Former Doctor Who star Jenna Coleman enjoys the royal treatment in new period drama Victoria

Jenna Coleman as Victoria (ITV Plc/Mammoth Screen_

DOWNTON ABBEY fans can no longer make their autumn date with the aristocracy – but ITV are hoping they’ll still get their period drama fix.

Victoria, starting tonight at 9pm on ITV, is the new eight-part drama that tells the story of the young queen who was to go on to reign over the nation for 63 years.

Former Doctor Who companion Jenna Coleman plays the fledgling monarch, with Tom Hughes as Prince Albert and Rufus Sewell as Lord Melbourne, Victoria’s first Prime Minister.

Jenna went straight from time-travelling Clara to the young queen.

“It was very interesting because once I got the job it was a matter of three weeks before I had to be horseback riding on camera, ballroom dancing and playing the piano,” said Jenna.

“I managed to get some Beethoven down. I have a piano in my house and I have wanted to learn for ages so it was the perfect opportunity.

“Tom is an amazing musician, he actually really could do it all and I could do one small section and then completely fudge the rest by methods which were rather ludicrous.

“Apparently she sings opera but I’m not so sure I would get those skills up to par but we will see!”

A huge amount of effort has gone into getting the look right and petite Jenna had a head start as Victoria was just 4ft 11in.

And she says the eyes had it when it came to appearance, too.

“We went through a lengthy process with the contact lenses trying to find the right ones that would look natural and work on camera,” explains Jenna.

“I would rehearse in the lenses and I kept them in all of the time as once you have them in, to look in the mirror and see yourself completely differently is fantastic.”