With thanks to www.aurumpress.co.uk

Earlier this year, the sad death of Elisabeth Sladen – the talented actress who played Sarah Jane Smith in Doctor Who and sister show The Sarah Jane Adventures – was met with grief and affection. Consistently voted one of the Doctor’s favourite companions by fans, Elisabeth had almost finished her much anticipated autobiography when she passed away. After her death, the book was completed with the help and full support of her husband and daughter.

To celebrate both publication of the book and the memory of this much-loved actress, Aurum Press are proud to host a very special, one-off event at the Doctor Who Experience. Elisabeth’s daughter, Sadie Miller, the 4th Doctor:Tom Baker, and Doctor Who writer and producer Terrance Dicks will be in conversation with TV Choice magazine’s Ben Lawrence, discussing the life and their memories of Elisabeth Sladen in the screening room at the Doctor Who Experience at 2.30pm on November 26th.

Elisabeth Sladen: The Autobiography contains a foreword by David Tennant and is published by Aurum Press. RRP £18.99.php

Entrance to the launch of Elisabeth Sladen: The Autobiography is free to Doctor Who Experience ticket holders. As there are only a limited number of spaces available they will need to book a slot in advance. To do this, visitors must select 12.30pm/ 1pm or 2pm time slot on Saturday 26th November. When they select their ticket type they will also have the option to select ‘Elisabeth Sladen book launch entry’. This is exclusively available through See Tickets

For more information and to book tickets click here Here

Elisabeth Sladen: The Autobiography

Foreword by David Tennant

The autobiography of Elisabeth Sladen, the actress behind Sarah Jane Smith, Doctor Who’s most popular companion

Published posthumously, with the support and participation of Elisabeth’s family, this is a warm and witty celebration of an actress who delighted generations of children and is fondly remembered by fans young and old alike

After returning to Doctor Who in 2006, Elisabeth starred in her own spin-off series The Sarah Jane Adventures, which became CBBC’s highest-rated show.

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 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 played Sarah Jane Smith in Doctor Who and The Sarah Jane Adventures. She also appeared in Coronation Street, Z-Cars and Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em among others, and enjoyed a long, successful and very happy career in the theatre. She died in April 2011.

Thursday 10th and Friday 11th November 4.30 – 5.00pm BBC1 and BBC1 HD

The last Television stories of The Sarah Jane Adventures start on BBC1 today with part 1 of Sky. The series has already been shown on the CBBC channel.

Alien investigator Sarah Jane Smith is back on CBBC with a fifth and final series of the award-winning The Sarah Jane Adventures, starring the late Elisabeth Sladen.

Created by Russell T Davies, the hugely successful Doctor Who spin-off returns for a brand-new, six-part series, featuring three stories, each told over two episodes. The first is the spectacular two-part story, Sky.

In today’s episode, 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…

Part 2 Friday 11th November 4.30 – 5.00pm BBC1 and BBC1 HD…

Today, 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…

Six series 5 episodes (3 Full stories) were filmed at the same time as series 4 last year, long before Elisabeth Sladen sadly died.

From BBC News

You can read more about this book in our Merchandise Section.

The autobiography of Doctor Who actress Elisabeth Sladen is to be published posthumously next month, six months after her death from cancer, aged 63.

The memoir, described as “a warm and witty celebration”, covers her years on the BBC sci-fi show as well as other aspects of her distinguished career.

Former Doctor Who David Tennant has written a foreword for the book, published by Aurum Press on 7 November.

Sladen first appeared as Doctor Who’s companion Sarah Jane Smith in 1973.

Having acted alongside two Doctors – Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker – she left the series in 1976 but continued to play Sarah Jane in anniversary specials and radio plays.

The Liverpool-born actress reprised her role in the revived Doctor Who in 2006, going on to star in its CBBC spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures.

Aurum Press said her autobiography – originally slated for an April release – was being published now “with the support and participation of Elisabeth’s family”.

In addition to her time on Doctor Who, it went on, the book covers her “humble” beginnings in post-war Liverpool, her theatrical career and her lesser-known appearances on Coronation Street and Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em.

The Sarah Jane Adventures has been nominated for a Children’s Bafta award in the drama category. The winner will be announced at the ceremony on Sunday 27 November at the London Hilton on Park Lane.

If you are aged 7-14 then you can vote for the show Here.

Drama Category

Combat Kids
Production Team
Lime Pictures/CBBC

House Of Anubis
Production Team
Lime Pictures/Studio 100/Nickelodeon UK

Just William
Paul Seed, John Chapman, Simon Nye
CBBC/CBBC

The Sarah Jane Adventures
Brian Minchin, Joss Agnew
BBC Wales for CBBC/CBBC

Following the tragic death of Elisabeth Sladen earlier this year, the very last Television episode of The Sarah Jane Adventures has aired – but The Story Goes On – Forever.

Farewell The Sarah Jane Adventures

Filmed in 2010 along side series 4, The man who never was marks the untimely end of a wonderful and highly popular series – the World of Doctor Who will never be quite the same again.

In 2006 Elisabeth Sladen returned to Doctor Who as Sarah Jane Smith in School Reunion alongside the 10th Doctor (David Tennant). Later that year filming began for Invasion of the Bane, a special hour long opening episode of The Sarah Jane Adventures which originally aired January 1st 2007.

The Sarah Jane Adventures quickly became one of the most popular shows on CBBC picking up record audiences. In 2009 a special episode, From Raxacoricofallapatorius with Love aired as part of Comic Relief on BBC One.

The show has remained closely linked to Doctor Who. Sarah Jane and her adopted son Luke have turned up in Doctor Who a few times, the most recent being the 10th Doctors final story The End of Time. The Doctor has also shown up in The Sarah Jane Adventures, most recently the 11th Doctor (Matt Smith) in Death of the Doctor.
My Sarah Jane: A Tribute to Elisabeth Sladen

On the 19th April 2011 Elisabeth Sladen sadly passed away from cancer. My Sarah Jane: A Tribute to Elisabeth Sladen aired on CBBC directly after The Impossible Astronaut.

The truth behind Joseph Serf’s company is out – alien Light Sculptors, slaves kept beneath his office building.

As Luke and Sky try to find a way to free them and get them home safely, Sarah Jane needs Clyde and Rani to come and help her – and get married along the way…

Clyde is alone and abandoned on the streets of London, living rough, cold and hungry. One person reaches out to him, but as they become friends, he’s warned about the legendary Night Dragon.

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…

From the BBC press office.

Investigative journalist Sarah Jane Smith and her gang of young sidekicks are back, as the final ever episodes of the award-winning The Sarah Jane Adventures are broadcast on CBBC from Monday 3 October.

The six episodes making up the fifth series of The Sarah Jane Adventures were all filmed before the sad death of much-loved actress Elisabeth Sladen earlier this year.

Lis first appeared as Sarah Jane in Doctor Who in 1973 and remained on the iconic programme for three-and-a-half series alongside the Third Doctor, Jon Pertwee, and the Fourth Doctor, Tom Baker. She returned to the role in 2007 in her own spin-off series on CBBC.

The Sarah Jane Adventures brought Lis to a whole new generation of fans who grew to love her alien-busting adventures.

Created by Russell T Davies, this new series of the hugely successful Doctor Who spin-off features new aliens, surprising arrivals, and the usual mix of thrills, scares and fun. Sarah Jane and her gang are thrown into the middle of a war between two deadly aliens, Fleshkind and Metalkind, Clyde finds himself out on the streets when an alien curse turns his friends against him, and Sarah Jane confronts the mysterious Mr Serf and discovers the secret of his success – he has alien slaves in his basement!

Elisabeth Sladen plays Sarah Jane Smith alongside young stars Tommy Knight as Luke, Daniel Anthony as Clyde and Anjli Mohindra as Rani. This series introduces a brand new member of the gang, Sky, played by Sinead Michael. The series also features Ace Bhatti and Mina Anwar as Rani’s parents, Jocelyn Jee Esien as Clyde’s mum, and guest appearances from Floella Benjamin as Professor Rivers, James Dreyfuss as Harrison, Peter Bowles as Lionel Carson, Christine Stephen-Daly as Miss Myers and Lily Loveless as Ellie.

The Sarah Jane Adventures is executive produced by Russell T Davies and Nikki Wilson and is produced by Brian Minchin. Writers include Phil Ford and Gareth Roberts.

The Sarah Jane Adventures will air on Monday and Tuesdays on CBBC. For more information please visit The Sarah Jane Adventures website

Sky – Episode One

Sarah Jane finds a baby girl on her doorstep and tries to find out who abandoned her. At a 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 – Episode Two

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 Curse Of Clyde Langer – Episode One

It’s raining fish from the skies, and Sarah Jane’s investigations lead the gang to the Museum of Culture, where the ancient god Hetocumtek may offer answers. But when Clyde acts the fool once too often, family and friends savagely turn against him, and he is thrown out of their lives!

The Curse Of Clyde Langer – Episode Two

Clyde is alone and abandoned on the streets of London, living rough, cold and hungry. One person reaches out to him, but as they become friends, he’s warned about the legendary Night Dragon. In Bannerman Road, Sky knows something’s wrong – why do Sarah Jane and Rani suddenly hate Clyde?

The Man Who Never Was – Episode One

Joseph Serf has launched his new SerfBoard, the must-have computer that no one can resist owning. Intrigued, Sarah Jane takes Luke and Sky to investigate what’s so compelling about Serf and his business. Clyde and Rani meanwhile take a SerfBoard to pieces, suspecting alien technology may be the answer…

The Man Who Never Was – Episode Two

The truth behind Joseph Serf’s company is out – alien Light Sculptors, slaves kept beneath his office building. As Luke and Sky try to find a way to free them and get them home safely, Sarah Jane needs Clyde and Rani to come and help her – and get married along the way…

You can also read an interview with Phil Ford, lead writer and co-producer of The Sarah Jane Adventures Here and with Sinead Michael (sky) Here.

The first set of promotional images for the upcoming series 5 have been released, some of which you can see below. Series 5 starts on October the 3rd on CBBC.