'I can't wait to get cracking!' Former Emmerdale star Jenna-Louise Coleman replaces Karen Gillan as Doctor Who's new companion



Jenna-Louise Coleman has revealed she 'can't wait to get cracking' after being unveiled as Doctor Who's new companion.

The former Emmerdale star will first take on the role, currently played by Karen Gillan, in the 2012 Christmas special, and said she is thoroughly excited about working alongside the Time Lord himself, Matt Smith.

Miss Coleman made the admission as she was officially unveiled at a press conference for the show in London this afternoon.



Time for a change: Former Emmerdale actress Jenna-Louise Coleman will replace Karen Gillan in Doctor Who You'd better get used to this! Jenna-Louise smiles as she's photographed at BBC Broadcasting House following her 'unveiling'

Poll Are you looking forward to seeing Jenna-Louise Coleman in Doctor Who? Yes - I think she'll be great No-one is going to be better than Karen Gillan Are you looking forward to seeing Jenna-Louise Coleman in Doctor Who? Yes - I think she'll be great 5146 votes

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Looking summery in a pretty floral dress, Miss Coleman said: ' I'm beyond excited, I can't wait to get cracking; working alongside Matt I know is going to be enormous fun and a huge adventure.'

The pretty brunette star will take over the role from Karen Gillan, whose character Amy Pond leaves the show in the next series.



Miss Coleman, from Blackpool, who also featured in BBC school drama Waterloo Road, carries on the tradition of glamorous sidekicks, having been twice nominated for 'Sexiest Female' at the British Soap Awards.

And talking of the casting, the show's writer Steven Moffat said today: 'It always seems impossible when you start casting these parts, but when we saw Matt and Jenna together, we knew we had our girl. She's funny and clever and exactly mad enough to step on board the TARDIS.

Old firm: Matt Smith and Karen Gillan's on-screen chemistry has been a hit with the fans

'It's not often the Doctor meets someone who can talk even faster than he does, but it's about to happen. Jenna is going to lead him his merriest dance yet. And that's all you're getting for now.



'Who she's playing, how the Doctor meets her, and even where he finds her are all part of one of the biggest mysteries the Time Lord ever encounters. Even by the Doctor's standards, this isn't your usual boy meets girl.'

Miss Coleman follows in the footsteps of Catherine Tate and Billie Piper as the time traveller's assistant.

Controversial: During her time on Emmerdale, Jenna's character Jasmine Thomas had a kiss with Debbie Dingle (played by Charley Webb)

She will also set to be seen by millions later this week in ITV's Titanic mini-series, written by Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes, while last year she had a Hollywood role in Captain America: The First Avenger.

She plays ‘cheeky little cockney’ Annie Desmond, the ‘Eliza Doolitle’ of the ship.

Red-haired former model Miss Gillan, 24, made her debut appearance as Amy in 2010, and became a favourite with fans thanks to her on-screen chemistry with Smith, the 11th incarnation of the Doctor.

The announcement about Miss Gillan, who recently played the part of Sixties supermodel Jean Shrimpton in a BBC4 drama, was made at a screening of the show’s Christmas special.



Mr Smith said at the time of the announcement: ‘She’s great. We’ve had the most incredible journey. We took over the show and really had to hold hands and help each other through, it is very disappointing.



Good friends: Smith and Gillan have been seen in Spain in recent weeks filming scenes for an upcoming episode of the show

‘That is what the show is about – change and regeneration. But we will see a lot of Amy in the next series.’



Mr Smith, the youngest of all the doctors, was largely unheard of when he won the part and there was trepidation at how he might affect the hit programme.

