10 Ways Doctor Who Was Almost Completely Different

10. Shona Almost Became A Regular Companion

Although Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman got to do two full series' together, the original plan was for Coleman to leave after their first. Series 8 finale Death In Heaven was - according to then-showrunner Steven Moffat - written and filmed as her exit, even though everyone behind-the-scenes wanted her to stick around.

Eventually, Moffat persuaded Coleman to do Last Christmas - 2014's festive special - as an extra, and this became the end of Clara's story instead. Moffat's idea was to have Clara die as an old lady at the end of the episode, leading into Series 9 without her. But at the read-through for Last Christmas, Coleman told Moffat that she didn't want to leave yet, so her death was removed and she did another series.

So, during the time when Coleman wasn't going to stay onboard, who was going to be the new companion? Well, because Coleman's change of heart was so last-minute, this almost-companion was actually featured in Last Christmas: Shona.

At one point in time, the character was being eyed up as the Twelfth Doctor's new companion, and watching Last Christmas today, you can see that the seed of this idea still lingers. Shona is clearly the standout member of the supporting cast (besides Santa!), and even ends the episode asking the Doctor if she can meet him for a curry.