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Vale: Elisabeth Sladen

Actress Elisabeth Sladen, best known as Doctor Who's companion Sarah Jane Smith, has died of cancer at the age of 63.

Actress Elisabeth Sladen, best known as Doctor Who‘s companion Sarah Jane Smith has died of cancer at the age of 63.

It had not been widely known that she had been suffering from ill health.

Sladen joined the programme in 1973 and became one of the most popular companions in her role as Sarah Jane Smith alongside Jon Pertwee. She remained on the BBC show for a further three and a half seasons, continuing to assist the Doctor in his next incarnation as Tom Baker, before leaving in 1976.

As one of the most popular Dr Who assistants ever, the character of Sarah Jane was brought back for the new series, appearing alongside David Tennant..

She then returned to the series on a number of occasions over the years before her own 2007 show, The Sarah Jane Adventures, which introduced her to a new generation of fans  as an investigative journalist and mother, trying to defend Earth from extraterrestrial threats.

In a 2006 interview ahead of rejoining the series, she said: ‘I think it has lovely layers and I’d defend the programme to anyone.

“I’m very emotionally part of that programme and I think a lot of the people who worked on it are. You used to love going to work every day.”

The BBC had planned to produce a fifth series, but that now looks unlikely following her death.

She leaves behind her husband, actor Brian Miller, and daughter Sadie.

Tributes have been pouring in for the Liverpool-born actress.

Russell T Davies, creator of The Sarah Jane Adventures, which won this year’s RTS Award for best children’s drama, said all those involved in the series had been left “reeling” at news of her death.

He said: “I absolutely loved Lis. She was funny and cheeky and clever and just simply wonderful.

“The universe was lucky to have Sarah Jane Smith; the world was lucky to have Lis.”

Writer and executive producer Steven Moffat said she was a “ferociously talented actress”.

Source: Press Association, Daily Mail

45 Responses

  1. I really think Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane was the heart and face of Doctor Who, back in the old series up to the new one. The Doctor was always being recast but there was only one Sarah. To read a lot of the statements from fellow castmates just goes to show how professional and warm she was, especially to the younger actors.

    Gonna miss her on the show 🙁

  2. Lis must be one of the bravest woman in the world. To be able to continue playing Sarah Jane by running up and down corriders, doing stunt work, and remember complex line while battling Cancer, in my eyes is brave. She will be masively missed by all Doctor Who fans and I hope they do something special on Doctor Who and Sarah Jane adventures.

  3. The Doctor has lost two friends now. Elisabeth will be missed sorely, a great ambassador to the show, a pillar of the Doctor Who community, and a beautiful woman.

    Here’s to Elisabeth Sladen, your contributions will never ever be forgotten.

  4. I am confident they will put something at the end of this weekends Dr Who transmission in the UK … that will have me crying my eyes out …

    But how are we going to cope with the final series of JSA which, as Napdav said, was filmed already last year … the final episode of that will be just unbearable!

  5. I’ve been on the verge of tears all morning at this news – I’m seriously crushed.

    She was a lovely lady and great performer who will be deeply missed by all Dr. Who fans. Her contribution to the series is incalculable and she will be remembered forever.

    RIP Ms. Sladen – you were the best.

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