Goodbye Sarah Jane Smith: Elisabeth Sladen 1948-2011

Yesterday, the Whoniverse got the saddest, most unexpected news about the passing of actress Elisabeth Sladen, who died of cancer.

Sladen played one of the most beloved companions in Doctor Who history, investigative reporter Sarah Jane Smith, and went on to work alongside Doctors number Three (John Pertwee) and Four (Tom Baker), as well as later meeting up with Ten (David Tennant) inWho's series 2 episode School Reunion -- which led to getting her own spinoff series, The Sarah Jane Adventures -- and recently with Eleven (Matt Smith) in Death of the Doctor.

The BBC has released a long and heartfelt tribute to Lis Sladen which you can read here.

All I can say is that it's such a shock, and I'm extremely sad about the passing of this lovely woman, who left us all too soon, all too young.

RIP Elisabeth Sladen. You will be missed.

Cover of Doctor Who Magazine issue 427 features 2 former companions!

New The Sarah Jane Adventures 'Death of the Doctor' episode info

Some informations regarding the upcoming special episode of The Sarah Jane Adventures featuring the Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith), Death of the Doctor, have just been released and it looks that it will be a fun one, filled with reminiscing and, in all probability, its share of nostalgia.

A number of former 'Doctor Who' characters; assistants, friends, Time Lords and enemies, are all set to return to a one-off TV special to save the newest Doctor, portrayed by Matt Smith.

A number of old 'Doctor Who' characters are to save Matt Smith's Time Lord in a one-off TV special.

The time-traveller is set to be rescued from danger in a special episode of 'The Sarah Jane Adventures' - which will be called 'Death of the Doctor' - where four former Time Lords, two ex-assistants and a number of old enemy's make their TV return.

Former Tardis regulars Sarah Jane Smith - played by Elisabeth Sladen - and Jo Grant, portrayed by Katy Manning, are to unite on screen as part of an adventure to rescue The Doctor, in a story penned by former 'Doctor Who' boss Russell T. Davis.

Actress Lis said: "Uniting the past and present is a real homage to 'Doctor Who'."

However, Steven Moffat - who is behind the latest series of the show - has joked that Russell's script-writing return has proved to be problematic.

He quipped to the Daily Star newspaper: "Typical. We invite Russell back and he tries to kill off The Doctor."

Fans of the sci-fi shows will see characters Sarah Jane and Jo pair up to rescue The Doctor after they are tricked into believing he has been killed, and invited to his funeral.

But the pair quickly realise the ceremony is a trap, and learn that a group of aliens called The Shansheeth have captured the Tardis, leaving the Time Lord stranded on a planet.

These vulture-like aliens then attempt to use a "memory weave" to connect with the pair's brains and past thoughts, and learn how to unlock the time-travelling machine through their past experiences with The Doctor.

As they reminisce, viewers of the show will watch video flashbacks of previous Time Lords William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker, whilst their iconic nemeses The Daleks, Sea Devils, Sontarans and Davros also make a return.

Matt will also make a special guest appearance in the show in the new series of 'The Sarah Jane Adventures', which begins next Monday (11.10.10).

Death of the Doctor is set to air on October 25 and 26 on CBBC

[via The List]

Ten Teasers from The Sarah Jane Adventures Doctor filled episode 'Death of the Doctor'!

Some lucky bastards people were lucky enough last week to attend the launch for series four of The Sarah Jane Adventures and to get a sneak preview of episodes five and six which make up the anticipated story Death of the Doctor, featuring the appearance of The Doctor himself, played by Matt Smith!

Not only are we seeing the Doctor return to The Sarah Jane Adventures but we also get the return of  former Doctor Who companion Jo Grant (Katy Manning).

As a treat, Digital Spy has given us ten hints from the anticipated upcoming episode.

Some of these hints are particularly juicy and include the whereabouts of two more classic Doctor Who characters. PLUS!!! We have some hints about the Doctor's regenerations!! YES INDEED!

1. Doctors 1, 2, 3, 4, 10 and 11 all make an appearance.

2. There's mentions of Axons, Azal and Aggedor.

3. "Smells like roast chicken!"

4. The Brigadier is still stranded in Peru, while Liz Shaw is on the Moon.

5. That's Groske, not Graske.

6. The Doctor doesn't have to be white. And he can regenerate more than 12 times - a lot more!

7. "You look like someone's baked you!"

8. Jo Jones (née Grant) has 7 children and (almost) 13 grandchildren.

9. The Doctor might never look back, but Sarah Jane has discovered some interesting things using Google.

10. "Accelerate the weave!"

[Via Digital Spy]

New, longer trailer for The Sarah Jane Adventures!

I don't know about you but I'm really, really excited about this!

''Hello Sarah Jane''
''Ah! you've done it again!''

New The Sarah Jane Adventures series 4 video preview featuring The Doctor!

New The Sarah Jane Adventures Series 4 Trailer

Matt Smith talks about his upcoming appearance on The Sarah Jane Adventures

We still have a few months to go until we get a new proper Doctor Who episode with the upcoming yearly Christmas special, but we'll get to see the Doctor a bit sooner in Death of the Doctor, an upcoming episode from series 4 of The Sarah Jane Adventures, written by Russell T Davies himself.

Matt Smith revealed to SFX that he was "very excited" to be on an episode of the successful Doctor Who spinoff, where he reprises his role as the Time Lord alongside Elisabeth Sladen's Sarah Jane Smith and Katy Manning's Jo Grant.

"I did feel I was in the presence of Doctor Who royalty! Both [Elizabeth and Katy] go back a long way and occasionally I'd be reminded of the show's long and glorious past."

The actor also added:

"You never lose sight of the fact that you're part of a programme which has been around for a very long time and will doubtless go on for a very long time in the future, long after I've stopped playing the Doctor."

Matt Smith also talked a bit about his upcoming appearance in Death of the Doctor which is no small cameo but a full-blown guest-starring turn as the Doctor.

"There are rumours of the Doctor's demise, which obviously cause Sarah Jane a great deal of concern and an understandable need to try to help by rushing to his side. It's drama on a grand scale, with some tense scenes inside a secret base beneath Mount Snowdon."

A secret base beneath Mount Snowdown? Matt Smith has definitely piked my interest here! Only a few weeks to go before we see Smith as the Doctor again!

The Sarah Jane Adventures will return to BBC One on October 11 and 12.

[Via Digital Spy]

The Sarah Jane Adventures "The Nightmare Man" Promo Pics!

Hooray Doctor Who fans! The Sarah Jane Adventures is set air soon. How soon, you ask? Well the first episode titled The Nightmare Man (which is a two-parter as they always are) will air on the two consecutive nights of Monday 11th and Tuesday 12th October.

Everyone who is currently suffering from a painful case of Doctor Who withdrawal syndrome must be eagerly awaiting the return of Elisabeth Sladen's Sarah Jane Smith as well as that of Luke (Tommy Knight), Rani (Anjli Mohindra), and Clyde (Daniel Anthony). But in the meanwhile, you can take a look at these promo pics from said first episode.

Click on the pics below and enjoy!

 

(That last pic is apparently a Slitheen Bomb)

[Via BlogtorWho]