Jenna Coleman on a Doctor Who return: “It could happen in the future”

Screen OD staff

Former Doctor Who companion Jenna Coleman has addressed rumours that she could return to the hit BBC science fiction series, saying “it could happen in the future.”

The 36-year-old actor first came to mainstream acting attention playing Jasmin Thomas in British soap Emmerdale but is best known to sci-fi fans as Clara Oswald on Doctor Who, was a companion on the show between 2012 and 2017 alongside Matt Smith and later Peter Capaldi. Coleman has gone on to land a number of high-profile starring roles including Queen Victoria in ITV’s Victoria, The Cry, The Serpent and most recently Johanna Constantine in the Netflix adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman.

The Sandman. Jenna Coleman as Johanna Constantine – Courtesy of Netflix © 2022

However, once you’ve been in Doctor Who, there’s always one question you get asked every time there’s an opportunity – and that’s are you going to return to the long-running series?

“It could happen in the future, who knows?” Coleman told Best magazine (via Digital Spy)

She added: “I think, at least for a good while, Clara is probably broken down somewhere in time and space, trying to understand how to work a TARDIS!”

The actor went on to talk fondly about her time in the TARDIS, saying: “I took away so much from my time working with Peter [Capaldi], Matt [Smith] and the rest of the cast and crew on something so loved and revered. It was such a special time in my life.”

Rumours of big-name returns to the series are expected to ramp up to a fever pitch over the next few months as preparations continue for the 60th anniversary special of Doctor Who in 2023. We already know that David Tennant and Catherine Tate will be returning for the special, but it seems likely that just like in the 50th special there will be a lot more familiar faces in that show.

Before we turn our attention to that episode, there is still one more show from the Jodie Whittaker and Chris Chibnall era to play out, which viewers will be able to see this autumn as part of the BBC’s 100th-anniversary celebrations.

There is also the small matter of a brand new Doctor soon to arrive in the TARDIS too, with Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa due to take over from Jodie Whittaker – although the exact time of his arrival on screen is yet to be confirmed.

In short, there are lot of reasons to be excited right now if you’re a fan of Doctor Who, so we could be in for an exciting few months.