Jenna’s staying on for series 9 (Picture: BBC)

The Doctor Who Christmas special has revealed that actress Jenna Coleman is staying on for the next series with Peter Capaldi in 2015. But the decision was touch and go for a while.

Last Christmas, which also starred Nick Frost as Santa Claus, ended with Clara joining the Doctor in the TARDIS to return in the next episode, The Magician’s Apprentice.

During a Q&A at London Southbank’s BFI, Peter Capaldi praised his ‘fantastic’ co-star, adding that he was, ‘excited and delighted’ when Jenna ‘finally’ agreed to stay on for Series 9.

Filming is due to start on the new Doctor Who episodes in but a matter of weeks.




Showrunner Steven Moffat also expressed his relief, and delight, that Coleman was remaining in the long-running children’s television show.

‘Jenna is obviously in all of next series,’ Moffat told the audience (putting an interesting emphasis on the word ‘all’ which suggested she might not actually be in the entire series).

The writer went on to admit, with a knowing laugh, to Coleman beside him, ’There was a certain amount of to-ing and fro-ing, wasn’t there Jenna?’

‘I always think I’m good at winding people up but Jenna completely outplayed me by saying, ‘I’m not telling you whether I’m staying or going because it’s more exciting.’ And it occurred to us all that we don’t start shooting until January so, for once, we could actually keep it a secret.’

Speaking about her role in the final moments of Last Christmas, where she was aged by over 60 years (which saw her in the make-up seat for over four hours), Coleman laughed, ‘Everyone started to act differently and treat me more gently and with a lot more respect!’

Doctor Who returns to television in 2015 with The Magician’s Apprentice starring Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman.

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