Massive spoilers(?) for next Season

TheIrishGrover

The Ponds are leaving next season

15 December 2011 Last updated at 21:47 GMT
Doctor Who's Amy and Rory to leave during next series
By Tim Masters Entertainment and arts correspondent, BBC News

Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill - who play Doctor Who companions Amy Pond and Rory - are to leave the show during the next series.

Doctor Who boss Steven Moffat made the announcement at a screening of the Christmas episode at BBC TV Centre in London.

"The final days of the Ponds are coming," Moffat said.

"I'm not telling you when or how, but that story is going to come to a heartbreaking end."

He said the Doctor, played by Matt Smith, was going to meet "a new friend". It is believed that role has not yet been cast.

On the departure of Gillan and Darvill, Matt Smith said: "We had the most incredible journey. We took over the show and we've really had to hold hands and help each other through it.

"So it's very disappointing, but one has to remember that this show is about change and regeneration, and that's what galvanizes it and pushes it forwards."

The Christmas Day special - titled The Doctor, The Widow and The Wardrobe - sees the Time Lord go on an adventure with Madge Arwell (Claire Skinner) and her two children, Lily and Cyril, when they are evacuated from London to Dorset during World War II.

Now to restart those acting lessons and try and get an audition

Mr E

Had to happen eventually, I suppose. I fully expect Rory to go out in a blaze of glory.

Basq

Definitely one of more likeable companion(s) of recent years IMO.

Shame to see them go.. but as Dave said, it had to happen eventually.

Das Kitty

I love Amy and Rory but it was always going to come at some point. The "heartbreaking" thing has me a bit though.

I am intrigued about the "new friend" thing, it's so nondescript, makes me think that Moffat has something up his sleeve.

He also stated at the Q&A that River will be back. Well so says the DW official Twitter account anyway.

DirtyBollox

Das Kitty wrote: »

I love Amy and Rory but it was always going to come at some point. The "heartbreaking" thing has me a bit though.

I am intrigued about the "new friend" thing, it's so nondescript, makes me think that Moffat has something up his sleeve.

He also stated at the Q&A that River will be back. Well so says the DW official Twitter account anyway.

That Genius Bastard always has something up his sleeve!!!

Sleepy

I half expect Moffat to kill off Amy leaving Rory with a burning hatred for the Doctor.

I think it'd actually be a great end to two of my favourite (to date) companions...

Doctor DooM

I'm attached to the two of them, so I'd rather just see them happy.

Fiver says the heart break is to do with River, not the Ponds themselves.

Das Kitty

Doctor DooM wrote: »

I'm attached to the two of them, so I'd rather just see them happy.

Fiver says the heart break is to do with River, not the Ponds themselves.

My wildly speculative and definitley wrong guess is that he will undo ever coming back for Amy after leaving her as a child, and he'll be the only one who can remember the timelines from the last few series. I think it would be nicely symmetrical for the Doctor to meet a version of River who hasn't a clue who he is.

I really want the Ponds to be happy though.

Sleepy

I'd rather they got a good final story than a happy ending...

TheIrishGrover

Das Kitty wrote: »

My wildly speculative and definitley wrong guess is that he will undo ever coming back for Amy after leaving her as a child, and he'll be the only one who can remember the timelines from the last few series. I think it would be nicely symmetrical for the Doctor to meet a version of River who hasn't a clue who he is.

I really want the Ponds to be happy though.

I don't know man. I don't want to see them go down the star-trek-voyager-big-red-reset-button route. Plus, if he did meet Reset-River she'd be totally different. Not having left earth. I'd imagine it'll be a big 'un and I reckon poor auld Rory will stay dead this time

Sonics2k

As much as I love Amy and Rory, it's well time for them to go.

I've personally found them to get a little bit stale now, and was frankly hoping they'd leave the show at the end of the last season.

pixelburp

Naw I'd say they'll be written out, I don't think Moffat will kill either of them off. Both of them have been put through the ringer way too much to see their stories end in tragedy. Moffat's Who might be a dark fairytale, but there's still happy endings to be had.

I'll be sorry to see them go though: for me Amy & Rory have been the standout companions in the new run, easily eclipsing the previous bunch. I might even go so far as to suggest Amy & Rory have been the greatest companions since the era of Sarah Jane & Harry. They certainly had the same levels of wit, warmth & snark.

Gambler

Grrrr, Moffat who goes on about how spoilers ruin the experience for fans goes and drops a huge spoiler like this.. I hated knowing Tenant was going for so long before it happened and I just hope they don't do the same thing as before where they have all these scenes to make you think "Ohhh, is this the bit where they go"..

We always know that at some stage the doctor or one of his companions is going to move on but just once I'd like it to happen spontaneously.

With Game of Thrones everyone who had read the book around the world managed to keep

the fact that Ned gets executed

a secret so when the moment came it was a huge surprise for the majority of people watching but to date there's been no major charcter entrance/exit in the Whoniverse that wasn't broadcast far and wide well in advance.

[Rant Over - For now!]

Also Starring LeVar Burton

Ah man, as it has already been stated Amy and Rory are by far the best companions of the new run - I'll be sad to see them go, but I'd imagine that means we've got Smith for a couple of more seasons, which is brilliant...

Sudden Valley

Do they have to be together til the hungry earth episode (where they were waving at their past selves in future wales) or is that timeline gone now?
I'm not sure Moffat does sentimentality that well, or at least not for me, I didn't enjoy the Van gogh or christmas episodes, thought he forced it a bit.

Doctor DooM

I think the end of the christmas episode may play into the end for them. Remember the end of the last you... welsh girly sang "when you are all alone, silence is all you hear".

Mr.Saturn

CaptainNegative wrote: »

Ah man, as it has already been stated Amy and Rory are by far the best companions of the new run - I'll be sad to see them go, but I'd imagine that means we've got Smith for a couple of more seasons, which is brilliant...

I've got a hunch -regardless of how difficult it would be to write decently- that Smith will bow out at the end of the 50th anniversary special. It strikes me as fitting that the tribute to the show's longevity end with the concept that has played such a vital role in ensuring its continued life.

Mind, as I referenced above, writing it would be a 'mare, which is what makes me unsure. I mean, how do you write a tale that gives all of the returning docs et al their just dues, whilst allowing the current doc to shine, give a fitting end to and then cram in a worthwhile story too?

"You don't!", cried the masses.