Jenna Coleman confirms 'emotional' Doctor Who exit: I have left the Tardis

The Time Lord's assistant will exchange sonic screwdrivers for a crown and sceptre

Jenna Coleman as Clara Oswald in the Doctor Who Christmas special (BBC)

The hearts of Whovians (yes, both of them) across the land could be heard shattering this morning as Jenna Coleman confirmed her exit from the TV drama.

“I have left the TARDIS,” Coleman told host BBC Radio 1 host Nick Grimshaw. “It’s happened. I filmed my last scene.”

She spoke out following days of speculation over rumours that the actress, 29, is due to play Queen Victoria in a £10m ITV drama.

Missy, The Doctor and Clara in the Doctor Who series eight finale (BBC)

ITV today confirmed the news of the TV adaptation of the monarch’s life, which will follow her from the age of 18 and upward through the early years of her reign.

Coleman made her first appearance as Doctor Who’s assistant Clara Oswald in the BBC series in 2012.

She revealed in the Radio 1 interview that her final days filming in Wales were “emotional” but she said her exit “had been in the works for a very long time.”

When Matt Smith’s Time Lord was replaced by the Thick Of It’s Peter Capaldi last year it was widely expected that Coleman would also leave. However, last year’s Christmas Special confirmed that her character Clara would stay for at least another series.

Coleman previously teased fans, refusing to let them know the outcome of her character, in an interview with the Radio Times last September.

“We’ve sat down with Steven Moffat and we’ve all decided we don’t want anybody to know which way it’s going,” she said.

Voluminous silk drawers were worn by Queen Victoria

The new ITV period drama, Victoria, will replace the Sunday night slot that will be vacated by Downton Abbey when Julian Fellowes’ series ends this Christmas.

The series has been written by novelist Daisy Goodwin and comes from the same producers as Poldark.

Doctor Who will return to BBC One on Saturday 19 September, followed by a Christmas special on Friday 25 December.