After months of rumors and speculation, Jenna Coleman has revealed she will return to the TARDIS once more next season on Doctor Who. It’s a Christmas miracle!
At the end of this year’s Christmas special, the ominously titled “Last Christmas” — which saw The Doctor and Clara reunited for the first time since they both lied to each other in the season finale — the previously gruff-and-tumbled dynamic between the series’ stars had changed quite noticeably. No doubt all that helped to sway Coleman into staying awhile longer (plus who could resist Peter Capaldi’s endearingly emphatic begging, eh?) traveling through all of time and space.
“I think they’ve finally just reached a point where they really understand each other,” the actress told the BBC. “There is so much more to do.”
Of his costar’s return, Capaldi said he was thrilled. “Jenna has just been fantastic and such a pleasure to work with.”
This past season of Who has been a polarizing one (putting it lightly) thanks to the Doctor’s regeneration from Matt Smith to Capaldi, further compounded by the curt relationship that formed between Time Lord and companion.
“The arrival of the 12th Doctor has just kind of dropped this whole bombshell and allowed the dynamic to totally change,” explained Coleman. “I think just when Clara was feeling more comfortable in the relationship, it has suddenly thrown something new up.”
But with at least another season (or half-season, as others have reported), Coleman is excited to explore that dynamic even further. “It’s wonderful,” she said. “I get a whole other series of stories with the Doctor and I couldn’t walk away with the story being unresolved.”
Are you excited Coleman is staying? Let us know in the comments!
I agree with the theme of thoughts about Clara generated on this website. 1. That most fans dislike her 2. That the Sci-Fi essence of the show has been skewed over into a soap opera [especially series 8] 3. That it is not necessary to have a little twerp aggro female to display feminine strengths or fortitude [Germaine Greer was beautiful, cool, and strong – Clara is a stereotypical dip-stick] 4. Capaldi will never shine with a Brady Bunch equivalent for a companion. 5. Capaldi has the capacity for great darkness within the realms of a mix of science fiction, fantasy, horror story-lines – he’ll need someone of that caliber to attain the development of such aspirations and thereby hold the fan base’s attention. 6. Clara’s cuteness actually is a form of ugliness and disdain….[the feeling that someone or something is unworthy of one’s consideration or respect; contempt] 7. Every tv show needs change and growth – but not all things that change and grow are not necessarily good [i.e. fungus in your toenail] 8. OK, so the show needs a ‘dynamic’ between the doctor and his companion. So why not use a Sci-fi premise to encapsulate that? The genre has so much scope. Ah……that’s enough, you get the message. To the writers….10 out of 10 for trying though : ) ………A long term Ausie fan’s perspective………….
Why would moffat let her stay another season after the horrific season 8. Aren’t we all sick of Clara getting over Danny? Well that basically what season 9 will be like if what happend in “last Christmas” is going to happen in the new season it would be just horrific to watch basicly a drama when it’s supposed to be a SIFI SHOW.
I’m glad this debate is over – and we know that Jenna will be back for a complete series in 2015.
My interest in the show is really waning. I found it hard to even give this special my full attention until the last act. Jenna Coleman is a lovely actress and she’s been a great companion but this season I really wanted more Danny and less Clara. Moffat seems to be having a hard time with fresh story arcs. Getting rid of Clara would help this for sure. Hopefully we’ll get a transition early next season.
I’m glad Jenna Coleman will be in season 9 and hope she’s in season 10 as well. In fact I wouldn’t mind if Clara became the first companion to be the companion of more than two Doctors.
Worse decision. Jenna you’re awesome but you can do so much better than this.
I really don’t understand all the Clara hate. Can someone explain? I mean I see people complain about character development but is that really enough to hate her? I think she has been adorably fantastic. I feel she is a strong (and headstrong) companion who keeps the Doctor (especially new Doc but a little with Smith) in check and not at all a damsel in distress kind of companion. I feel she is a very modern companion to go along with the very old school sort of Doctor. What gives? Is it really just Moffat hate? I would understand that because I do not like Moffat very much. One of the reason’s I refuse to watch Sherlock.
Dear Lord, I can’t wait to see her gone. Great actress, but i Hate her character and the character is klling what was once my favorite show. I would actually be angry at the end of shows, not my irea of enjoyment. I may have to rethink continuing to watch it at all if she continues.
With the addition of Capaldi, everyone has upped their game, especially Coleman and Moffat. There wasn’t a dog episode this entire season and Coleman proved herself as a formidable actress given Clara’s story arc. The “old” Clara piece at the end would have been a sensational send-off, but as much as she’s grown on me, I’m glad she’s going to be here for for another go-around.
Frankly, I just want a companion who will commit to travelling with the Doctor. This whole commuting from the Real World thing didn’t work well for the Ponds or for Clara. Just go travelling in Time and Space for crying out loud!
I’m disappointed to be honest. I really liked Clara at first but her character development and everything just…I don’t know. She started to annoy me more and more. I really hoped this would have been her final. A good end (and to be honest they used this ‘final’ theme over and over again until it just lost it’s glory with Clara). I would have loved a new companion. Or maybe two who fit the new doctor and all the annoying romance drama stuff would be over.
Time for a new companion
I kinda like Clara. It’s kinda refreshing to see a whole new dynamic between the Doctor and his companion. Now that they finally get each other, I’m excited to see what happens next.
Just when we thought she was out, they pulled her back in! The Doctor should have left her bitter, wrinkly ass in 2050 (something) where it belonged. Faye Marsay should have been picked up as the companion or Ingrid Oliver’s Osgood (Christ, it’s in the name! Oswald? Osgood? ….
Yeah, well, Clara sucks. I mean Jenna Coleman is awesome! Doing a real cool job, being all charismatic, but I just can’t stand Clara. (Same with the new Doctor, by the way, even though Capaldi’s a hero!)
Was looking forward to a new companion, but well … Next season then.
whatever happened to Clara being the ‘impossible girl’??!! Is Moffat just going shove all that stuff about Clara jumping into the Doctor’s time stream under the rug? Gaaaah
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Yes, that’s right!
This series has been a breath of fresh air – slow to start but Capaldi, Coleman, and the writing have brought better moments/acting/story than the end of the Smith run.
The only comment here I can totally agree with. I’m glad she is staying.
My thoughts.. Keep Jenna, get rid of Moffat.
I think the special was phenomenal and, compared to the rest of the season, well written. If the original ending, with older Clara had been the real ending, it would’ve been so much better.
The final version was clearly thrown together at the last minute and undermines the entire purpose of this being their “Last Christmas.”
I cannot stand Clara at all, though I think Jenna is fantastic. I think Moffat ruined her character and spoiled a rare moment of genius by having her “be young” instead.
Remember that we found her on Christmas so I bet this really was her last christmas with the doctor. 20BUCKS*
We’re so dumb and obviously not paying attention. It’s Clara and Danny’s Last Christmas clearly.
Absolutely. … not …. God …can we stop beating the dead horse that is Clara Oswald …..
I was bummed out because the “old Clara” bit at the end would’ve been a great way out for her and Capaldi could go full weirdo with an all new squad.
I was actually hoping those creepy spider dream things would have killed Clara once and for all. Just can’t deal with her.
totally agree, I was so hoping she would be written off this x-mas episode. so disappointed. Its time for a new companion,
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