The Doctor's New Who

We all know the Ponds are leaving Doctor Who, and that’s a very sad thing for many. But it’s in the nature of the show to have a rotating cast, so now it’s time to welcome a new companion into the wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey story of a man and his little blue box.

Jenna-Louise Coleman will be the new ride-along starting in the sixth episode of the new season, joining just after (or during?) the Christmas special – in which the Ponds will depart. Or will they? BBC America’s Tumblr page has this description:

Jenna-Louise Coleman, who will play The Doctor’s new and as yet unnamed companion, in the hit British sci-fi TV series Doctor Who. Coleman will be introduced to audiences for the first time in the show’s 2012 Christmas Special following the departure of the current companion Amy Pond, played by Karen Gillan, who will leave in episode 5 of the upcoming Series (7).

Note the absence of Rory’s name in that description. Which doesn’t quite match what the BBC stated in the earlier press release, saying Coleman replaces Karen Gillan when she and Arthur Darvill leave the show. Could be just two ways of saying the same thing, but knowing Amy Pond is doomed, is there still hope for Rory’s return someday?

Steven Moffat says, “It always seems impossible when you start casting these parts, but when we saw Matt and Jenna together we knew we had our girl. She’s funny and clever and exactly mad enough to step on board the TARDIS.”

Coleman, 25 years old, already has cut her acting chops in shows like Emmerdale (Jasmine Thomas) and Waterloo Road (Lindsay James), and also had a small part in Captain America: The First Avenger (part of the double date at the World’s Fair). She says she’s very excited to be taking part inDoctor Who’s seminal 50th anniversary season. “I’m beyond excited, I can’t wait to get cracking; working alongside Matt I know is going to be enormous fun and a huge adventure.”

The show returns this fall with 14 episodes split over the end of 2012 and into 2013.