In a classic case of Good News / Bad News, Pearl Mackie will be returning to Doctor Who for this year's Christmas special... before leaving the show again.

And this time, it'll be for good, with the actress confirming during the Doctor Who panel at San Diego Comic-Con that she won't be back for series 11.

"No, that's it – Christmas special, last chance to see Bill," she said. "But, I mean, hey, it's Doctor Who, so never say never!"

BBC

Mackie joins Peter Capaldi, Michelle Gomez (Missy), Matt Lucas (Nardole) and of course showrunner Steven Moffat in leaving the show.

2018 will bring us a whole new show with a whole new team, led by Jodie Whittaker's 13th Doctor and run by new series boss Chris Chibnall (Broadchurch).

"What was really special to me about Bill was that she's so real," said a reflective Mackie. "There's so many different elements to her. She's very quick-witted and she's very inquisitive – there's a childlike curiosity to her as well, which I think is great, because who wants to grow up?"

Kevin Winter / Getty Images

Doctor Who's Christmas special will be titled 'Twice Upon a Time' and sees the Doctor (Capaldi) team with his very first incarnation (David Bradley), Bill and a character known as The Captain (Mark Gatiss) to battle a mysterious menace.

You can watch the trailer below (and you should – it's really rather good):

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