Speaking to BBC One’s The One Show last night about the Twelfth Doctor being played by an actress like Helen Mirren, Kingston joked: “I don’t think I could kiss her though… well, there’s always a first time, isn’t there!”

The BBC announced at the weekend that Matt Smith will leave Doctor Who in this year’s Christmas special.

The River Song actress commented: “I wasn’t surprised because he and I had had a chat [about him leaving]. At some stage you have to move on. We did discuss when would be the right time in a young actor’s career if they were very associated with a particular role. You have to move on otherwise it becomes very difficult because you get typecast.”

She also clarified the persistant theories that River Song is in fact the Doctor: “She’s not. She’s married to him essentially!”

Series 8 will apparently begin airing late next summer and will run for 12 episodes.

> Find out all the latest details in our Series 8 news summary.

How do you feel about a female Doctor and the future of River Song? Let us know below…

> Buy Series 7 Part 2 on DVD on Amazon.

> Buy Series 7 Part 1 on DVD on Amazon.

Watch the Series 7 Part 2 trailer…