Enemies
of the Doctor are out for revenge in The Sarah Jane Adventures (SJA)
– the
latest Doctor Who spin-off, created by the award-winning writer
Russell T Davies.
Starring
one of Doctor Who's most famous former companions – investigative
journalist Sarah Jane Smith - the fast-paced children's drama series
starts on Monday, 24 September, 2007 on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳1 with Revenge Of The
Slitheen.
"This
is a wonderful opportunity, to use all our Doctor Who resources
here in Cardiff for the making of a brand new drama for C³ÉÈËÂÛ̳,"
said Russell T Davies.
"We
hope brand new viewers join us for 10 full-blooded episodes of excitement
and danger," he added.
Sarah
Jane Smith
Having
travelled the universe with the Doctor, Sarah Jane is used to dealing
with alien encounters - but when her young friends Maria, Luke and
Clyde join her they soon become embroiled in a mysterious world
of chases, danger, and monsters from outer space!
Elisabeth
Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith |
Sarah
Jane Smith is played by Elisabeth Sladen who also starred as Sarah
Jane in the original Doctor Who series as companion
to the third and fourth Doctors, Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker.
She
was a regular in the series from 1973 to 1976 and made a return
to the show in the 2006 episode School Reunion opposite David Tennant,
the tenth Doctor.
"It's
great to be back enjoying Sarah Jane with some fantastic new adventures.
There's still so much more to find out about her after all these
years," said Lis.
""I
hope that viewers have as much fun watching the series as I did
making it," she added.
Interview
with Lis Sladen
The
new SJA 10 part series follows Invasion Of The Bane, a feature length
episode of the drama that was first broadcast on New Year's Day
2007.
Just
days after finishing filming for the SJA special, Lis shared her
excitement about the new show in an exclusive webTV interview with
Martin Barber for ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Norfolk Kids during the Cult TV Festival 2006
in Hemsby.
Watch:
Lis Sladen talks about the Sarah Jane Adventures Video
links on this page require
MB:
Does SJA pick up where School Reunion left off?
ES:
There is a gap of time which is a very relevant gap of one-and-a-half
years where this could have happened and she could have got her
act together.
She
still has K-9, he's still daring and doing.
MB:
K-9 is just in this hour special isn't he?
ES:
To my knowledge, yes. He actually has a very important job to do
that Sarah knows about.
Sarah
Jane in her attic with Maria |
She
misses him desperately, and doesn't know when he might return, but
he is safe.
MB:
I know you're delighted with the look and feel of SJA. Why are you
so pleased with it?
ES:
I opened the script and I didn't know what to expect.
I
would get to a scene and it is just the most lovely moment when
you read something, when you're familiar with a character and a
format you think you're going to have, and you find something you
never thought of.
It
happened about three times!
I
think I've been so lucky in the director Colin Teague, he has filmed
it like a film.
And
there is an explosion! They
haven't had as bigger one on Doctor Who or Torchwood. We've had
the biggest explosion, I'm really proud of that. I
don't know why.
It's
a very silly thing to be proud of. It's a great, massive explosion.
[she laughs]
MB:
What causes it?
ES:
I can't say. [she laughs] Actually, I don't know if I should have
said that at all!
MB:
What's it like to have Sarah Jane's character as part of your life
for so many years?
ES:
I feel very protective of her. I supposed I look at a script for
Sarah Jane in a totally different way to how I'd look at any other
script.
I'm
on two levels with her. I'm reading it and wanting to do what it
says there, but I'm also judging it.
MB:
C³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ viewers have taken a real shine to Sarah Jane - it must be
great having this army of new young fans.
Is
Sarah Jane looking up towards an alien invasion? |
ES:
It's so lovely. I went down to film Totally Doctor Who last year
and I was in the canteen and there was this rush of little heads
towards me.
It
was so lovely. I thought how brilliant is that. And then the dads
would introduce themselves. [she laughs]
One
of the dads said 'You wrote to me when I was eight, this is my son!'
- how amazing. I don't know of any other programme which is like
that.
The
Sarah Jane Adventures: Invasion Of The Bane was first broadcast
on New Year's Day 2007 at 4.50pm on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ One.
Watch:
Lis Sladen talks about the Sarah Jane Adventures Video
links on this page require
The
new 10-part series of The Sarah Jane Adventures features five stories
each told over two episodes starting at 5pm (BST) on Monday, 24
September, 2007 on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ One.
See
also
Gallery:
Watch:
Watch:
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