The 54-year-old actor was questioned by an autistic, neuro-divergent and learning disabled crowd on a range of topics from his response to JK Rowling calling him out to a secret he has never told anyone.
During the no-holds-barred interview one person asked the Doctor Who actor: ‘Someone you worked with, a friend, has been cancelled for some quite serious allegations. How has that affected you?’
Tennant, who has worked with plenty of later-revealed controversial figures over the years including Noel Clarke and John Barrowman, clarified: ‘Who are we talking about?’
To which the questioner confirmed he was talking about the Good Omens creator, Gaiman, who has been hit with a string of sexual assault allegations which he has firmly denied.
In the interviewer’s question, he claimed Good Omens had ‘been stopped’ and Tennant used his answer to clarify that the show would, in fact, be returning for a 90 minute finale episode rather than the originally planned season three.
‘We’re doing Good Omens again’ the Crowley actor, who co-leads theAmazon Prime show with Michael Sheen, replied.
Then continued with some umming and ahhing: ‘We’re doing a finale. There’s been a slight rejig with the personnel [likely referring to Gaiman exiting as executive producer].
‘But we still get to tell that story which I… It would have been very difficult to leave it on a cliffhanger. So I am glad that’s been worked out.’
Allegations against the 64-year-old author – also behind shows like Netflix’s Sandman – first came to light in July 2024.
Then an expose in New York Magazine detailed allegations from eight different women including a nanny, Scarlett Pavlovich, who claimed she was assaulted in the presence of Gaiman’s five-year-old son.
She also alleged she was sexually assaulted in a bathtub, called his ‘slave’ multiple times, and he ejaculated on her faced despite her saying ‘no’.
As for Tennant’s response to how the situation affected him, there was mixed reaction.
One X user, carolyneeetc, praised him for ‘giving a proper answer.’
‘He dealt with it brilliantly. Really proud of him. And thank you David for being on our side,’ she wrote.
Another pointed out how ‘uncomfortable’ he came across during the exchange.
‘That was the most uncomfortable I have ever seen David Tennant look. He did not appreciate that question,’ felisa_elisa shared.
Many more argued that Tennant seemed to point blank skirt around the actual question.
‘No offense but he did dodge the question here. Made no comment about Neil Gaiman or how his “cancellation” has affected him. Not hating on David Tennant, but applauding him for sidestepping making a comment on Gaiman or his actions isn’t very commendable to me,’ pelloo04 said.
‘Maybe it’s just me but that feels like him finding a way out of answering the actual question, which was “how has what your friend did affected you”,’ @firlows reflected.
Elsewhere in the 20 minute episode where ‘no topic is off limits’ he discussed trans allyship, his relationship with God and was moved to tears by a live rendition of Sunshine on Leith.
As for Gaiman’s media presence, several of his shows have come – or are coming – to an end alongside Good Omens with Netflix axing Dead Boys Detective and releasing a final season of The Sandman.
Meanwhile the Disney adaptation of The Graveyard Book has been paused indefinitely.
The Assembly is available to stream on ITVX.
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