Karen Gillan is set to leave 'Doctor Who'.

Show boss Steven Moffat has confirmed the flame-haired actress - who portrays the Time Lord's companion Amy Pond - and her onscreen husband Rory Williams, who is played by Arthur Darvill, will be written out of the BBC1 programme in a "heartbreaking" storyline.

He explained: "The Ponds will be rejoining us next series.

"But the final days of the Ponds are coming, I am not telling you when and I won't say how. But that story is going to come to a heartbreaking end."

Karen looks likely to pursue a career on the stage after revealing earlier this week she has a "passion" for such work.

She told the Los Angeles Times newspaper: "I can't really talk about any of the projects coming up as such but I want to do more stage. I have a real passion for it. Maybe something on Broadway. I'd love to do that. Not a musical, maybe a play on Broadway."