Lost in Time (TV story): Difference between revisions

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{{title dab away}}
{{real world}}
{{real world}}
{{TV stub}}
{{ImageLinkTV}}
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{{Infobox Story SMW
{{Infobox Sarah Jane Adventures
|image               = Miss Wyckham.jpg
|name    = Lost in Time
|season number       = Series 4 (SJA)
|image         = LiT.PNG
|season serial number = 5
|series        =[[List of The Sarah Jane Adventures television stories|''SJA'' television stories]]|
|story number         = 23
|season number         = [[Series 4 (SJA)|4]]
|scripturl      = https://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/documents/sja-series-4-episode-9-lost-in-time-part-one-pink-revisions-21052010.pdf
|story season number   = 24
|scripturl2      = https://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/documents/sja-series-4-episode-10-lost-in-time-part-two-pink-revisions-21052010.pdf
|main character     = [[Sarah Jane Smith]], [[Rani Chandra]]
|main character       = [[Sarah Jane Smith|Sarah Jane]], [[Clyde Langer|Clyde]], [[Rani Chandra|Rani]]
|enemy          = [[Nazi]]s, [[Koenig]], [[Wyckham|Miss Wyckham]], [[Matilda (Lost in Time)|Lady Matilda]], [[Mary I]] (unseen)
|featuring            = The Shopkeeper (Lost in Time)
|setting       = [[Ealing]], [[London|West London]], [[United Kingdom|UK]], [[Earth]], [[23 November]] [[2010]], [[England]], [[United Kingdom|UK]], [[Earth]], [[1889]]The [[Tower of London]], [[London]], the [[England|Kingdom of England]], [[Earth]], [[19 July]] [[1553]], [[England|Southern England]], [[United Kingdom|UK]], [[Earth]], [[7 June]] [[1941]]
|featuring2          = Jane Grey
|writer         = [[Rupert Laight]]
|enemy                =
|director       = [[Joss Agnew]]
|setting             = [[Ealing]], [[23 November]] [[2010]]; [[England]], [[1889]]; [[Tower of London]], [[19 July|19]]-[[20 July]] [[1553]]; [[England|Southern England]], [[1941]]
|producer       = [[Brian Minchin]]
|writer               = Rupert Laight
|broadcast date = [[8 November]] [[2010]] (Part 1)<br />[[9 November]] [[2010]] (Part 2)
|director             = [[Joss Agnew]]
|format         = 2 30-minute episodes
|producer             = [[Brian Minchin]]
|production code=  
|broadcast date       = 8 November - 9 November 2010
|prev = The Empty Planet (TV story)
|format               = 2x30-minute episodes
|next     = Goodbye, Sarah Jane Smith (TV story)
|production code     =
}}
|network              = CBBC
'''''Lost in Time''''' was the fifth story of [[Series 4 (SJA)|Series 4]] of ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]''.
|epcount              = 2
|series              = [[List of The Sarah Jane Adventures television stories|''SJA'' television stories]]
|prev                 = The Empty Planet (TV story)
|next                 = Goodbye, Sarah Jane Smith (TV story)
}}{{dab page|Lost in Time}}
'''''Lost in Time''''' was the fifth serial of [[Series 4 (SJA)|series 4]] of ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]''. It was written by [[Rupert Laight]] and directed by [[Joss Agnew]]. It introduced [[The Shopkeeper (Lost in Time)|the Shopkeeper]], an enigmatic guardian of history, as well as his pet parrot [[Captain (Lost in Time)|Captain]].


== Synopsis ==
== Synopsis ==
=== Part 1 ===
A harmless investigation turns into an epic quest across time and space. [[Sarah Jane Smith|Sarah]] and the gang are separated by the enigmatic [[The Shopkeeper (Lost in Time)|Shopkeeper]] to find themselves in three different time-zones throughout history – doing battle against ghost hunters, [[Nazi]]s, [[Tudor]]s and a mysterious parrot called [[Captain (Lost in Time)|Captain]]!
A harmless investigation turns into an epic quest across time and space. Sarah Jane and the gang are separated by the enigmatic Shopkeeper, and find themselves in three different time-zones throughout history – doing battle against ghost hunters, Nazis, Tudors and a mysterious parrot called Captain!
 
=== Part 2 ===
While Sarah Jane tries to prevent a future tragedy, Clyde has to take on the Third Reich single-handed! But Rani discovers to her horror that the march of history cannot be stopped, as a greater danger from the Time Vortex threatens to consume them all.
 
== Plot ==
== Plot ==
=== Part one ===
=== Part one ===
Sarah Jane, Rani and Clyde look at a newspaper article about someone who claims to have seen an alien. They go into the man's shop to search for any traces of aliens. Rani finds a music box and Clyde finds a bloodstained arrow. [[The Shopkeeper (Lost in Time)|The Shopkeeper]] comes out of a side room. He knows Sarah Jane's name, as well as a "great many things". He admits he used the newspaper article to gain her attention. He explains that three pieces of [[chronosteen]], a metal forged in the time vortex, are lodged in Earth's history and have the power to reshape its destiny. He opens a [[time window]], tells them to find the disguised pieces to get home and pushes it towards them. He talks to his parrot, [[Captain (Lost in Time)|Captain]], mentioning the gang only have until an hourglass runs out to save the world.


Clyde, Sarah Jane and Rani each wakes alone, with no idea where they are — or when. Rani meets a maid, who tells her she is in the Tower of London's royal chambers and that Queen Jane wants to meet her. The maid, whose name is Mistress Ellen, thinks Rani is a visitor from the Far East, come to be the queen's new lady-in-waiting. Clyde meets a boy called [[George Woods]], who is watching Germans land on a beach and says it is 1941. Sarah Jane is trapped in a box, which is opened by a girl who thinks she is a ghost. The girl touches her to find that she is real, then explains it is 1889 and no one lives in the house they're in; she was investigating stories of ghosts. The girl's name is [[Emily Morris]].


Sarah Jane, Rani and Clyde look at a newspaper article about someone who claims to have seen an alien. They go into the man's shop to search for any traces of aliens. Rani finds a music box and Clyde finds a bloodstained arrow. The shopkeeper comes out of a side room. He knows Sarah Jane's name, as well as a "great many things", and only did the newspaper article to gain her attention. He explains that three pieces of [[chronosteel]], a metal forged within the time vortex, are lodged in Earth's history and have the power to reshape its destiny. He opens a [[time window]], tells them to find the disguised pieces to get home, and pushes it towards them. Talking to his parrot, [[Captain (Parrot)|Captain]], he reveals that the gang only have until an hourglass runs out to save the world.
Clyde and George confirm the men are Nazis and go to warn the Home Guard. Meanwhile, Rani is introduced to Lady [[Jane Grey]]. Rani makes a good first impression on the young queen, who likes a girl who speaks to her as a friend rather than royalty. The Shopkeeper watches them in his crystal ball. Sarah Jane asks Emily why she is obsessed with ghosts. Emily explains that she lost her mother nine weeks ago and doesn't want to believe that she's gone. The clock strikes eight, which is when the haunting is supposed to begin.
 
Clyde, Sarah Jane and Rani all wake up alone, with no idea where they are- or when. Rani meets a maid, who tells her she is in the Tower of London's royal chambers and that Queen Jane wants to meet her. The maid, whose name is Mistress Ellen, thinks Rani is a visitor from the far east come to be the Queens new lady-in-waiting. Clyde meets a boy called George Woods, who is watching Germans land on a beach and tells him it is 1941. Sarah Jane is trapped in a box, which is opened by a girl who thinks she is a ghost. The girl touches her to find that she is real, then explains that it is 1889 and no-one lives in the house they're in, she was just investigating stories of ghosts. The girls name is [[Emily Morris]].


Clyde and George confirm the men are Nazis and go to warn the Home Guard. Meanwhile, Rani is being introduced to Lady [[Jane Grey]]. Rani makes a good first impression on the young Queen, who likes her as she speaks to her as a friend rather than royalty. The Shopkeeper watches them in his crystal ball. Sarah Jane asks Emily why she is obsessed with ghosts. Emily explains that she lost her mother nine weeks ago and doesn't want to believe that she's gone. The clock strikes eight, which is when the haunting is supposed to begin.
Lady Jane receives a warning that Lady Mary and her army have come to claim the throne. This makes Jane an "unlawful claimant" and a traitor; the punishment is death. Clyde and George reach St Michael's Church, but the telephone is dead and the Nazis have also come to the church and capture them. The Nazis have a piece of metal that Clyde realises is the chronosteen. Sarah Jane discovers that the "ghost" is actually the voice of someone from the future. She shows Emily that she is also from the future. They hear children giggling behind a door. They enter the room, which is hot because in the future, it is on fire.


Lady Jane receives a warning that Lady Mary and her army have come to claim the throne. This makes Jane an 'unlawful claimant' and a traitor; the punishment is death. Clyde and George reach St Michael's church, but the telephone is dead and the Nazis have come to the church as well, and capture them. The Nazis have a piece of metal that Clyde realises is the chronosteel. Meanwhile, Sarah Jane discovers that the 'ghost' is actually the voice of someone from the future. She shows Emily that she is also from the future, and they hear children giggling from behind a door. They enter the room, which is hot because in the future, it is on fire.
Rani overhears Lady Matilda plotting to kill Jane, Clyde and George escape the church and Sarah Jane and Emily decide to save the children trapped in the burning room. The Shopkeeper, watching them, says they are taking too long and if they do not get back soon, they will all be trapped in the past forever.
 
Rani overhears Lady Matilda plotting to kill Jane, Clyde and George escape the church and Sarah Jane and Emily decide to save the children trapped in the burning room. The Shopkeeper, watching them, says they are taking too long and if they do not get back soon, they will be trapped in the past forever...


=== Part two ===
=== Part two ===
Rani saves Lady Jane from Lady Matilda, who tried to kill her so she will die a martyr rather than a common traitor. The knife Matilda was going to use is a piece of chronosteen. Sarah Jane and Emily talk about the children, which distresses Emily; this is how her mother died. They turn the clock hands to eight and can now see [[Gemma (Lost in Time)|the young woman]] who was talking before, and it emerges she is an extremely neglectful babysitter, as she locks the children she's meant to be looking after in their room while she leaves to meet someone. Clyde and George run into the local schoolteacher, Miss Wyckham, who tells them the village is surrounded by Germans, so they go back to St Michael's. Lady Jane gives Rani permission to return home, but Rani wants to stay and comfort her. The hourglass runs out, but the Shopkeeper cannot close the time window; if it is left open, the whole planet will be sucked in and destroyed.


Rani saves Lady Jane from Lady Matilda, who tried to kill her so she would die a martyr rather than a common traitor. The knife Matilda was going to use is the piece of chronosteel. Sarah Jane and Emily talk about the children, which distresses Emily as this is how her mother died. They turn the clock hands to eight and can now see the young woman who was talking before. Clyde and George run into the local schoolteacher Miss Wyckham, who tells them the village is surrounded by Germans, so they go back to St Michael's. Lady Jane gives Rani permission to return home, but Rani wants to stay and comfort her. The hourglass runs out, but the Shopkeeper cannot close the time window; if it is left open, the whole planet will be sucked in and destroyed.
Sarah Jane keeps looking for the chronosteen and Rani reassures Lady Jane that she will be remembered for hundreds of years. Clyde, George and Miss Wyckham return to the church, where it is revealed that the teacher is actually a Nazi spy. The Nazis explain that their transmitter blocks British radar, allowing them to invade without being detected. Clyde pulls out his mobile phone and pretends it is a bomb; George grabs the chronosteen and they ring the church bell to alert the Home Guard.
 
Sarah Jane keeps looking for the chronosteel, and Rani reassures Lady Jane that she will be remembered for hundreds of years. Meanwhile, Clyde, George and Miss Wyckham return to the church, where it is revealed that the teacher is actually a spy. The Nazis explain that their transmitter blocks British radar, allowing them to invade without being detected. Clyde pulls out his mobile phone and pretends it is a bomb; George grabs the chronosteel and they ring the church bell to alert the Home Guard.


Sarah Jane finds the chronosteel, a key that is locking the childrens room. However, she cannot touch it as she has been sent to the wrong time. They go into the room and find that the boy, Ben, has lit a candle and started the fire despite his sister Katy's warnings. Emily's fear about her mother connects to theirs, allowing her to cross over into their time. She manages to get the key, saving the children as well as retrieving the chronosteel.
Sarah Jane finds the chronosteen, a key that is locking the children's room. She cannot touch it; she has been sent to the wrong time. They go into the room and find that the boy, Ben, has lit a candle and started the fire despite his sister Katy's warnings. Emily's fear about her mother connects to theirs, allowing her to cross over into their time. She gets the key, saving the children and retrieving the chronosteen.


Rani takes the chronosteel and vanishes in front of Lady Jane and Mistress Ellen. Ellen thinks it is witchcraft, but Lady Jane thinks Rani is an angel and knows that she will not be forgotten. George, inspired by Clyde's speech about defeating the Germans, says he is going to join up as well. Clyde then returns to his own time. Sarah Jane tries to get back, but Emily wants to her to stay and accidently takes the chronosteel, so Sarah Jane goes home empty handed. However, back in the shop a woman comes and gives Sarah Jane the key, which saves Earth from destruction.
Rani takes the chronosteen and vanishes in front of Lady Jane and Mistress Ellen. Ellen thinks it is witchcraft, but Lady Jane thinks Rani is an angel and knows that she will not be forgotten. George, inspired by Clyde's speech about defeating the Germans, says he is going to join up as well. Clyde returns to his own time. Sarah Jane tries to get back, but Emily wants her to stay and accidentally takes the chronosteen, so Sarah Jane goes home empty-handed. However, back in the shop, a woman comes and gives Sarah Jane the key, which saves Earth from destruction.


The Shopkeeper teleports away, after implying that the parrot, Captain, was the one who sent them on the mission. The woman explains that she is Angela Price, Emily's granddaughter, who told Angela to pass on the key. She and Sarah Jane go for a cup of tea and a chat. Clyde researchs George and discovers he was recently knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, whilst Rani reads about Lady Jane and finds she was happy in her final moments.
[[File:George_knighted.jpg|thumb|Clyde learns of George's knighting.]]
The Shopkeeper teleports away, after implying that the parrot, Captain, was the one who sent them on the mission. The woman explains that she is Angela Price, Emily's granddaughter, who told Angela to pass on the key. She and Sarah Jane go for a cup of tea and a chat. Clyde researches George and discovers he was recently knighted by Queen [[Elizabeth II]], whilst Rani reads about Lady Jane and finds she was happy in her final moments.


== Cast ==
== Cast ==
* [[Sarah Jane Smith]] - [[Elizabeth Sladen]]
* [[Sarah Jane Smith]] - [[Elisabeth Sladen]]
* [[Clyde Langer]] - [[Daniel Anthony]]
* [[Clyde Langer]] - [[Daniel Anthony]]
* [[Rani Chandra]] -[[Anjli Mohindra]]
* [[Rani Chandra]] - [[Anjli Mohindra]]
* [[The Shopkeeper]] - [[Cyril Nri]]
* [[The Shopkeeper (Lost in Time)|The Shopkeeper]] - [[Cyril Nri]]
* Queen [[Jane Grey]] - [[Amber Beattie]]
* [[Jane Grey]] - [[Amber Beattie]]
* Mistress [[Ellen]] - [[Elizabeth Rider]]
* Mistress [[Ellen (Lost in Time)|Ellen]] - [[Elizabeth Rider]]
* [[Matilda (Lost in Time)|Lady Matilda]] - [[Fiona Hampton]]
* [[Matilda (Lost in Time)|Lady Matilda]] - [[Fiona Hampton]]
* [[George Woods]] - [[Richard Wisker]]
* [[George Woods]] - [[Richard Wisker]]
Line 67: Line 66:
* [[Emily Morris]] - [[Gwyneth Keyworth]]
* [[Emily Morris]] - [[Gwyneth Keyworth]]
* [[Gemma (Lost in Time)|Gemma]] - [[Lucie Jones]]
* [[Gemma (Lost in Time)|Gemma]] - [[Lucie Jones]]
* [[Katy]] - [[Morgan-Faith Hughes]]
* [[Katy (Lost in Time)|Katy]] - [[Morgan-Faith Hughes]]
* [[Ben (Lost in Time)|Ben]] - [[Llewcus Oaten]]
* [[Ben (Lost in Time)|Ben]] - [[Llewcus Oaten]]
* Miss [[Wyckham]] - [[Catherine Bailey]]
* [[Wyckham|Miss Wyckham]] - [[Catherine Bailey]]
* [[Angela Price (Lost in Time)|Angela Price]] - [[Rowena Cooper]]
* [[Angela Price (Lost in Time)|Angela Price]] - [[Rowena Cooper]]


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|UnitManager=
|UnitManager=
|AssistantUnitManager=
|AssistantUnitManager=
|ProductionManager=Steffan Thomas
|ProductionManager=Steffan Morris
|ProductionCoOrdinator=Hannah Simpson
|ProductionCoOrdinator=Hannah Simpson
|AsstProductionCoOrdinator=
|AsstProductionCoOrdinator=
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|SoundEditor=Matthew Cox
|SoundEditor=Matthew Cox
|SoundEditor2=Howard Eaves
|SoundEditor2=Howard Eaves
|SoundEffectsEditor=
|SoundFXEditor=
|ModelUnitSupervisor=
|ModelUnitSupervisor=
|ModelUnitDOP=
|ModelUnitDOP=
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|CharCreatedBy3a=
|CharCreatedBy3a=
|CharCreatedBy3b=
|CharCreatedBy3b=
|OriginalTheme=Murray Gold
|TitleMusic=Murray Gold
|CastingDirector=Andy Brierley
|CastingDirector=Andy Brierley
|CastingDirector2=
|CastingDirector2=
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}}
}}


== References ==
== Worldbuilding ==
=== [[:Category:British organisations|British organisations]] ===
* The UK uses the [[Fahrenheit]] unit of measurement.
* [[Home Guard]]
* The [[Tillotsons (Lost in Time)|Tillotsons]] owned the house in [[1889]].
 
=== Individuals ===
* Rani takes the place of the Countess of [[Arundel (Lost in Time)|Arundel]].
* [[Kirsch (Lost in Time)|Kirsch]], [[Bagar (Lost in Time)|Bagar]] are members of a group of [[Nazi]] soldiers that land on the English coast on 7 June 1941.
* [[Janice Kingston]] is the daughter of [[George Woods]].
* [[Guildford Dudley]] is the husband of Lady [[Jane Grey]]. Lady [[Katherine Grey]] is her sister.
* Mr [[Porter (Lost in Time)|Porter]] lives in [[Little Malding]].
* Koenig mentions [[Adolf Hitler]].
* Clyde refers to [[Winston Churchill]].
* Emily mentions [[Alexander Graham Bell]].
* Mr Smalley speaks about [[Harold Godwinson]].
 
=== Locations ===
* During [[World War II]], a piece of chronosteen is found beneath the [[Rhineland]] by the Nazis.
* [[Smalley & Co Antiques]] is an antiques shop.
* Rani mentions the [[Taj Mahal]].
* Clyde's mother likes to shop at [[Primark]].
 
=== Literature ===
* On hearing that the "alien" sighted was twelve feet tall, with huge claws and red eyes, Clyde jokingly asks if the gang are going up against [[the Gruffalo]].
 
=== Species ===
* Sarah Jane speaks about [[ghost]]s and mentions the [[Stone Tape theory]].
* Jane Grey thinks that Rani is an [[angel]].
 
=== Events ===
* George Woods fights in the [[Battle of Ardennes]].
* Mr Smalley mentions the [[Battle of Hastings]].


== Story notes ==
== Story notes ==
* The Time Windows resemble the Anomalies from the [[ITV]] series ''Primeval''.
* The services of [[Alexander Armstrong]] as [[Mr Smith]] were not required for this story, though Mr Smith still appears in a cameo role in the epilogue.
* The newspaper gives the date as [[23 November]] 2010, the 47th anniversary of the date that the first episode of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' was broadcast.
* The newspaper gives the date as [[23 November]] [[2010]], the 47th anniversary of the date that the first episode of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' was broadcast.
* The story shares some similarities with [[DW]]: ''[[Blink]]'', in particular the concept of someone from the past passing along items to a certain point in the future.
* Koenig refers to Clyde (a black teenage boy) as a "negro", one of the more adult orientated words in the more child friendly series of ''The Sarah Jane Adventures''. However, it was cut when they released the episode on iPlayer on December 2022, to avoid offending any viewers.  
 
=== Ratings ===
=== Ratings ===
''to be added''
=== Myths ===
''to be added''
''to be added''


Line 389: Line 414:


=== Production errors ===
=== Production errors ===
{{SJA discontinuity}}
''to be added''
''to be added''


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* The newspaper the team look at is the [[Ealing Echo]]. ([[SJA]]: ''[[Revenge of the Slitheen]]'', ''[[The Day of the Clown]]'')
* The newspaper that the gang look at is the ''[[Ealing Echo]]''. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Revenge of the Slitheen (TV story)}}, {{cs|The Day of the Clown (TV story)}})
* Rani is sent to [[19 July]] [[1553]] and meets Lady [[Jane Grey]]. The brief queen would later meet the [[First Doctor]] right before her execution. ([[VD]]: ''[[The Nine-Day Queen]]'')
* Rani is sent to [[19 July]] [[1553]] and meets Lady [[Jane Grey]]. The short-lived queen would later meet the [[First Doctor]] immediately before her execution on [[12 February]] [[1554]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Nine-Day Queen (short story)|The Nine-Day Queen]]'') The [[Sixth Doctor]] also visited her at around the same time. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Marian Conspiracy (audio story)|The Marian Conspiracy]]'')
* On hearing that the "alien" sighted was twelve feet tall, with huge claws and red eyes, Clyde jokingly asks if they are going up against the Gruffalo. [[Mo Northover]] read his son, [[Elliot Northover|Elliot]], this book. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Hungry Earth]]'')
* Sarah Jane once again voices her founded disbelief in ghosts.([[TV]]: {{cs|The Eternity Trap (TV story)}})
* Rani is referred to as Lady Rani ([[SJA]]: ''[[The Empty Planet]]'')
* Clyde is sent back to [[World War II]], where he comes across [[Nazi]]s carrying "[[Thor's Hammer]]". The [[Seventh Doctor]] also dealt with Norse mythology in a World War II setting. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Curse of Fenric (TV story)}})
* The Shopkeeper is aware of the [[time vortex]].
* Sarah Jane tells Emily how her parents also died when she was "very young". ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Temptation of Sarah Jane Smith (TV story)}})
* Sarah Jane resets a [[grandfather clock]] in the haunted house to make the apparition recur. The [[Seventh Doctor]] similarly reset a grandfather clock to accelerate events on a visit to [[Gabriel Chase]], an unusual house in [[London]] in [[1883]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Ghost Light (TV story)}})


== Home video releases ==
== Home video releases ==
=== DVD releases ===
=== DVD releases ===
''to be added''
* This story was included in the 4th Series DVD release (Region 2 release: 31st October 2011).
* It was also released in the Complete Collection Series 1-5 boxset release (Region 2 release: 6th February 2012).


=== Blu-ray releases ===
=== Blu-ray releases ===
''to be added''
''To be added.''


== External links ==
* {{briefhistory|sarahjane/2010ij.html|{{StoryTitle}}}}
* {{locguide|lostintime|{{StoryTitle}}}}
{{SJATV}}
{{TitleSort}}


== Footnotes ==
{{reflist}}
{{SJA series 4}}
{{TitleSort}}
{{StoryImages}}
[[Category:SJA television stories]]
[[Category:SJA television stories]]
[[Category:Series 4 (SJA) stories]]
[[Category:Series 4 (SJA) stories]]
[[Category:2010 television stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in 2010]]
[[Category:Stories set in 1553]]
[[Category:Stories set in 1553]]
[[Category:Stories set in 1889]]
[[Category:Stories set in 1889]]
[[Category:Stories set in 1941]]
[[Category:Stories set in 1941]]
[[Category:Stories set in World War II]]
[[Category:Stories set in World War II]]
[[Category:Stories set on 23 November]]
[[de:Lost in Time]]

Latest revision as of 00:37, 22 October 2024

RealWorld.png

You may wish to consult Lost in Time for other, similarly-named pages.

Lost in Time was the fifth serial of series 4 of The Sarah Jane Adventures. It was written by Rupert Laight and directed by Joss Agnew. It introduced the Shopkeeper, an enigmatic guardian of history, as well as his pet parrot Captain.

Synopsis[[edit] | [edit source]]

A harmless investigation turns into an epic quest across time and space. Sarah and the gang are separated by the enigmatic Shopkeeper to find themselves in three different time-zones throughout history – doing battle against ghost hunters, Nazis, Tudors and a mysterious parrot called Captain!

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

Part one[[edit] | [edit source]]

Sarah Jane, Rani and Clyde look at a newspaper article about someone who claims to have seen an alien. They go into the man's shop to search for any traces of aliens. Rani finds a music box and Clyde finds a bloodstained arrow. The Shopkeeper comes out of a side room. He knows Sarah Jane's name, as well as a "great many things". He admits he used the newspaper article to gain her attention. He explains that three pieces of chronosteen, a metal forged in the time vortex, are lodged in Earth's history and have the power to reshape its destiny. He opens a time window, tells them to find the disguised pieces to get home and pushes it towards them. He talks to his parrot, Captain, mentioning the gang only have until an hourglass runs out to save the world.

Clyde, Sarah Jane and Rani each wakes alone, with no idea where they are — or when. Rani meets a maid, who tells her she is in the Tower of London's royal chambers and that Queen Jane wants to meet her. The maid, whose name is Mistress Ellen, thinks Rani is a visitor from the Far East, come to be the queen's new lady-in-waiting. Clyde meets a boy called George Woods, who is watching Germans land on a beach and says it is 1941. Sarah Jane is trapped in a box, which is opened by a girl who thinks she is a ghost. The girl touches her to find that she is real, then explains it is 1889 and no one lives in the house they're in; she was investigating stories of ghosts. The girl's name is Emily Morris.

Clyde and George confirm the men are Nazis and go to warn the Home Guard. Meanwhile, Rani is introduced to Lady Jane Grey. Rani makes a good first impression on the young queen, who likes a girl who speaks to her as a friend rather than royalty. The Shopkeeper watches them in his crystal ball. Sarah Jane asks Emily why she is obsessed with ghosts. Emily explains that she lost her mother nine weeks ago and doesn't want to believe that she's gone. The clock strikes eight, which is when the haunting is supposed to begin.

Lady Jane receives a warning that Lady Mary and her army have come to claim the throne. This makes Jane an "unlawful claimant" and a traitor; the punishment is death. Clyde and George reach St Michael's Church, but the telephone is dead and the Nazis have also come to the church and capture them. The Nazis have a piece of metal that Clyde realises is the chronosteen. Sarah Jane discovers that the "ghost" is actually the voice of someone from the future. She shows Emily that she is also from the future. They hear children giggling behind a door. They enter the room, which is hot because in the future, it is on fire.

Rani overhears Lady Matilda plotting to kill Jane, Clyde and George escape the church and Sarah Jane and Emily decide to save the children trapped in the burning room. The Shopkeeper, watching them, says they are taking too long and if they do not get back soon, they will all be trapped in the past forever.

Part two[[edit] | [edit source]]

Rani saves Lady Jane from Lady Matilda, who tried to kill her so she will die a martyr rather than a common traitor. The knife Matilda was going to use is a piece of chronosteen. Sarah Jane and Emily talk about the children, which distresses Emily; this is how her mother died. They turn the clock hands to eight and can now see the young woman who was talking before, and it emerges she is an extremely neglectful babysitter, as she locks the children she's meant to be looking after in their room while she leaves to meet someone. Clyde and George run into the local schoolteacher, Miss Wyckham, who tells them the village is surrounded by Germans, so they go back to St Michael's. Lady Jane gives Rani permission to return home, but Rani wants to stay and comfort her. The hourglass runs out, but the Shopkeeper cannot close the time window; if it is left open, the whole planet will be sucked in and destroyed.

Sarah Jane keeps looking for the chronosteen and Rani reassures Lady Jane that she will be remembered for hundreds of years. Clyde, George and Miss Wyckham return to the church, where it is revealed that the teacher is actually a Nazi spy. The Nazis explain that their transmitter blocks British radar, allowing them to invade without being detected. Clyde pulls out his mobile phone and pretends it is a bomb; George grabs the chronosteen and they ring the church bell to alert the Home Guard.

Sarah Jane finds the chronosteen, a key that is locking the children's room. She cannot touch it; she has been sent to the wrong time. They go into the room and find that the boy, Ben, has lit a candle and started the fire despite his sister Katy's warnings. Emily's fear about her mother connects to theirs, allowing her to cross over into their time. She gets the key, saving the children and retrieving the chronosteen.

Rani takes the chronosteen and vanishes in front of Lady Jane and Mistress Ellen. Ellen thinks it is witchcraft, but Lady Jane thinks Rani is an angel and knows that she will not be forgotten. George, inspired by Clyde's speech about defeating the Germans, says he is going to join up as well. Clyde returns to his own time. Sarah Jane tries to get back, but Emily wants her to stay and accidentally takes the chronosteen, so Sarah Jane goes home empty-handed. However, back in the shop, a woman comes and gives Sarah Jane the key, which saves Earth from destruction.

Clyde learns of George's knighting.

The Shopkeeper teleports away, after implying that the parrot, Captain, was the one who sent them on the mission. The woman explains that she is Angela Price, Emily's granddaughter, who told Angela to pass on the key. She and Sarah Jane go for a cup of tea and a chat. Clyde researches George and discovers he was recently knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, whilst Rani reads about Lady Jane and finds she was happy in her final moments.

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Crew[[edit] | [edit source]]

General production staff

Script department

Camera and lighting department

Art department

Costume department

Make-up and prosthetics


General post-production staff

Special and visual effects

Sound



Not every person who worked on this adventure was credited. The absence of a credit for a position doesn't necessarily mean the job wasn't required. The information above is based solely on observations of the actual end credits of the episodes as broadcast, and does not relay information from IMDB or other sources.


Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Individuals[[edit] | [edit source]]

Locations[[edit] | [edit source]]

Literature[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • On hearing that the "alien" sighted was twelve feet tall, with huge claws and red eyes, Clyde jokingly asks if the gang are going up against the Gruffalo.

Species[[edit] | [edit source]]

Events[[edit] | [edit source]]

Story notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The services of Alexander Armstrong as Mr Smith were not required for this story, though Mr Smith still appears in a cameo role in the epilogue.
  • The newspaper gives the date as 23 November 2010, the 47th anniversary of the date that the first episode of Doctor Who was broadcast.
  • Koenig refers to Clyde (a black teenage boy) as a "negro", one of the more adult orientated words in the more child friendly series of The Sarah Jane Adventures. However, it was cut when they released the episode on iPlayer on December 2022, to avoid offending any viewers.

Ratings[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Filming locations[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Jacob's Antique Centre
  • Hensol Castle
  • West Canal Wharf
  • Caerphilly Castle
  • Merthyr Mawr Warren

Production errors[[edit] | [edit source]]

If you'd like to talk about narrative problems with this story — like plot holes and things that seem to contradict other stories — please go to this episode's discontinuity discussion.

to be added

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

Home video releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

DVD releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • This story was included in the 4th Series DVD release (Region 2 release: 31st October 2011).
  • It was also released in the Complete Collection Series 1-5 boxset release (Region 2 release: 6th February 2012).

Blu-ray releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

To be added.

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]

v • e
SJA television stories
Series 1
Series 2
Regular episodes
Mini-episodes
Series 3
Series 4
Series 5
Stories listed here are only those that have been officially licensed by the BBC.
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