Steven Moffat has hinted Jenna Coleman made him quit Doctor Who .

The show-runner was left “heartbroken” when the 30-year-old beauty – who played the Time Lord’s companion Clara Oswald for three years on the BBC sci-fi series – decided to leave at the end of last year to focus on her new role in Victoria and felt he could no longer continue without the brunette beauty, Matt Smith and Karen Gillian on the show.

He said: “We miss her [Jenna], of course we miss her but I’m thrilled she’s doing so brilliantly with Victoria. Of course we miss her but the list of people I now miss is so long.

“I think that’s why I have to go before I get my heart broken again. Matt’s gone, Karen’s gone, Jenna’s gone, so it’s sad.”

The 54-year-old screenwriter was full of praise for Jenna and said no one else has played the part like she has.

He told the Daily Express newspaper: “She’s just about as different [to Clara] as can be really.

“She brings out a very different side of the Doctor, and asks the questions that no one’s bothered to ask for the past 52 years. She’s great!”

Steven – who has been scriptwriter on the show on-and-off since it returned in 2005 – will leave Doctor Who after the 10th series, which is expected to air in April 2017, and will hand the reins to Chris Chibnall .

Doctor Who will return to BBC One at Christmas