Former Emmerdale star Jenna-Louise Coleman to replace Karen Gillan as the Time Lord's new companion
By Paul Revoir and Larisa Brown
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Former Emmerdale actress Jenna-Louise Coleman is to replace Karen Gillan in Doctor Who as the Time Lord's new companion, it was revealed last night.
The BBC will announce today that the 25-year old has been hired to take over the role, after Miss Gillan's character Amy Pond leaves the show in the next series.
Miss Coleman, from Blackpool, who also featured in BBC school drama Waterloo Road, carries on the tradition of glamorous sidekicks, having been twice nominated for 'Sexiest Female' at the British Soap Awards.
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Time for a change: Former Emmerdale actress Jenna-Louise Coleman will replace Karen Gillan in Doctor Who
She will line up alongside the current Doctor, Matt Smith, and follows in the footsteps of Catherine Tate and Billie Piper as the time traveller's assistant.
A BBC source told the Mail: 'It is one of biggest roles in TV. She is set to rock into the big time in a role like no other.'
And while Doctor Who writer Steven Moffat refused to confirm the identity of Gillan's replacement at the Royal Television Society Awards in central London last night, he did say he had got who he 'wanted' in the role.
He sad: 'You're going to get the new companion tomorrow so you've got that. I'm not going to blow the gaff on that the night before.'
Old firm: Matt Smith and Karen Gillan's on-screen chemistry has been a hit with the fans
Miss Coleman is also set to be seen by millions later this week in ITV's Titanic mini-series, written by Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes, while last year she had a Hollywood role in Captain America: The First Avenger.
She plays ‘cheeky little cockney’ Annie Desmond, the ‘Eliza Doolitle’ of the ship.
Screen star: Jenna-Louise as Jasmine in Emmerdale alongside Jeff Hordley as Cain
Red-haired former model Miss Gillan, 24, made her debut appearance as Amy in 2010, and became a favourite with fans thanks to her on-screen chemistry with Smith, the 11th incarnation of the Doctor.
The announcement about Miss Gillan, who recently played the part of Sixties supermodel Jean Shrimpton in a BBC4 drama, was made at a screening of the show’s Christmas special.
Mr Smith said at the time of the announcement: ‘She’s great. We’ve had the most incredible journey. We took over the show and really had to hold hands and help each other through, it is very disappointing.
‘That is what the show is about – change and regeneration. But we will see a lot of Amy in the next series.’
Mr Smith, the youngest of all the doctors, was largely unheard of when he won the part and there was trepidation at how he might affect the hit programme.
But eight million people tuned in to watch his debut in April 2010 and his style won plaudits as critics said he was born to play the Time Lord.
Good friends: Smith and Gillan have been seen in Spain in recent weeks filming scenes for an upcoming episode of the show
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