'It was a surprise:' Jenna Coleman reveals shock at seeing Clara Oswald's fate written out in Doctor Who... as she admits she 'couldn't stop crying'
Jenna Coleman admits she was surprised by her character's Doctor Who exit in Saturday's heart-wrenching episode, Face the Raven.
The 29 year-old has played the Doctor's companion, Clara Oswald, since 2012, but finally fell victim to the dangers that come with the role on Saturday night.
Speaking to the Sunday People, she revealed: 'It was a surprise when I read the script. It did not go in the direction I thought it was going to. But it's really cool and different, and good, I think. And sad.'
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Facing the raven: Jenna Coleman has played the Doctor's companion, Clara Oswald, since 2012, but finally fell victim to the dangers that come with the job on Saturday
She added: 'I couldn't stop crying after I filmed my final scenes – it was ridiculous to get emotional. I'd planned all these things I wanted to say but only got two words out.'
Viewers watched as Clara's life was ended by a deadly raven known as a 'Quantum Spirit', which the Doctor (Peter Capaldi) grimly explained to Clara is 'a spirit bound to a victim, you could flee across all of time and all of the universe and it would still find you.'
Her fate was effectively sealed when she selflessly offered to take on the death sentence placed upon her friend Rigsy in a previous storyline.
Despite the dangers involved, she believed that the combined powers of Ashildr (Game of Thrones' Maisie Williams) and the Doctor would be enough to protect her from the deadly spirit.
Farewell: The Doctor was powerless to protect Clara from her deadly foe in the episode's closing scene
However, the raven did finally catch up with her, and the Doctor could only watch as his charge stood alone, arms outstretched, as the raven hurtled into her.
Despite her dying wish for him not to seek revenge for her death, the show ended with the Doctor issuing a warning to Ashildr, telling her 'I strongly advise you to keep out of my way. You'll find it's a very small universe when I'm angry with you.'
Concerns had been raised that the show's 8.10pm pre-watershed broadcast time wasn't suitable for the episode's dark content.
But writer Steven Moffat, 54, claimed children loved to be scared providing it was done in a non-harrowing way.
Brave face: Clara ordered her friend not to let what was to happen turn him into a monster
One last hug: All the Doctor could say was 'Clara...' before she clung on to him in one last hug
He said: 'You have to be responsible about it – that doesn't mean it isn't shocking or troubling. But it is not like children learn about the realities of people dying from Doctor Who.'
He added that many of the show's viewers would have experienced loss in their lives and if they had coped with that they could cope with the death of a character in the show.
Clara first appeared in the seventh series of the show as companion to Capaldi's predecessor Matt Smith, following on from Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill.
Fright night: Writer Steven Moffat, 54, claimed children loved to be scared providing it was done in a non-harrowing way, in response to criticism the episode was too dark to be broadcast at 8.10pm
Fresh faced: Clara first appeared in the seventh series of the show as companion to Capaldi's predecessor Matt Smith, following on from Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill
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