‘Doctor Who’ season 9: Steven Moffat on Jenna Coleman turnaround

It is not often that we see a situation anything like what we had at the conclusion of “Doctor Who” season 8. In the months leading up to the Christmas Special, we kept hearing time and time again that Jenna Coleman was going to leave Clara Oswald behind. Then, we heard that the decision might be reversed, and it was finally confirmed in the Christmas Special itself that she was staying, and would be a part of the ninth season when it premiered in the fall.

So what caused her to ultimately change her mind? It seems like much of it had to do with the scripts, and just a desire to keep going despite what she previously thought she would do. Speaking to Doctor Who Magazine, showrunner Steven Moffat made it clear that Coleman’s original plan was to leave the series after the season 8 finale “Death in Heaven”:

“That was her last episode. Then she asked me if she could be in [the] Christmas [episode]. So I said, ‘OK, I’ll write you out in Christmas.’ She came to the read through and did the ‘write out’ version – and again changed her mind.

“But the truth is I never wanted her to go. And with Last Christmas, I’d already written the alternative version where she stayed, and I preferred that version. Frankly, I didn’t want to lose her. She’s an amazing actress, and she never stops working to make Clara better.”

Is it possible that she’ll leave after season 9? Certainly, but after what we saw this past season, we’re going to be very hesitant on saying / confirming anything until she is actually out the door already. It is always possible that she could continue to change her mind.

One person we can confirm won’t be on the next season is Coleman’s real-life other half Richard Madden. You can head over here to read up as to why. Also, sign up today to score some other TV news on all we cover via our CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: BBC.)