Sarah Jane & The Moff nominated for RTS Award

The Royal Television Society has revealed it’s full list of 2012 award nominations. Although Doctor Who itself hasn’t got a look in, executive producer and head writer Steven “The Moff” Moffat is considered in the “Writer – Drama” category. Alongside The Moff in this category is Peter Bowker and Neil McKay.

Also nominated is the best children drama around The Sarah Jane Adventures, luckily placed in the “Children’s Drama” category! Rivalling SJA for children’s drama is fellow CBBC show Tracy Beaker Returns.

Other nominees include John Simm (The Master, 2007-10) in Best Male Actor for his role in BBC One’s Exile, Russell Tovey (Midshipman Alonso Frame in ‘Voyage of the Damned’ & ‘The End of Time Part 2) with Sarah Solemani in their hit BBC Three comedy Him & Her for Best Comedy Performance category. The Fades is nominated in Best Drama (starring Tom Ellis – Dr Tom Milligan in ‘Last of the Timelords’), while James Corden (Craig in ‘The Lodger’ & ‘Closing Time’) has been recognised in the Entertainment Performance category for his Sky One sports-based gameshow A League of Their Own.

Elisabeth Sladen Autobiography – Cover & Details

Aurum Press have released further details and the official cover of their upcoming, much-anticipated, book publication Elisabeth Sladen: The Autobiography, no doubt a must-read for most Who fans - I know I'll be buying.

Sam Harrison, editor of the book, said:

"I remember my first meeting with Elisabeth—the hilarious and eye-opening stories she had to tell and my feeling of elation that she wanted to turn them into a book. Having grown up watching her as Sarah Jane Smith it was a personal dream come true.
She was a fantastic person to work with—fun but utterly professional—and it’s incredibly sad that she’s no longer with us. I’m glad she had a chance to share some of her memories in this book. I hope it will make a fitting tribute to a great actress and a wonderful woman."

Kasterborous wrote this, which I present to you as it’s the best few paragraphs I have read about Lis and her career…

When Elisabeth Sladen first appeared as plucky journalist Sarah Jane Smith in 1973 Doctor Who story The Time Warrior, little did she know the character would become one of the most enduring and fondly remembered of the series’ long history.

The years that followed saw Elisabeth traverse time and space alongside classic Doctors Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker, whilst a generation of children crouched behind the sofa, terrified but transfixed as their tea-time heroine found herself menaced by Daleks, dinosaurs, Cybermen, Egyptian mummies, extras in Bubble Wrap and even the Loch Ness Monster. By the time she quit the TARDIS in 1976, making front-page news, Elisabeth had become one of the most familiar faces of a TV golden age.

But you don’t just walk away from Doctor Who. Elisabeth was asked to reprise the role many times, appearing in anniversary specials; an ill-fated 1981 spin-off with robotic sidekick K-9; radio plays; and for the BBC’s Children in Need. She toured the weird, wide and wonderful world of Doctor Who fandom and became one of the series’ all-time favourite companions. So when TV wunderkind Russell T Davies approached her to come back again, this time to a Doctor Who backed by multi-million-pound budgets and garlanded with critical plaudits, how could she refuse?

This warm and witty autobiography, completed only months before Elisabeth died in April 2011, tells her remarkable story, from humble beginnings in post-war Liverpool, through an acclaimed theatrical career working alongside stage luminaries such as Alan Ayckbourn, to Coronation Street, Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em, Z-Cars, a long, successful and very happy career in the theatre – and the furthest reaches of the Universe.

A unique, insider’s view of the world’s longest running science fiction series, and of British television yesterday and today, Elisabeth’s memoir is funny, ridiculous, insightful and entertaining and a fitting tribute to a woman who will be sadly missed by millions.

Elisabeth Sladen: The Autobiography is scheduled for release on November 7th 2011 by Aurum Press for the retailing price of £18.99, though you can find it at a discounted price of £10.63 on Amazon.co.uk.

Pre-order on…
> Amazon.co.uk

What are your thoughts on this? Are you going to buy it?
Please comment.

Sarah Jane Adventures Series 5 CBBC Trailer

The official BBC website for The Sarah Jane Adventures have revealed the first full trailer for the fifth and final series of the hit CBBC series. The series is being shown on BBC1 and CBBC starting in October in memory of the show’s main star and legend Elisabeth Sladen, following her tragic death in April this year.

The Sarah Jane Adventures Series 5 Exclusive Online Trailer

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The Sarah Jane Adventures Series 5 premieres on BBC1 on Monday 3rd October with ‘Sky’ Part 1, with Part 2 of the story to follow the day after.

> The Sarah Jane Adventures – BBC site

What do you think of this? Are you looking forward to SJA Series 5?
Please comment.

SJA Series 5 - ‘Sky’ Synopses

The BBC Press Office have today released the two official synopses of the opening two episodes of The Sarah Jane Adventures Series 5 – the opening story, ‘Sky’ in the fifth and final series of the hit CBBC series…

‘Sky’ - Part 1 Sarah Jane finds a baby girl on her doorstep and tries to find out who abandoned her. At a nearby nuclear power station, a beautiful woman appears out of thin air and uses alien powers to take control. She's looking for something – and realises that Sarah Jane may just have it.
‘Sky’ - Part 2 Sky has undergone an amazing transformation, but in doing so has triggered a countdown that no one can stop. As Sarah Jane and Sky find themselves trapped between the alien war fought by Metalkind and Fleshkind, Clyde and Rani face a race against time to stop the biggest bang in history.

The Sarah Jane Adventures Series 5 ‘Sky’ broadcasts on October 3rd (Part 1) and 4th (Part 2) on BBC One.

What do you think of these synopses? Are you going to watch SJA Series 5?
Please comment.

Sarah Jane Adventures – Series 5 Premiere Date

The BBC Press Office has announced the broadcast date of the opening story, the first two episodes, of The Sarah Jane Adventures Series 5. This year, however, there will only be six episodes (three serials) of SJA Series 5, due to the tragic death of Elisabeth Sladen in April this year.

The opening episode of the first story of Series 5, called simply ‘Sky’, will broadcast on BBC One presumably at the usual times on Monday 3rd October and the following episode on Tuesday 4th October.

What are your thoughts on this news? Are you looking forward to SJA Series 5?
Please comment.

Sarah Jane Adventures – Series 5 CBBC Teaser

The first teaser preview of the 5th and final series of The Sarah Jane Adventures is now playing on the CBBC Channel as part of an CBBC Autumn line-up of shows. It includes some exciting shots of the SJA gang united once more, as well as what looks like a cyclops and a young girl with Luke in one shot and in another appears to be entering The Attic for the first time (could she be the rumoured new member of the gang?).

Sarah Jane Adventures Series 5 Teaser Trailer

The Sarah Jane Adventures Series 5 is due to begin this October 2011 on BBC1 with 6 episodes (3 two-parter stories), half the amount of the originally-planned number due to the tragic passing away of Elisabeth Sladen.

What do you think of this trailer? What are your thoughts on SJA Series 5?
Please comment.

Sarah Jane Adventures – Series 4 DVD Box Set

The BBC-produced DVD box set of is now available to pre-order from Amazon.co.uk and Play.com and further details have been released, such as the set’s contents and a general summary of the box set from the DVD company…


The Sarah Jane Adventures Series 4 DVD box set features the episodes:
4.1 – The Nightmare Man
4.2 – The Vault of Secrets
4.3 – Death of the Doctor
4.4 – The Empty Planet
4.5 – Lost in Time
4.6 – Goodbye Sarah Jane

Official release:
Created by former Doctor Who show runner, Russell T Davies, this exciting action-adventure series follows the exploits of school friends Luke, Clyde and Rani, who team up with alien investigator Sarah Jane Smith and her trusty super-computer Mr Smith to examine strange and mysterious events.


This time, Sarah Jane is reunited with another of the Doctor’s former companions, Jo Grant, and they’re joined by the Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith) in an adventure featuring new vulture aliens and a trip to an alien planet.



The Sarah Jane Adventures Series 4 is released 31st October 2011 for £14.99 on DVD and £17.99 on Blu-Ray.

Pre-Order online…
> Amazon.co.uk
> Play.com

What are your thoughts on this? Are you going to buy this box set?
Please comment.

Sarah Jane Adventures – Series 5 Episode Titles

The latest Doctor Who Magazine – issue 435, available from today – has apparently announced the titles of the three episodes that feature in Series 5 of The Sarah Jane Adventures, though none of these are officially confirmed as of yet (hence the "TBC" - To Be Confirmed signifier) and may change. The series had been cut short in its filming and production as a whole, due to the tragic death of beloved star of the CBBC series and classic Who companion Elisabeth Sladen, for whom the following three 2-parter stories are being broadcast in commemoration to.

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• 5.1-2: Sky (TBC) – by Phil Ford
• 5.3-4: The Curse of Clyde Langer (TBC) – by Phil Ford
• 5.5-6: The Man Who Wasn't There (TBC) – by Gareth Roberts

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The BBC have confirmed that no further episodes of The Sarah Jane Adventures will be produced.
> Sarah Jane Adventures Will Not Return


Doctor Who Magazine issue 435 is out now and is available in WHSmith, selected Tesco & Asda stores in the UK and any good newsagent for £4.50.

What are your thoughts of this?
Please comment.

‘The Hand Of Fear’ Part 3 & 4 – TONIGHT

Just a quick notification post here to remind you that on UK television tonight, as a fitting tribute to the late Elisabeth Sladen, BBC Four are broadcasting her final four-part Doctor Who story as a regular TARDIS-travelling companion, titled ‘The Hand Of Fear’ first shown on BBC1. Tonight, BBC Four are airing Part Three and Part Four of the 1976 story.

NOTE: if you missed Part One and Part Two last night on BBC Four, you can catch up by following the link at the top of this page.

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‘The Hand Of Fear’ – Part Three
The fossilised hand has regenerated into a Kastrian called Eldrad who appears to be female, having modelled his form on Sarah Jane. He persuades the Doctor to take him back to Kastria, so that he might reclaim his heritage. When they arrive, they find Kastria dead. Its king has destroyed the race banks should Eldrad return. Eldrad is pierced by a spear when entering an elevator.

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‘The Hand Of Fear’ – Part Four
Eldrad reconfigures his body to its final, male form. Furious with finding his world dead, he states that he will return to Earth to rule it. The Doctor and Sarah Jane trip up Eldrad with the Doctor's scarf and he falls into a chasm and dies. Back in the TARDIS, the Doctor receives a telepathic message from the Gallifrey and leaves Sarah Jane on Earth after a hasty, unexpected goodbye.

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CAST: The Doctor     –     Tom Baker Sarah Jane     –     Elisabeth Sladen Eldrad     –     Judith Paris Kastrian Eldrad     –     Stephen Thorne	_____________	CREW: Written by     –     Bob Baker & Dave Martin Producer     –     Philip Hinchcliffe Director     –     Lennie Mayne

Doctor Who ‘The Hand Of Fear’ Parts 3 & 4 double-bill will be broadcast tonight on BBC Four starting at 7:40PM.

What do you think? Are you going to watch this? What are your thoughts of this story?
Please comment.

'The Hand Of Fear' Parts 1 & 2 - TONIGHT

Just a quick notification post here to remind you that on UK television tonight, as a fitting tribute to the late Elisabeth Sladen, BBC Four are broadcasting her final four-part Doctor Who story as a regular TARDIS-travelling companion, titled ‘The Hand Of Fear’ first shown on BBC1. Tonight, BBC Four are airing Parts One and Two of the 1976 story.

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‘The Hand Of Fear’ – Part One
The Doctor and Sarah Jane find themselves in a gravel pit. Sarah Jane finds a fossilised hand and removes a ring from it, placing it on her finger. She is knocked unconscious by a rock-breaking explosion and is taken to hospital. Possessed by an alien from Kastria, she takes the hand to Nunton nuclear power station, where the hand regrows a finger and begins to move.

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‘The Hand Of Fear’ – Part Two
The fossilised hand is now in the possession of a technician called Driscoll at Nunton power station. He places the fossilised hand in the reactor core, which it begins to draw power from, causing an overload situation. As the complex is evacuated, computers and equipment begin to blow up and Nunton's director, Professor Watson, is thrown to the floor.

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CAST: The Doctor     –     Tom Baker Sarah Jane     –     Elisabeth Sladen Eldrad     –     Judith Paris	_____________	CREW: Written by     –     Bob Baker & Dave Martin Producer     –     Philip Hinchcliffe Director     –     Lennie Mayne

Doctor Who ‘The Hand Of Fear’ Parts 1 & 2 double-bill will be broadcast tonight on BBC Four starting at 7:40PM.

What do you think? Are you going to watch this? What are your thoughts of this story?
Please comment.

Sarah Jane Adventures Will Not Return

The BBC have finally answered the question that appeared on a lot of people’s lips soon after the death of Elisabeth Sladen recently, and have announced in a press release today that following the tragic events of late that nothing more will be filmed for The Sarah Jane Adventures. But the six episodes (3 stories, each of 2 parts) will be broadcast as a special tribute to Lis, though the air date has not been confirmed.

"Contrary to press reports today we can confirm that no new episodes of The Sarah Jane Adventures will be filmed following the tragic death of actress Elisabeth Sladen in April, 2011. As a tribute to Elisabeth the six episodes that were recorded with her last year will be broadcast on CBBC at a date to be confirmed."

> BBC Sarah Jane Adventures

What do you think? Are you glad the episodes will be shown? Do you think they have made the right decision?
Please comment.

My Sarah Jane – Elisabeth Sladen Tribute

Tonight, straight after the premiere episode of Doctor Who Series 6, ‘The Impossible Astronaut’, sees the broadcast of the 15-minute CBBC tribute programme ‘My Sarah Jane’ in honour of Elisabeth Sladen, after her tragically sad death on Tuesday 19th April. this is the information the BBC released last Wednesday about the programme…

Elisabeth Sladen created one of Doctor Who's best loved and most enduring characters, Sarah Jane Smith. For over 35 years she brought the feisty, compassionate journalist to life, creating a figure that was adored by audiences of all ages - truly a heroine whose appeal had no boundaries.


This 15 minute programme is both a tribute and a celebration of Elisabeth Sladen. It brings together stories from friends and colleagues and draws on a rich archive of material to remind us of Sarah Jane's journey, from companion to the Third Doctor to the central character in CBBC's award-winning The Sarah Jane Adventures.


Produced by Gillane Seaborne and Brian Minchin, My Sarah Jane: A Tribute to Elisabeth Sladen is on CBBC on Saturday, at 6.45pm, straight after the end of The Impossible Astronaut.


Please watch ‘My Sarah Jane’ on the CBBC Channel today at 6:45pm straight after ‘The Impossible Astronaut’, in memory of a wonderful woman.

SJA Series Four – New Trailers!

The CBBC have finally released the new trailers, one is a web-only trailer and the other is a full-length preview (as opposed to being shown alongside other CBBC shows), featuring the first clips of Matt Smith, Elisabeth Sladen and Katy Manning acting together. We’re also treated to shots of the creepy Nightmare Man (of the eponymously-named first story)

Series Four Preview 2:

Series Four Web Trailer:

The Sarah Jane Adventures is set for broadcast in the UK every Monday and Tuesday (for Parts 1 and 2 of that week’s story) at 5.15pm on the CBBC channel and is repeated on Wednesday and Thursday at 4.30pm on BBC One, exempt for the first week when the repeats air on BBC Two.

> SJA Official Site

What do you think of the trailers?
Please comment.

SJA Series 4 – 1st Trailer

After drip-feeding us gradual bits of information and clips of Series Four of The Sarah Jane Adventures as we get closer to the series premiere, Auntie Beeb has finally released the very first official trailer for SJA’s fourth series. I won’t ruin it, as it’s quite a good one, I think, so you can watch it for yourself below. Enjoy…

> SJA Official Site

What do you think of this trailer? Are you excited about Series 4 of SJA?
Please comment.

Matt Smith Talks SJA

Matt Smith has spoken to SFX Magazine about his much-anticipated and much-awaited appearance in The Sarah Jane Adventures and revealed a few titbits of information on his two-part story ‘Death of 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. Even if it may be a trap…”

He added, “It’s drama on a grand scale, with some tense scenes inside a secret base beneath Mount Snowdon. We see the involvement of a formidable set of Vulture aliens, the Shansheeth. They are known as galactic coffin bearers, so make of their presence what you will!”

Matt continued to explain his reaction towards working with previous Doctor Who companions Liz Sladen and Katy Manning, “I did feel I was in the presence of Doctor Who royalty! Both their characters go back a long way and occasionally I’d be reminded of the show’s long and glorious past. There’s a scene where Sarah Jane makes reference to being stuck in a ventilation shaft, as she was during an adventure with a previous incarnation of the Doctor, and my character says, ‘That takes me back or maybe it takes me forward!’

The Sarah Jane Adventures returns to UK screens on CBBC on October 11th.

> SJA Official Website

What do you think? What are your thoughts on Matt’s guest role?
Please comment.

Sarah Jane Adventures – Series 4 Preview!

  CBBC have starting airing their new Autumn trailer to boast this season’s range of CBBC TV shows and they saved the best till last, with a brief preview of the fourth series of The Sarah Jane Adventures at the end of it. In it you can see the Shansheeth (a vulture-looking alien), the Alliance of Shades (like Lord Of The Rings' Ring-Wraiths), and even Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor and the back of Jo Grant's head (Katy Manning) as she hugs Sarah Jane.

Looks like we’re in for a brilliant series once more, and that’s just from the preview!

> CBBC - The Sarah Jane Adventures site

What are your thoughts on this? Are you looking forward to Series 4?

Please comment.

Eleventh Doctor & Jo Grant Join SJA!

The BBC have officially announced that Matt Smith's Eleventh Doctor and popular classic series Third Doctor companion Jo Grant, played by Katy Manning, will both be joining Elizabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith and the teenage gang in one of the 6 2-part stories in Series 4 of The Sarah Jane Adventures.
Click image to enlarge.

The official BBC Press Office press release is as follows:
Elisabeth Sladen, who plays Sarah Jane comments: "It's a fantastic script and I can't wait to work with another Doctor and hope Matt has fun with us. I've known Katy for ages and I am delighted to be working with her. I last met her in LA but this time we will be in Cardiff. LA was good but Cardiff is better."


Katy Manning, who recently returned to live in the UK again, adds: "Playing Jo Grant again is something I never really considered. I was gob-smacked when they told me and I am over the moon. What an incredible little treat. I come home and this is one of the first things that happens."


Executive producer Nikki Wilson says: "We are absolutely thrilled to be introducing Sarah Jane and the gang to both The Eleventh Doctor and Jo Grant, and to have a script penned by Russell T Davies is the icing on the cake!


"Viewers are in for a real treat, with an action-packed story full of Russell's usual wit and warmth, which takes the gang inside a secret base beneath Snowdon and introduces brand-new vulture aliens, the mysterious Shansheeth. All this, plus a trip to an alien planet – a first for The Sarah Jane Adventures."


Featuring the usual mixture of thrills, laughs and scares, the fourth series promises fun with enemies old and new, including the terrors of the Nightmare Man and a dangerous journey back into history.


A galaxy of guest stars are lined up to appear in the series and include Laila Rouass (Primeval, Footballers Wives) and Cheryl Campbell (Pennies From Heaven), whilst David Bradley (Argus Filch in Harry Potter) will provide the voice of the Shansheeth.


The Sarah Jane Adventures is executive produced by Nikki Wilson and Russell T Davies and produced by Brian Minchin.


Writers on the fourth series include Phil Ford (also co-producer), Joseph Lidster, Rupert Laight, Gareth Roberts and Clayton Hickman. The Sarah Jane Adventures is a BBC Cymru Wales/Children's BBC production.

> BBC Press Office
> BBC Sarah Jane Adventures official website

What do you think of this? Are you excited?
Please comment.

Artists of the Future - Aliens

The official Sarah Jane Adventures website has unveiled a new feature called Artists Of The Future, where viewers can send in their own art of the show. As each week goes on new topics will be unlocked, the current topic for the art is "aliens", for viewers to create their own aliens in art and submit it into the website.

> Official SJA website
> Artists of the Future page

Will you enter this?
Please comment.

SJA Series 3 Promo Pictures

The official Sarah Jane Adventures website has released five more new promotional pictures for Series 3 as full desktop wallpapers (click images to enlarge).

> Official SJA website

What are your thoughts on this?

Please comment.

SJA 'Prisoner of the Judoon' Trailer Screenshots

As you probably by now, a brand new trailer for Series 3 which consists of exciting clips from the first story 'Prisoner of the Judoon'. So I decided to get screenshots of every one of the clips, a few of which you can see below...

> View all 45 screenshots

What are your thoughts on any of these screenshots?
Please comment.