The Doctor Who companion between Clara and Bill

Around the time of Doctor Who special Last Christmas, speculation was rife surrounding Jenna Coleman's departure from the series after one season co-starring with Peter Capaldi in series 8. Former series showrunner Steven Moffat recently shed light on the matter during an interview with the Radio Times.

“I vaguely had a set of thoughts about what the new companion should be like. There would have been elements in common [with Bill] – but your mind moves on in the interim. So maybe some of where we ended up with Bill has obscured what I was thinking about for Clara’s replacement, or the original version of Clara’s replacement, so I couldn’t really say now. Bill ended up being very much her own thing, I think. And very much Pearl Mackie.”

Moffat didn't think Coleman would leave so soon.

“I didn’t feel as though we were quite finished with Jenna and Clara. And I wasn’t convinced, looking in Jenna’s eye, that she was really ready to leave. And I don’t think anyone should leave Doctor Who until they’re really ready to leave. So it wasn’t a massive surprise to me that she stayed. It was a bit of a surprise – I mean, we went to the Christmas read-through, “Last Christmas”, with her leaving at the end, and it was in the conversation after the read-through that she stayed. But you know, if you’ve got a star like that, you keep a star like that. Of course you do.”



Ultimately, Jenna Coleman stayed on for series 9, which sees some of the best stories since series 5.

Doctor Who returns this autumn starring Jodie Whittaker in the titular role.

Bill is back in Doctor Who this Christmas

Pearl Mackie, who plays Bill Potts, returns to Doctor Who for Twice Upon A Time. The fan-favourite companion was last seen saving the Doctor (Peter Capaldi) in The Doctor Falls. She'll join two Doctors as David Bradley is the new First Doctor.

The BBC has released a new promotional photo and an official synopsis for Peter Capaldi's regeneration story, which witnesses Jodie Whittaker taking over as the first female Doctor.

"The magical final chapter of the Twelfth Doctor’s (Peter Capaldi) journey sees the Time Lord team up with his former self, the first ever Doctor (David Bradley - Harry Potter, Game of Thrones) and a returning Bill Potts (Pearl Mackie), for one last adventure.

Two Doctors stranded in an Arctic snowscape, refusing to face regeneration. Enchanted glass people, stealing their victims from frozen time. And a World War One captain destined to die on the battlefield, but taken from the trenches to play his part in the Doctor's story.

An uplifting new tale about the power of hope in humanity’s darkest hours, Twice Upon A Time marks the end of an era. But as the Doctor must face his past to decide his future, his journey is only just beginning..."

Rumours persist Matt Smith and Jenna Coleman will return in Steven Moffat's swansong as series showrunner.

Doctor Who: Twice Upon A Time is broadcast on Christmas Day on BBC One. International fans please check local listings.

Doctor Who panel at New York Comic Con

Doctor Who fans will have to wait until October's New York Comic Con (NYCC) for a first look at the upcoming Christmas special, series 10 and latest spin-off Class.

Peter Capaldi will be joined onstage at the Doctor Who panel by new co-star Pearl Mackie, who plays new companion Bill, outgoing showrunner Steven Moffat and executive producer Brian Minchin. Convention attendees should expect hints about series 10, which is currently in production.



The Class panel will include stars Greg Austin, Fady Elsayed, Sophie Hopkins and Vivian Oprah, joined by writer and creator Patrick Ness. The new spin-off series is set in Shoreditch, London. Coal Hill School has been an intrinsic part of the fabric of Doctor Who since An Unearthly Child cast its spell in November 1963.

Former Doctor Who Matt Smith and companion Karen Gillan will also be in attendance.

If you're attending New York Comic Con and would like to write a future feature, please get in contact.