I was really shocked to hear the news of Elisabeth Sladen's death on Tuesday evening. I did not know that she had been fighting cancer; it was something only known to her close family and friends. She was a great woman. Sadly, I didn't really know Liz, only as the character she played in Doctor Who; Sarah Jane Smith.

My first on-screen encounter with Sarah Jane was through Rose's eyes in "School Reunion". As she learnt of her previous adventures with the Doctor (in his third and fourth incarnation) so did I. Although, Rose didn't have access to videos, DVDs and an internet's worth of information about the Doctor's dear companion and friend. She sparkled in Doctor Who, turning up two more times in the new series, and her success and popularity in the show led her to star in the CBBC spin-off "The Sarah Jane Adventures". The Doctor's companion gained her own family, a clone-boy Luke Smith, a helpful computer called Mr. Smith and a team of trusty schoolchildren (Maria, Clyde and Rani). Together they fought aliens and saved the world over and over again; even when the Doctor showed up (twice) he was left to be companion to the gang. Sarah Jane had become a journalist, an adventurer, a friend, a Mum and a heroine.

Elisabeth Sladen was a true hero.

Auburn Time Lord

25.04.11 Front Page

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