I may be a bit late to the party, but for those that have been waiting patiently since Doctor Who showrunner, Steven Moffat, announced that the upcoming series would see the departure of the Doctor’s current companion, Amy (Karen Gillan), and husband, Rory, it will continue to be news and spark heated pub conversation for some time.

Like clockwork, next to the actual naming of a new ‘Doctor’, the speculation that surrounds the announcement of the Doctor’s new companion, turns the UK on its ear every time there is a change. This time, the early speculation that Sophia Myles (Spooks, Moonlight) would be cast as the next companion was fueled by both Moffat and Myles through a series of cryptically playful tweets. That thought was put to rest on Wednesday morning with the announcement that Jenna-Louise Coleman will become that latest traveling companion for the Doctor when the series returns this Fall beginning with the Christmas episode and leading up the long-awaited 50th anniversary season in 2013.

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Set to play Annie Desmond in Julian Fellowes’ Titanic, airing this Sunday on ITV1, Coleman is best known for her roles in Emmerdale (Jasmine Thomas) and Waterloo Road (Lindsay James). As far as companions go, the pressure for both Coleman and Matt Smith only ramps up from here as the show prepares for its 50th anniversary season in 2013.

According to the BBC, Steven Moffat, says: “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.”

“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 current series, series 7, has been shooting in Spain recently with both the BBC and Moffat promising new monsters, familiar foes and epic adventures. Let us not forget the heartbreaking departure of Amy and Rory just yet. Who knows, with this new announcement, it may finally be the time to get over Billie Piper leaving back in 2008.