Matt Smith says leaving Doctor Who is one of his ‘great regrets’ — because he didn’t get to work with the Doctor’s ‘girlfriend’ Clara very much.

Speaking at New York Comic Con, the actor said he feels sad he didn’t get to do a full series with Jenna Coleman who played Clara Oswald.

The 33-year-old actor only got to appear in 12 episodes with companion Clara following the departure of Karen Gillan’s alter-ego Amy Pond.

And it seems Matt really didn’t want to tear himself away from the show when he and Jenna had such good on-screen chemistry.

‘That’s one of my great regrets, that I didn’t get a full season with Jenna,’ he told the crowd.

Referring to the Doctor’s wife River Song, played by Alex Kingston, he added: ‘It’s always awkward to choose between your wife and your girlfriend.’

Extended clips of the NYCC panel interview can be viewed below.

Matt played the Doctor from 2009 to 2013, and while reports have suggested he may return to the show, the Terminator Genisys star has made it clear he’s more than satisfied with his successor’s performance.

‘It’s Peter [Capaldi]’s TARDIS now,’ he told The Guardian in July. ‘And I love what he does. So I watch as a fan.’

The next series of Doctor Who will see the Time Lord joined by new companion Bill, played Pearl Mackie, who’s been described as ‘funny and geeky’.