Peter Capaldi has been discussing Clara’s recent departure with the New Zealand Herald, suggesting that it might not be “quite what it seems”.

“We haven’t told a lie,” he affirmed. “The story is the story, but the Doctor isn’t going to rest. He won’t just sit back and accept that that’s the last time he’ll see her. The Doctor has really needed Clara. She’s made him more amenable to other people. My Doctor can be quite spiky and distant at times, but Clara tries to make him more accessible. He’ll find it difficult to not have a friend who can help him in that way.”

Regarding this year’s Christmas Special, the first picture from which surfaced online this week, the Twelfth Doctor actor teased: “River doesn’t really believe that I’m the Doctor as the last one she saw was Matt Smith, who was young and hot. Now she’s got a grey haired stick insect, so it’s all very light and funny.” Find out more about the festive episode, here.

Series 9 continues this Saturday on BBC One at 8:05pm as the Doctor faces the greatest challenge of his many lives in Heaven Sent, the first part of this year’s anticipated finale.