We’ve known for a while now that a new companion would be chosen for Matt Smith’s Doctor for Doctor Who Series 8, as current companions Amy Pond (Karen Gillan) and Rory Williams (Arthur Darvill) are preparing to make their exit from the show after the seventh season.

Now, the BBC has announced who will be the Time Lord’s new sidekick come Series 8!

Actress Jenna-Louise Coleman has signed on to be the Doctor’s new companion in Doctor Who.

The 25-year-old British actress, who formerly appeared on the British soap opera Emmerdale, will make her first appearance on Doctor Who this December for the Christmas Special.

According to a statement released by BBC America, Coleman had beaten hundreds of hopefuls for the coveted role. Of Coleman, who had her audition alongside Matt Smith, series producer Steven Moffat said:

In announcing the new companion, Moffat also had an interesting thing to say about how he felt Coleman would be able to keep up with the Doctor.

Although showrunner remained mum on the details of who Coleman’s character is and how the Doctor encounters her, apparently it will be in a “dramatic turn of events as the show builds towards its enormous, climactic 50th anniversary year.”

Of her new role, Coleman, who made her big-screen debut in 2011 in Captain America: The First Avenger, said, “I’m beyond excited, I can’t wait to get cracking; working alongside Matt I know is going to be enormous fun and a huge adventure.”

Of the Doctor’s new companion, Danny Cohen, Controller, BBC One, said, “I feel confident the Doctor will look after her in his own very unique style.”

Filming began last month in Wales on the seventh series, which the BBC previously stated will be comprised of 14 big, blockbuster-movie episodes, each a brand new epic adventure featuring new monsters and some familiar foes as you’ve never seen them before. Series 7 begins this Fall and will be divided into two parts, as was Series 6.

Below is a photo of Coleman from today’s press conference from Mirror.