SPOILER ALERT: This may contain vague SPOILERS for tonight’s episode of ‘Doctor Who’.  Proceed with caution.

Jenna Coleman announced in September that she would be departing ‘Doctor Who’ after three years and two Doctors.  Rumors have swirled regarding just how her character, companion Clara Oswald, would be written out of the show and just how permanent her absence would be.

Peter Capaldi– the Twelfth Doctor himself– appeared on ‘The Graham Norton Show’ to promote this week’s new episode “Face The Raven” but bore some heartbreaking news: The moment fans have dreaded has arrived.  This will be Clara’s final appearance.

Capaldi cautioned fans to prepare for the emotional goodbye:

“It’s a sad one, gripping and very strange.

“And it’s the end of the line for Clara Oswald played by Jenna Coleman, who’s been my companion for the last two years.

“It’s the end of her story. I don’t want to go into the details of it, but it’s sad.”

You can watch the exchange below:

​But sometimes characters can pop back up for guest appearances.  Capaldi seems to nix that idea.

“Sometimes people can’t come back. Sometimes things happen that they can’t come back from.”

Well, on the up side, “Face The Raven” will treat fans to the return of Joivan Wade as graffiti artist Rigsy.  Here is the description of the episode:

10. Face The Raven

Written by Sarah Dollard
Directed by Justin Molotnikov
“There have always been rumours. Stories passed from traveller to traveller, mutterings about hidden streets, secret pockets of alien life right here on Earth.”

Have you ever found yourself in a street you’ve never seen before? The next day, could you not find that street again? You weren’t dreaming. Your memory isn’t playing tricks. Like many lost souls throughout the ages, you have stumbled on an extraordinary secret – be grateful you survived it. The Doctor and Clara, with their old friend Rigsy, find themselves in a secret alien world, folded away among the streets of London. Not all of them will get out alive. One of the three intruders must face the raven…

Grab your tissues!

How do you feel about Clara leaving… for good?  What will happen to The Doctor?  Who will become his new companion?  Hopefully answers will come sooner than later.

Source: Digital Spy