Amy Pond won't be killed off, pledges Doctor Who star Matt Smith
Doctor Who star Matt Smith reassured fans today that he will not let assistant Amy Pond be killed off - and vowed: "I'll save her."
He said actress Karen Gillan - who plays his sidekick - will stay with the show because there is still "a lot more mileage" in their friendship.
There had been suggestions that fan favourite Amy would be given the chop in the new series, which is currently being filmed.
She was briefly bumped off in the summer but brought back to life in the final episode of the series, The Big Bang.
Smith predicted today that there is "a long way to go" for Gillan's character.
The actor - soon to be seen as part of a stage spin-off of the show - said: "She can't die, Amy Pond can't die. No way, I'd be sad. I'd miss Karen.
Smith said: "I just think for this particular Doctor, his bond with Amy, I think there's a lot more mileage in it yet. I think there's a long way to go. So I can't see it happening any time soon."
He added: "Don't worry, I won't let it happen - I'll save her, I'll save the day."
The new Doctor Who Live arena tour begins a fortnight today with a show at Wembley Arena.
Smith, 27, appears in specially filmed footage to be shown during the spectacular, but the monsters and narrator Vorgenson (played by Nigel Planer) appear live.
He said: "It's a chance to see Doctor Who on stage, which is a rare and brilliant one.
"It's an extravaganza for old and young, you know. There's the Daleks, the Scarecrows, the Vampires, the Cybermen, the Angels - they're all there within touching distance."
Smith said he would be attending the opening night on October 8 but was keeping tight-lipped about whether he would be making an on-stage appearance.
"Well, you'll have to wait and see," he said.
* The nine-city tour, which includes 31 shows, will call at Sheffield Arena, Glasgow SECC, Birmingham NIA, Manchester Evening News Arena, Nottingham Trent FM Arena, Cardiff International Arena and Liverpool Echo Arena before winding up at Belfast Odyssey Arena on November 7. More details are available on www.doctorwholive.com.
