Jenna Louise-Coleman confirms Doctor Who exit

Jenna Louise-Coleman has officially announced that she is leaving Doctor Who.

The actress, who has played the Doctor’s companion Clara Oswald since 2012, revealed her exit from the show on Nick Grimshaw’s BBC Radio 1 breakfast show. “I have left the TARDIS,” the actress stated, confirming that her character’s departure will take place in the forthcoming series.

“It’s been in the works for a very long time,” she explained. “Steven [Moffat] and I sat down a long time ago – a year and a half ago, and tried to work out the best place to do it and the best place in which to tell a really good story. We’re not going to give any details but it will happen at some point this season.”

Coleman, who is set to play Queen Victoria in an upcoming ITV drama, admitted that the decision to leave was tough after the years of fun she’d had on the show. “I did get emotional. I really tried to fight against it but you can’t help it. It’s been my life really for the last three, four years and I just love Peter [Capaldi] so much and the job so much and all the crew. The TARDIS is like your home. It’s all magical and such incredible storytelling, so I did – I shed a tear.”

The ninth series of Doctor Who is set to air tomorrow (Saturday 19th September) at 7.45pm on BBC One.

Watch the trailer for the first episode, entitled ‘The Magician’s Apprentice,’ below.