Doctor Who star Matt Smith has been talking to sci-fi website SFX about the Time Lord’s new companion, who’s to be played by former Emmerdale actress Jenna Louise Coleman…

And of the new sidekick, who it’s believed will be called Clara, Matt revealed that she’s very different to the Doctor’s current companion Amy Pond, who is of course played by Karen Gillan.

Matt began by praising writer Steven Moffat for creating the new sidekick character, saying, “I think Steven’s writing her in a very interesting way…

“In a different way to Amy Pond.”

However, he added, “I can’t really tell you too much about her and her story because it’s all top-secret as always…

“But we’re very excited and we’re planning to make the show with her bigger and better than ever and just keep moving forward.

“Jenna’s doing a wonderful job, she’s a wonderful actress and very dedicated.”

As we reported yesterday, Arthur Darvill and Karen Gillan have now completed filming their roles as Rory Williams and Amy Pond for series seven, and they bid an emotional farewell to the show and their co-stars on the last day of filming.

And of their departure, Matt said, “I’m going to miss them terribly, [but] it’s a show that is always evolving…

“And by its very nature regenerates itself so you’ve got to… move with the times.”

Doctor Who will return to BBC1 with series seven in August.