Amy and Rory to leave during next series

Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill - who play Doctor Who companions Amy Pond and Rory - are to leave the show during the next series. Hopefully their swan song will be free of twisted time-lines, stolen babies and regenerating daughters.

"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." [Sounds ominous...]

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... the most interesting thing to happen in Who for a couple of years... we get to speculate on who the next companion is going to be. Best be a nice young chick or else I might stop watching...