With less than one week away until the first full-length episode featuring Peter Capaldi’s 12th Doctor in ‘Deep Breath’, fans all over the world are getting extra hyped for the season 8 premiere of ‘Doctor Who’ on Saturday, August 23rd. The international excitement is at an all time high thanks to the ‘Doctor Who’ World Tour, which features stars Capaldi and Jenna Coleman venturing across the globe with showrunner Steven Moffat as they meet Whovians on multiple continents. However, one of these travelers might not be around the TARDIS come Christmas time.

According to The Mirror, the Time Lord’s most recent companion Clara Oswald may be saying goodbye to the adventures in time and space this December. The outlet reports that after 18 months and two Doctors, Coleman will wrap up her companion duties in the annual Christmas special. Their sources say that the decision to move on from Clara as the Doctor’s companion is a mutual one and storylines are currently being laid out for that departure:

“By the time she leaves she will be one of the longest-standing companions ever. She has been absolutely brilliant in the role, but everyone agrees it is a part that should change after a period. It was very much a mutual decision. It’s important to keep the series moving and fast-paced, and the time is just starting to feel right and the feeling is that it could be a perfect Christmas storyline.”

Previously, BBC announced that Samuel Anderson would be playing a new male companion named Danny Pink, a teacher at the Coal Hill School alongside Clara. Many speculated that we would get a similar dynamic to Rose Tyler and occasional companion Mickey Smith when Danny debuts, but with this rumor of Clara leaving, could this new lad be left standing as the Doctor’s sole traveling partner by Christmas? Or will he play a part in Clara stepping away from the time-traveling antics of this madman with a blue box?

Also, it’s interesting to note that while we were on the Blue Carpet for the ‘Doctor Who’ World Tour in New York City last week, we had the chance to speak to Coleman about her departure somewhere down the line. Stay tuned for our full coverage from that event later this week, but it’s certainly a curious coincidence that this rumor surfaced shortly after we raised the question of Clara’s final moments on the show.

What do you think about Clara Oswald leaving ‘Doctor Who’ during this year’s Christmas special? Will you miss Jenna Coleman’s portrayal of the Impossible Girl when she’s gone? While we wait for more on this developing story, share your thoughts on it in the comments below.