Jenna Coleman Says Goodbye To Doctor Who & Hello To Queen Victoria

It is official: Jenna Coleman has quit her role as Doctor Who assistant Clara Oswald and will play a young Queen Victoria in ITV’s new drama series VICTORIA. 

“I have left the Tardis – it’s happened,” she told BBC Radio 1 on Friday. “I’ve filmed my last scenes.”

Coleman has been on the show for three years and revealed her exit would air on BBC One “at some point this season”. 

Whilst speaking to Radio 1 host Nick Grimshaw, she confirmed that she will play Queen Victoria from the age of 18 as she ascends to the throne.

The actress said she was “delighted” to be starring in “ambitious” ITV drama VICTORIA, which will chart the early years of the monarch’s 63-year reign and her courtship and marriage to Prince Albert.

“She is a vivid, strong, inspirational and utterly fascinating woman in British history and I can’t wait to tell her story,” said Coleman.

The actress is well recognised for her TV roles other than DOCTOR WHO after starring in DEATH COMES TO PEMBERLEY, DANCING ON THE EDGE and ITV soap EMMERDALE.

She told Grimshaw it had been “emotional” leaving the show and filming her last scenes as Clara Oswald with current Doctor Peter Capaldi. 

“It’s been in the works for a very long time,” she said, “[Writer] Steven [Moffat] and I sat down a year and a half ago and tried to work out the best place to do it and tell a really good story. 

“We’re not going to give any details but it will happen at some point this season… We worked out a really good story arc out so hopefully people will love it.”

Production for ITV’s VICTORIA is set to commence shortly and will be filmed on various locations around the North of England. With the producers of POLDARK on board this project, it certainly sounds as though it has the makings to be a success and has been written by acclaimed novelist Daisy Goodwin who makes her screenwriting debut with the series.

Queen Victoria, who was the UK’s longest serving monarch until being overtaken by Elizabeth II earlier this month, has previously been portrayed on screen by Emily Blunt in 2009 film YOUNG VICTORIA.

Coleman said she was looking forward to getting started but that it had been a tough decision to quit Doctor Who. 

“There are not a lot of jobs where you get to have an alien as your best mate and get to run away from monsters… it’s been so much fun, I love it,” she said.

The ninth series of DOCTOR WHO, which will be Coleman’s last, debuts on BBC One tomorrow night, Saturday September 19th. 

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