'Doctor Who' Season 9: Clara Almost Didn't Return; Steven Moffat Reveals Original Departure Plan [VIDEO]
All the hype surrounding Clara's alleged season 8 departure form Doctor Who was not at all unfounded.
'Doctor Who' Season 9 Premiere: Twelve Is In Trouble, Can Clara Trust Missy's Help? New Set VIDEO
As it turns out, Jenna Coleman was originally planning to leave behind Clara and the TARDIS following "Death in Heaven," but both actress and showruner Steven Moffat has a change of heart.
"I originally wrote her out in 'Death in Heaven,'" Moffat told Doctor Who Magazine (via Doctor Who TV). "That was her last episode. And then she asked me if she could be in Christmas. So I said, 'OK, I'll write you out in Christmas'. She came to the read through and did the 'write out' version - and again changed her mind."
'Doctor Who' Season 9 Spoilers: Clara, Motorbikes & Mysterious Planes; New Details From Premiere Set
Lucky for Coleman, Moffat pre-wrote two different versions of "The Last Christmas" - one where Clara continued to journey with the Twelfth Doctor (Peter Capaldi), and one where she didn't. Fans of the current companion will be happy to know that both Coleman and Moffat preferred the latter version.
"Frankly, I didn't want to lose her," Moffat continued. "She's an amazing actress, and she never stops working to make Clara better. I was very happy to go the extra mile to make sure we could keep her."
Catch up with Clara and the Doctor when Doctor Who returns to the BBC and BBC America this fall. Click the video below to see a preview for what could have become Clara's final hurrah, "The Last Christmas."
