It's Official: Jenna Coleman is Leaving Doctor Who

After months of speculation and a tabloid report earlier this week, Jenna Coleman has made it official: she is leaving Doctor Who.

Coleman appeared on Nick Grimshaw’s BBC radio show this morning to make the announcement:

"“I have left the Tardis. It’s happened. I’ve filmed my last scenes.”"

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As rumored, Coleman is taking a starring role in ITV’s new Victoria series, an eight-part historical drama about the life of England’s Queen Victoria. (Ironically, her former co-star Matt Smith is currently filming The Crown, a new Netflix series about the life of Queen Elizabeth; Smith plays Prince Philip).

Later, the BBC confirmed Coleman’s departure, saying, “However, it’s not been revealed exactly when Clara leaves and the question many are already asking is how will she part company with the Doctor?”

The answer to that question may be found in The Mirror, which has a report today that claims to explain how and when Coleman will leave. Warning, potentially HUGE SPOILERS:

"“Doctor Who’s sidekick Clara Oswald will be KILLED OFF during the new series.“Departing star Jenna Coleman , who has played Clara for three years, is set to meet her fate towards the end of the run in an episode called Face The Raven.“Clara’s sad demise, to be screened in November, happens when she travels with the Doctor and their friend Rigsy to a secret alien world hidden within the streets of London.“An insider revealed: It’s the first time since the show came back that a companion has been killed off. It’s going to be a horrible shock for everyone, as Clara is loved by the fans.’“The following episode is the show’s first ever one-hander, featuring Peter Capaldi alone, as his character mourns.”"

Steven Moffat did give Radio Times this description of ‘Face the Raven’ last week: “Not all of them will get out alive. One of the three intruders must face the raven.” And the following episode has been confirmed to be a “one-hander,” so those two facts either lend credibility to The Mirror‘s story or simply show how they were able to conjecture a story.

Coleman says her exit has been in the works for a while:

"“It was emotional but it’s been in the works for a long time. Steven [Moffat] and I sat down a year ago and decided the best way to tell the story and that’s what we’ve done.”"

"“I’m in denial, it doesn’t feel like I’ve left. I did get emotional, I tried to fight against it but you can’t help it. It’s been my life for the last three years.”"

Doctor Who Series 9 premieres tomorrow with ‘The Magician’s Apprentice.’ You can find much more info in our frequently updated guide: Doctor Who Series 9: Everything There is to Know So Far.

What do you think? Will you miss Jenna Coleman and Clara Oswald? Any guesses as to how she’ll exit? Sound off in the comments below!

Next: Doctor Who Producer Brian Minchin Previews Series 9 Episodes

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It’s Official: Jenna Coleman is Leaving Doctor Who

By Barry Rice | Sep 18, 2015

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