Jenna Coleman Confirms ‘Doctor Who’ Exit: ‘I Have Left The TARDIS’

Jenna Coleman is saying goodbye to ‘Doctor Who.’ After three years of playing Clara, Jenna will be exiting the series by the end of the season. Her departure has been in the works for a ‘long time,’ and she’s already filmed her last scenes!

Jenna Coleman, 29, is leaving Peter Capaldi and the TARDIS behind. The actress revealed that she is leaving Doctor Who and will be tackling the role of Queen Victoria for a new miniseries. She admitted that the exit has been an “emotional” one but not a total surprise.

“I have left the TARDIS – it’s happened,” she told BBC Radio 1 on Sept. 18. “I’ve filmed my last scenes.” Jenna first appeared on the show in 2012, back when Matt Smith was still the Doctor. The show’s upcoming ninth season will be her last.

Her exit isn’t unexpected, at least for the Doctor Who crew. It’s actually been in the works for over a year! She admits her impending departure was one that tugged at the heartstrings. 

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“It was emotional! It’s been in the works for a very long time,” she told BBC. “Steven [Moffat] and I sat down a year and a half ago and tried to work out the best place to do it, and the best place to tell a really good story – hopefully that’s what we’ve done. I think it’s really cool … obviously we’re not going to give away any details but it will happen at some point this season.”

Despite her bittersweet departure, Jenna is excited about her next royal gig. “She is a vivid, strong, inspirational and utterly fascinating woman in British history,” Jenna said about playing Queen Victoria. “I can’t wait to tell her story.”

Season 9 of Doctor Who premieres Sept. 19 at 9 p.m ET on BBC America.

HollywoodLifers, what do you think about Jenna leaving Doctor Who? Sad? Happy? Let us know!

— Avery Thompson
Follow @avery__thompson