So Clara could be staying http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/rumour-...last-69269.htm

Maybes she will, maybe she won't, but the Mirror is likely just repeating posts they read on the gallifreybase spoiler thread.

well we really should have heard about a new casting for the companion by now considering filming begins in January.

It says the same thing in the Daily Mail and she'll be in the first half of series 9.

My guess:

They'll probably announce the new companion between January and May.
Last edited by FIFA1966 : 28-11-2014 at 04:00

They could equally keep that identity secret until filming begins if they wished it - any actress (or actor) up for a companion position would gladly give up those few extra months publicity given how much exposure they'd get after. Even then, they'd probably still not announce anything until Christmas just to leave Clara's fate a mystery. It's so hard to have genuine surprises in TV shows these days, particularly ones as popular as Doctor Who.

This is at least a glimmering hope we can have more of Clara. I still really want to see her around for a bit longer. I'd happily have the whole of Series 9 with her so long as they brought in a new male companion previously unlinked to her, possibly from a different time, and maybe a bit younger as well - more of a man, woman, boy (by which I mean late teens/early twenties) set-up...it'd be wonderfully different. Clara wouldn't need to be the focus, and she's been sufficiently fleshed out now... it'd be nice just to have a character along for the ride for once rather than caught up in huge dilemmas and story arcs. Give her a nice, uplifting send-off away from her angsty impossible girl story in Series 7 and her bumpy ride in Series 8.

A great shame if its true. The Doctor really needs a new companion and I think season 9 would benefit from the momentum of having someone new from episode one.

For me, Clara's story concluded in "The Name of the Doctor" when the 'impossible girl' story was wrapped up.

I did appreciate how much work they put into her character in Season 8 when they tried to reinvent her as a more rounded character with a job, family and romance. But for me it was all too little too late.

I just can't invest in her and (within my little group of friends and family) I don't know anyone who particularly likes her.

It did seem clear with original announcement that it was an agreement between the Steven Moffatt and Jenna Coleman that Clara's time on the TARDIS was up. So it wouldn't be a case of Jenna saying "Oh, I've decided to stay on for a bit longer". It wouldn't be her choice.

Its also worth remembering that Moffatt is constantly saying things that are not true to try and wrong-foot viewers. So pretending Clara's in season 9 would be a good way of surprising us when she leaves in the Christmas episode.

Sorry to sound so negative!

She's leaving, she's not, she's leaving, she's not, she's leaving she's not.

Sigh, I just don't know why I believe all these rumours .....

History seems to be repeating itself in DW. Amy and Rory left the tardis in TGC but kept coming back until their untimely deaths in TATM. 11 and River were married but hardly spent anytime together. First she was in prison then her parents died ,finally she died. Clara kept going in and out in S8. Nearly giving it up for a "normal" life but then changed her mind. Why would she go back after losing Danny?. Thought she felt guilty. If she hadn't lied to him and kept traveling he might still be alive. Christmas would have been a good exit for her. Give her a happy ending not a tragic one.

Clara must STAY!
She's only been in 1 and-a-half series (7.5 and 8) yet she's by far the most important/significant companion the doctor's ever had!
She crossed into his timeline! She's seen ALL his incarnations... and presumably helped all of them in some fashion. And she's had several incarnations herself.

The "Impossible Girl": such an important character must surely have more to do.

Plus, can you think of a better current actor/ actress to play a doctor who companion than Jenna Coleman? I can't.

I suspect she'll leave halfway, too. Just to get two series out of her....







....the long way round.

Hmm don't believe it. Still a big fat ? mark over if she's going or staying. At a guess I would say she's going but I'm known for being wrong.........from time to time.

I think she could leave at Christmas.

I also think no matter what happens, Series 9 should start with a brand new companion. Whether that companion is there from the off by themselves with the Doctor or Clara travels with them for a few episodes before leaving full time, the new companion should be brought in at the start of the series.

Personally don't want her to leave but accept she will, cracking little actress who can take you from laughing to crying your eyes out. But on the positive side can see her moving on to being a legendary actress

I was really satisfied with her departure at the end of the finale, I thought it would have been a brave way to end her relationship with the Doctor. Maybe one last Christmas outing, but I really think Clara's story is done. I'd rather have a clean exit instead of the on again/off again appearances of Amy and Rory.

What original announcement?


There hasn't been any official announcement about her leaving.

Exactly. As far as I can see there has been nothing official about Jenna leaving, or staying. It's all conjecture, rumour and wishful thinking on behalf of various fan sites and forums.
Of course SM and JC have refused to answer straight questions about this, and Jenna has said how much she likes the ambiguity - so that simply fuels the rumours and stories even more.
But there's been nothing official on this matter. One way or another.

I think she is staying. If she were going, we would have had the announcement. This is a way of using up all the hype twice... once now,,,,once when it really happens. I mean 'last christmas'... I mean really... couldn't they make it any more obvious they want you to think she is going... and why? because she isn't.

I think it's all bluster and that they're just adding fuel to the storyline.

Clara has been flip flopping about whether she trusts / wants to travel with the Doctor all series since the regeneration.

Really hope she's going, I'm so bored of her.

loving the speculation for this... it would be awesome if Clara stayed on for series 9, but if she leaves at Christmas I'll be fine with that as well

only a few weeks to find out which it is; man, i love how the series is in a permanent autumn slot now

Why would they announce her leaving and ruin a potential surprise at the end of her final story if they didn't have to?. If she is leaving at Christmas then given series 9 filming dosen't start till at least January then they could have booked a new companion months ago (and would have if they are indeed starting in January) and wouldn't have to speak a whisper of it until after the Christmas episode had aired, thus getting good publicity for the new companion at exactly the right time.

I sincerely hope she is leaving, because apart from my dislike of the character, I think series 9 should get to start fresh from episode 1. Either way though, no one on this forum, no matter what they think they know, can say with certainty exactly when Clara will leave, but either way I'm sure Moffat is enjoying the speculation as it is free publicity for the show.

I hope she does stay. She's one of the very few things I have liked during Moffats reign.

That's another way of putting it that I never thought of. Series 8 has been brilliant to me, and that is largely down to Capaldi and Coleman (and Michelle Gomez as well admittedly). Coleman was a shining star in Series 7 for me, even when her character was a let down as was much of the series.

While I think her story is mostly told now, I see no problem in having a new companion as the main focus (again, young male would be preferred) and then also keeping Clara on board as well. A character shouldn't have to leave "because their main storyline is over"...if the show stays like that it becomes too formulaic. Plus I love a bit of crossover with the companions... how they all seem to have at least one other they've met or seen. Rose has met Martha and Donna. Donna met River. River met Amy, Rory and Clara. Amy and Rory encountered Oswin, who was Clara. I love those little links, and we've never had one where a new companion joined whilst the last was still there - I'd love for that to be Clara and someone new.

I'll be really annoyed if she hangs around series 9 like a bad stench, ffs!

She's had two series! We've had the fake farewell at the end of 'Death in Heaven'. We'll no doubt have another fake farewell at the end of the Christmas Special, and then up she'll pop at the start of series 9.

Moffat is as bad as RTD. Just let someone leave and keep them away.

I remember the big rumour in 2006 prior to the second season was that Billie Piper had agreed to stay on for the third season. I think she announced something to that effect at the time.

For me, personally, I think Clara's story is now told and we should cue a new companion for the start of next year, rather than drag it out for a few extra episodes e.g. doing an Amy and Rory. Rather like the Doctor's 'death' was dragged out in the tail end of Season 6.