Jenna Coleman was ready to leave 'Doctor Who' last year, confirms showrunner

LONDON, March 7 (UPI) -- British actress Jenna Coleman twice decided she was leaving Doctor Who last year, but she changed her mind both times, showrunner Steven Moffat confirmed.

Why she wanted to leave has not been disclosed, however Coleman has said she ultimately decided to play the time-traveling Doctor's companion Clara for a third season because she didn't want to quit the show right after Peter Capaldi took over the title role in Season 8, leaving the story of their relationship unresolved.

Coleman and Capaldi recently began working on Season 9 of the science-fiction series. Coleman joined the cast in Season 7 when Matt Smith played the Doctor.

Moffat told Doctor Who magazine he is happy Coleman decided to stay on past the program's Season 8 finale.

"That was her last episode," the BBC quoted Moffat as telling the show's companion publication.

"Then she asked me if she could be in [the] Christmas [episode]. So I said, 'OK, I'll write you out in Christmas,'" he added. "She came to the read-through and did the 'write out' version -- and again changed her mind. But, the truth is, I never wanted her to go. And with 'Last Christmas,' I'd already written the alternative version where she stayed, and I preferred that version. Frankly, I didn't want to lose her. 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."