Actress Jenna Coleman has decided not to leave the British science-fiction series Doctor Who after this year's Christmas special.
Show bosses reportedly are thrilled with Coleman's decision to stay for at least the first half of Season 9, but the development means some of the scripts must now be re-written to accommodate her companion character Clara.
"When it came to Clara, they had to tear them up and start again," a set source , told The Mirror about the finished screenplays.
The 28-year-old actress starred opposite Matt Smith as the titular time traveler for a season and remained on the show when Peter Capaldi took over the role in Season 8, which recently wrapped.
A holiday special starring Coleman and Capaldi is to air Dec. 25. The program was expected to be Coleman's final appearance as Clara.
"In Doctor Who, The Doctor and Clara face their Last Christmas. Trapped on an Arctic base, under attack from terrifying creatures, who are you going to call? Santa Claus!" the BBC said in a synopsis on its website. Nick Frost is to guest star as Santa Claus.
Season 9 is to premiere next fall.