Former Emmerdale actress Jenna-Louise Coleman has landed the role of the Time Lord's new companion in Doctor Who, the BBC has confirmed.

Producer Steven Moffat announced the actress will replace Karen Gillan's character Amy Pond when she leaves the show in the next series.

Coleman, 25, has also appeared in Waterloo Road and Julian Fellowes' four part mini-series Titanic.

The star said: "I am beyond excited. I can't wait to get cracking."

Coleman, who will make her first appearance in the Christmas special, added that she is a "huge fan" of the show.

The actress, who is from Blackpool, revealed she auditioned alongside Matt Smith, who plays the 11th Doctor.

"It was fun and I felt like we were in it together."

Smith is set to return as the Time Lord in the new series of Doctor Who, which starts later this year.

"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," Moffat said.

"It's not often the Doctor meets someone who can talk even faster than he does, but it's about to happen. Jenna is going to lead him his merriest dance yet. And that's all you're getting for now.

"Who she's playing, how the Doctor meets her, and even where he finds her, are all part of one of the biggest mysteries the Time Lord ever encounters. Even by the Doctor's standards, this isn't your usual boy meets girl."

The BBC said the Doctor will meet Coleman's character in a "dramatic turn of events as the show builds towards its enormous, climactic 50th anniversary year".

Filming for the seventh series of the sci-fi drama started last month in Wales.

The new series will contain 14 episodes, featuring "new monsters and some familiar foes", split across two years.

In December, Gillian announced she would be leaving the popular programme, saying it had been a mutual decision between herself and producers.

"We both opened up about where we were at with it and then came to the conclusion that this was the best time to go," she said.

Source (and video)

Well, she's hot enough, and that's what matters with Moffat's Whoniverse. 

Lol. I've already called 'dibs' among my friends!

>__<

I bet she'll play a young River Song.

Sweaters! The TARDIS! No other news whatsoever! At this point, we still have no idea what Coleman's character's name is, how she meets the Doctor, or whether she's even human. We do know she'll show up for the first time in this year's Christmas episode, right after current companions Amy and Rory Pond leave the TARDIS in the fifth episode. We also know that she shares Amy's terrible choice in sweaters, but that may just be the costuming department.

Hey, crazy theory time! Moffat - as we reported in our last article on this - has said that Amy and Rory will leave the show in the fifth episode, when the Weeping Angels return; and that somebody, for real, was going to die this time. The cast has also stated over and over that the Ponds will leave on a heartbreaker, and that will be it for them. Just to go out on a limb here, there's one character that's been left out of the equation, and granted, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense given previous continuity, but...

- What if Jenna-Louise Coleman is playing River Song?

Bear with me here: we know that River can regenerate, given that she's a "child of the TARDIS" and all. And Moffat has said SOMEONE dies in the fifth episode, but he's never said, "Amy and/or Rory die." Just someone. What would be tragic enough to force the Ponds out of the TARDIS than the death of their daughter, River? And what if, instead of actually dying, she secretly regenerated into the new body of Coleman?

Like I said, this doesn't make a whole lot of sense, as we've seen River in the body of Alex Kingston, dying for real back in the "Silence in The Library" episodes... But we know there's a big mystery surrounding Coleman's character, and what's a bigger mystery than the time-stream somehow changing? And how? And why?

Grains of salt and all, and stay tuned this weekend as more news will most likely leak out from the Doctor Who Con in Cardiff at a regular pace.

Didn't River Song forsake all of her regenerations to the Doctor to save his life? So how would that be possible? Meet an earlier version of River? The timeline is already extremely complex.

@Kastiel said:

The timeline is already extremely complex.

One word. Moffat.

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

Well, she's hot enough, and that's what matters with Moffat's Whoniverse.

dude... harsh... Donna wasn't hot :P

@The Dark Huntress: Neat, although I think Rory will die. It's just one possible way to cut Amy out of the show. The Library episode is pretty much written in stone, despite the crazy universe rebooting itself. There is also that long journal she carries.

@The Dark Huntress said:

>__<

:-x

How sad is it that I don't even know what Doctor Who is?

@Kastiel said:

Didn't River Song forsake all of her regenerations to the Doctor to save his life? So how would that be possible? Meet an earlier version of River? The timeline is already extremely complex.

By the way of things the Doctor will have met her as she had first met him in his timeline, completely oblivious and eager to discover what lies ahead. "Spoilers."

@ReVamp said:

How sad is it that I don't even know what Doctor Who is?

Dr. Who is on Netflix. Your future self will thank you for it, but it might create a paradox.

@sesquipedalophobe said:

@ReVamp said:

How sad is it that I don't even know what Doctor Who is?

Dr. Who is on Netflix. Your future self will thank you for it, but it might create a paradox.

I've heard its all about time, but isn't it originally a TV Show from the 60s? Do I have to watch said show?

@ReVamp: Yes and no.

@ReVamp: No. You could either begin watching it at three points. 2005 with Christopher Eccleston come on board. A year later (13 episodes) David Tennant came on board. His run was 2005 to 2010. 13 episodes a year with the last year being 4 episodes spread across the year. Then finally Matt Smith, my favourite one was 2010 to present.

@Supreme Marvel: Matt Smith is beginning to grow on me, despite his strange facial structure and lack of eyebrows.

@Supreme Marvel: or you could start with episodes from 1963

@joshmightbe: I think he should watch the new ones, if he likes it, then visit them ones. Don't want to scare him away. Might not like the retro look.

I hate Dr Who

@Supreme Marvel: @sesquipedalophobe: Thanks.

@Supreme Marvel said:

@joshmightbe: I think he should watch the new ones, if he likes it, then visit them ones. Don't want to scare him away. Might not like the retro look.

Yeah, I definitely don't, which is why I never got into it.

@ReVamp: No problem. Unfortunately, I only started watching the new series because all my forty-year-old brother had were VHS Doctor Who episodes about when I spent the night. While everyone in school was pretending to be a Power Ranger, I had a sonic screwdriver.

Gotta be better than Amy.

@JediXMan said:

Gotta be better than Amy.

:O

I like Amy and Rory.

I'm attracted to brunettes, so I can see myself liking this one. :D

@JediXMan said:

Gotta be better than Amy.

:O

@JediXMan said:

@The Dark Huntress said:

@JediXMan said:

Gotta be better than Amy.

:O

Can't stand her. She upstaged the Doctor far too many times. Rory, however, gained my respect.

Wait...you don't like her because she's incredibly competent or because you feel that story lines revolved around her too much as opposed to the Doctor and what he was doing?

The new companion should be Tom Baker.

That would be freaking genius.

I still want to see Georgia Moffett reprise her role as Jenny.

@JediXMan said:

@The Dark Huntress said:

@JediXMan said:

Gotta be better than Amy.

:O

Can't stand her. She upstaged the Doctor far too many times. Rory, however, gained my respect.

Wait...you don't like her because she's incredibly competent or because you feel that story lines revolved around her too much as opposed to the Doctor and what he was doing?

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

Well, she's hot enough, and that's what matters with Moffat's Whoniverse.

dude... harsh... Donna wasn't hot :P

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

@.Mistress Redhead. said:

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

Well, she's hot enough, and that's what matters with Moffat's Whoniverse.

dude... harsh... Donna wasn't hot :P

Donna was from Russell's era, and Donna was hot =P

She was? then I'm confused... did he take over after Tennant?

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

@.Mistress Redhead. said:

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

Well, she's hot enough, and that's what matters with Moffat's Whoniverse.

dude... harsh... Donna wasn't hot :P

Donna was from Russell's era, and Donna was hot =P

She was? then I'm confused... did he take over after Tennant?

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

@.Mistress Redhead. said:

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

@.Mistress Redhead. said:

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

Well, she's hot enough, and that's what matters with Moffat's Whoniverse.

dude... harsh... Donna wasn't hot :P

Donna was from Russell's era, and Donna was hot =P

She was? then I'm confused... did he take over after Tennant?

Yeah, Moffat's reign as showrunner started with Matt Smith's Doc.

aww well I think its harsh to say straight up that its all hot chicks, Rose was a hot chick... and everyone seems to like Amy.. god knows why.

OH and Arrow says "Sinestro wins"

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

@.Mistress Redhead. said:

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

@.Mistress Redhead. said:

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

Well, she's hot enough, and that's what matters with Moffat's Whoniverse.

dude... harsh... Donna wasn't hot :P

Donna was from Russell's era, and Donna was hot =P

She was? then I'm confused... did he take over after Tennant?

Yeah, Moffat's reign as showrunner started with Matt Smith's Doc.

aww well I think its harsh to say straight up that its all hot chicks, Rose was a hot chick... and everyone seems to like Amy.. god knows why.

OH and Arrow says "Sinestro wins"

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

@.Mistress Redhead. said:

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

@.Mistress Redhead. said:

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

@.Mistress Redhead. said:

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

Well, she's hot enough, and that's what matters with Moffat's Whoniverse.

dude... harsh... Donna wasn't hot :P

Donna was from Russell's era, and Donna was hot =P

She was? then I'm confused... did he take over after Tennant?

Yeah, Moffat's reign as showrunner started with Matt Smith's Doc.

aww well I think its harsh to say straight up that its all hot chicks, Rose was a hot chick... and everyone seems to like Amy.. god knows why.

OH and Arrow says "Sinestro wins"

As of the Moffat era it's just been hot people, that's what I was saying, because he's wanted to explore the sexual element of Doctor Who's world. =P Rose, Donna, Martha are being Moffat's work. Tell him the Rock sucks =P

but they were all Tennant girls... I AM SO CONFUSED

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

@.Mistress Redhead. said:

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

@.Mistress Redhead. said:

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

@.Mistress Redhead. said:

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

Well, she's hot enough, and that's what matters with Moffat's Whoniverse.

dude... harsh... Donna wasn't hot :P

Donna was from Russell's era, and Donna was hot =P

She was? then I'm confused... did he take over after Tennant?

Yeah, Moffat's reign as showrunner started with Matt Smith's Doc.

aww well I think its harsh to say straight up that its all hot chicks, Rose was a hot chick... and everyone seems to like Amy.. god knows why.

OH and Arrow says "Sinestro wins"

As of the Moffat era it's just been hot people, that's what I was saying, because he's wanted to explore the sexual element of Doctor Who's world. =P Rose, Donna, Martha are being Moffat's work. Tell him the Rock sucks =P

but they were all Tennant girls... I AM SO CONFUSED

Are Arrow and Fade trolling each other through MR?

BEWARE THE DOCTOR's...new companion.
BB

@The Dark Huntress said:

Are Arrow and Fade trolling each other through MR?

It happens more often than you think......

@FadeToBlackBolt: ohhhhhhkkkkkkkkk now I am with you.

Arrow says he knows your lying because your the most awesome tag team ever... (what?)

@.Mistress Redhead.: Men are so confusing :S

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

@.Mistress Redhead.: Yeah, sorry about that. Bad typo. Sorry, Red, you'll never understand.

@The Dark Huntress said:

@.Mistress Redhead.: Men are so confusing :S

shhhhh here, have something soothing...

OOOH YEEAAH

@.Mistress Redhead.: I'll errrm...I'll be back in a few minutes...

@The Dark Huntress:

Fade to black....... :P

@.Mistress Redhead.: Because I'm a classy broad ;p

@The Dark Huntress said:

@.Mistress Redhead.: Because I'm a classy broad ;p

:P

@spiderbat87 said:

I hate Dr Who

Me too...

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

@.Mistress Redhead. said:

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

Well, she's hot enough, and that's what matters with Moffat's Whoniverse.

dude... harsh... Donna wasn't hot :P

Donna was from Russell's era, and Donna was hot =P

Wait...Catherine Tate?! I assume that's who we're talking about....You think Catherine Tate is hot?! D: *Thoroughly disgusted*

Meh

Amy Pond and Martha Jones were much better looking... by a lot.