'Doctor Who' Star Jenna Coleman Confirms Season 9 Exit

Half the tenure of Doctor Who stars goes to fending off rumors of their potential exit, but Jenna Coleman seems at last to be living up to the hype. Following this week’s rumors, The BBC has officially confirmed that Coleman’s current Doctor Who companion Clara Oswald will leave the series behind in Season 9. Let the new speculation wheel commence!

As initially reported this week, Coleman will indeed take the lead role in ITV’s upcoming Queen Victoria series, departing Doctor Who in an unknown episode of the coming season, which itself premieres only tomorrow night. Coleman made her first appearance back in September 2012 alongside Matt Smith, returning with the Christmas special in a permanent capacity, and staying through Peter Capaldi‘s tenure.

Said Coleman to BBC Radio 1 this morning:

I have left the TARDIS - it’s happened. I’ve filmed my last scenes. It’s been in the works for a very long time. [Writer] Steven [Moffat] and I sat down a year and a half ago and tried to work out the best place to do it and tell a really good story. We’re not going to give any details but it will happen at some point this season … We worked out a really good story arc out so hopefully people will love it.
There are not a lot of jobs where you get to have an alien as your best mate and get to run away from monsters… it’s been so much fun, I love it. It’s such a unique beast it’s been really special. I think I’m in denial. I see Peter all the time and I still see Matt all the time, so I kind of believe I still have the keys to the TARDIS.

While we wait for Saturday, so reads the BBC’s new synopsis for premiere installment “The Magician’s Apprentice”:

Where is the Doctor? When the skies of Earth are frozen by a mysterious alien force, Clara needs her friend. But where is the Doctor, and what is he hiding from?
As past deeds come back to haunt him, old enemies will come face-to-face, and for the Doctor and Clara survival seems impossible.

Premiering September 19 with the first of two-part installment “The Magician’s Apprentice” and “The Witch’s Familiar,” Doctor Who Season 9 will feature among its guest stars Game of Thrones favorite Maisie Williams, Rufas Hound, Tom Stourton, Ariyon Bakare, Simon Lipkin, Ian Conningham, Murray McArthur, Barnaby Kay, John Voce, Struan Rodger, Jemma Redgrave, Kelly Hunter, Clare Higgins, Jaye Griffiths, Daniel Hoffmann-Gill, Jami Reid-Quarrell, Aaron Neil, India Ria Amarteifio, Joey Price, Dasharn Anderson, Harki Bhambra, Demi Papaminas, and a returning Michelle Gomez.

In the meantime, we’ve included the first trailers again below, and stay tuned for more on all of Doctor Who’s upcoming season, including River Song’s return for the Christmas Special! Shall we start the speculation on our next companion?

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