‘Doctor Who’: Jenna Coleman Staying in Show As Clara Oswald + ‘Last Christmas’ Revelations

“Doctor Who” companion Clara Oswald is staying for now. Actress Jenna Coleman confirmed that she isn’t leaving the UK sci-fi show yet, though ending of the Christmas episode “Last Christmas” teased viewers with the possibility of the Doctor without Clara.

Pre-Christmas Special Interview

Before the episode on Christmas Day aired, Coleman, 28, said her character couldn’t walk away from the Doctor, currently played by Scottish actor Peter Capaldi, with their story still unresolved. In the last episode “Death in Heaven,” Clara stayed behind on Earth while the Time Lord searched for his home Gallifrey.

Whovians were pleased to see Clara in the trailer for “Last Christmas,” though, thinking that her appearance in the episode would mean she’s still the Doctor’s companion, for now at least.

“There is so much more to do. I think they’ve finally just reached a point where they really understand each other,” Coleman told the BBC. “The arrival of the 12th Doctor has just kind of dropped this whole bombshell and allowed the dynamic to totally change, so I think just when Clara was feeling more comfortable in the relationship, it has suddenly thrown something new up.”

Capaldi said he is “thrilled” that Clara is staying with the Doctor, praising Coleman as a fantastic actress and a pleasure to work with. But does that mean Clara is not going anywhere yet?

Reports of Clara’s Departure

In August, rumours of Coleman’s departure from the show appeared. The Mirror cited sources who claimed it was a mutual decision by the actress and the bosses to end Clara’s adventures with the Time Lord.

“It’s important to keep the series moving and fast-paced, and the time is just starting to feel right and the feeling is that it could be a perfect Christmas storyline,” a source told the paper. The insider added conversations about Coleman’s exit had already started that time.

Capaldi has refuted the report, but his denial didn’t leave Whovians assured in any way. He told “The One Show” that Coleman may not even last until the Christmas episode.

Read: ‘Doctor Who’ Star Jenna Coleman Not Leaving the Show Yet, Peter Capaldi Says

After the Christmas episode aired on Thursday, it’s safe to say that Coleman has lasted that far, and, from the looks of it, will be around for a while longer.

‘Last Christmas’ (Spoilers Warning)

Nick Frost’s turn as Santa Claus in the special episode was a hit. It was as if the role was created especially for him. Michael Troughton, the son of 2nd Doctor Patrick Troughton, also made his first on-screen appearance, with recurring actor Dan Starkey appearing with minimal makeup as an elf as opposed to his usual role of various Sontaran characters.

Although the casting was an A+ rating, it was overshadowed by the uncertainty over Clara’s tenure in the show. Whovians had been trying to get that mystery solved, and it was just somewhat answered by the end of the “Inception”-esque episode. There was an elderly Clara at the end, reminiscing with the Doctor on her time alone. Whether that scene indicated that Clara would be staying with the Doctor until her old age isn’t certain, and it didn’t appear to be that, but it gave fans hope that Coleman would not be leaving the show just yet.

Danny Pink, who may or may not have just been a figment of Clara’s imagination, returned as well. It was his last appearance in the show, but that doesn’t mean Whovians got to see the last of actor Samuel Anderson. There’s still the unresolved issue of Orson Pink.

The ninth series of the show is due to begin filming in January. Coleman’s name is still included in the credits.

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