Current Doctor Who companion Jenna Coleman is leaving the show, to star in an ITV drama about Queen Victoria.
Update: Here’s a video of the official announcement!
Friday morning, Jenna Coleman confirmed to BBC Radio One that she’s leaving Doctor Who before the end of series 9. She’s already filmed her final scene.
“I have left the TARDIS,” she told host Nick Grimshaw. “[We] sat down last year and worked a really good story arc out, and hopefully people will love it.”
“We’re not going to give any details but it will happen at some point this season,” she teased.
Related: Doctor Who season 9: 10 things that have us excited
When Grimshaw asked how she felt about the exit, she said, “The TARDIS is like your home. It’s all magical and such incredible storytelling, so I did – I shed a tear.”
“It’s been so much fun, I love it. It’s been really special,” Coleman said of her time on Doctor Who. “I think I’m in denial. I really don’t feel like I’ve left.”
The actress went on to confirm that she’ll be starring in ITV’s upcoming drama series about Queen Victoria.
Original story:
Doctor Who returns this week for its ninth series, with Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman reprising their roles as the Doctor and Clara, respectively.
Coleman has been with the show since 2012, replacing Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill as Matt Smith’s companions, carrying the viewers through the Doctor’s regeneration into Peter Capaldi.
This isn’t the first time she’s been rumored to leave the show, but here goes the story from British tabloid The Mirror:
Allegedly, Coleman has landed the lead role in an ITV period drama series following the early life of Queen Victoria.
This means leaving Doctor Who behind, likely before this year’s Christmas Special. In fact the Mirror claims she’s already filmed her final scene for the show.
A source told the tabloid, “Jenna clinched the role of Victoria a while ago but it’s been a very closely guarded secret.”
Related: Hayley Atwell wants to ‘BE’ the Doctor on Doctor Who
At the time of writing, Jenna Coleman is the longest-serving companion of the New Who series. Three years does kind of seem like the max time for any main actor on the constantly changing show, whether they be a Doctor or a companion.
As for Capaldi, however, there’s no sign that he’s getting ready to leave the TARDIS behind. Heading into his second series as the Doctor with no signs of slowing down, he’s already poised to last at least as long David Tennant and Matt Smith (the 10th and 11th Doctors), who both stayed on for three years.
If Coleman’s Clara does leave the Doctor behind at the end of this year, which actor/actress would you like to see as Capaldi’s new companion?
‘Doctor Who’ series 9 premieres Saturday, September 19 on BBC One
Additional reporting by Donya Abramo.