The Day of the Clown (TV story): Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Story SMW
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|image               = OddBobInHallOfMirrors.jpg
{{Infobox Story
|series               = [[List of The Sarah Jane Adventures television stories|''SJA'' television stories]]
|image         = OddBobInHallOfMirrors.jpg
|season number       = Series 2 (SJA)
|name          = The Day of the Clown
|season serial number = 2
|series         =[[List of The Sarah Jane Adventures television stories|''SJA'' television stories]]
|story number         = 8
|season number = [[Series 2 (SJA)|2]]
|scripturl      = https://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/documents/sja-series-2-episode-3-the-day-of-the-clown-part-one-blue-revisions-17042008.pdf
|story number   = 8
|scripturl2      = https://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/documents/sja-series-2-episode-4-the-day-of-the-clown-part-two-blue-revisions-17042008.pdf
|main character =[[Sarah Jane Smith|Sarah Jane]], [[Luke Smith|Luke]], [[Clyde Langer|Clyde]], [[Rani Chandra|Rani]], [[Mr Smith]]
|main character       = [[Sarah Jane Smith|Sarah Jane]], [[Luke Smith|Luke]], [[Clyde Langer|Clyde]], [[Rani Chandra|Rani]], [[Mr Smith]]
|featuring     = [[Gita Chandra|Gita]], [[Haresh Chandra|Haresh]], [[Celeste Rivers|Professor Rivers]], Mr [[Cunningham]]
|featuring           = Haresh Chandra
|enemy         = [[Elijah Spellman]], [[Animated clown]]s
|featuring2          = Gita Chandra
|setting       = [[Ealing]], [[8 October|8]]-[[11 October]] [[2009]]
|featuring3          = Steve Wallace
|writer         = [[Phil Ford]]
|featuring4          = Celeste Rivers{{!}}Rivers
|director       = [[Michael Kerrigan]]
|enemy               = The [[Pied Piper]]
|producer       = [[Nikki Smith]]
|setting             = [[Ealing]], [[8 October|8]]-[[11 October]] [[2009]]
|novelisation   = The Day of the Clown (novelisation)
|writer               = Phil Ford
|broadcast date = [[6 October (releases)|6 October]] - [[13 October (releases)|13 October]] [[2008 (releases)|2008]]
|director             = [[Michael Kerrigan]]
|format         = 2x30 minute episodes
|producer             = [[Nikki Smith]]
|prev           = The Last Sontaran (TV story)
|novelisation         = Day of the Clown (novelisation)
|next           = Secrets of the Stars (TV story)
|broadcast date       = 6 October - 13 October 2008
|format               = 2x30 minute episodes
|prev                 = The Last Sontaran (TV story)
|next                 = Secrets of the Stars (TV story)
|clip                = Spellman's Evil Plan The Day of the Clown The Sarah Jane Adventures
|clip2                = Trapped In The Circus! The Day of the Clown The Sarah Jane Adventures
|clip3                = Sarah Jane Defeats Spellman The Day of the Clown The Sarah Jane Adventures
|network              = CBBC
|epcount              = 2
}}
}}
'''''The Day of the Clown''''' was the second story of the [[Series 2 (SJA)|second series]] of ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]''. It introduced [[Rani Chandra|Rani]], [[Gita Chandra|Gita]] and [[Haresh Chandra]] as the new occupants of [[36 Bannerman Road|the Jacksons' home]] on [[Bannerman Road]]. It established that Sarah had been [[coulrophobia|afraid of clowns]] since childhood and thereby centred the story on the nature of fear itself.
'''''The Day of the Clown''''' was the second serial of [[Series 2 (SJA)|series 2]] of ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]''. It was written by [[Phil Ford]] and directed by [[Michael Kerrigan]]. It introduced [[Rani Chandra|Rani]], [[Gita Chandra|Gita]] and [[Haresh Chandra]] as the new occupants of [[36 Bannerman Road]]. Also noteworthy was the guest appearance of [[Bradley Walsh]] as the episode's villain, [[Pied Piper|Elijah Spellman]], almost ten years before his casting as [[Graham O'Brien]], a [[companion]] of the [[Thirteenth Doctor]].
 
The story also contained some important character beats that were carried on throughout the series.
 
Hanging over Rani's introduction was the fact that [[Luke Smith|Luke]] keenly missed [[Maria Jackson|Maria]], and that Rani knew that she was a kind of "replacement" for Jackson. Additionally, the hostility between [[Haresh Chandra]] and [[Clyde Langer]] began here, as did the notion that Rani was a budding journalist who needed professional mentoring by Sarah Jane.  All of these themes would continue for the rest of the series, and were even prominent as late as the [[The Man Who Never Was|final story]].


Behind the scenes, this story was notable for being one of only two episodes to credit both [[Yasmin Paige|Paige]] and [[Anjli Mohindra|Mohindra]], because  [[Maria Jackson|Maria]]'s voice is heard in part one.  This was also a rare example of an episode that credits Paige but not [[Joseph Millson]]; [[Alan Jackson|Maria's father]], almost ubiquitous in Maria episodes, didn't appear here. 
== Synopsis ==
== Synopsis ==
[[Rani Chandra]] is the new girl on [[Bannerman Road]]. She is haunted by a sinister [[clown]]. Does it have anything to do with local children who have gone missing? When [[Clyde Langer|Clyde's]] friend Dave disappears, the trail leads to a strange [[Spellman's Magical Museum of the Circus|circus museum]] and the legend of the [[Pied Piper]].
[[Rani Chandra]] is the new girl on [[Bannerman Road]]. She is haunted by a sinister [[clown]]. Does it have anything to do with local children who have gone missing? When [[Clyde Langer|Clyde's]] friend Dave disappears, the trail leads to a strange [[Spellman's Magical Museum of the Circus|circus museum]] and the legend of the [[Pied Piper]].
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== Plot ==
== Plot ==
=== Part 1 ===
=== Part 1 ===
A group of boys are playing football when the ball goes out of the pitch. A child goes over to fetch the ball but sees a clown. A few seconds later, the child is scared by the clown and disappears, never to be seen again.
A new family is moving into number [[36 Bannerman Road]], formerly occupied by [[Alan Jackson|Alan]] and [[Maria Jackson]]. [[Luke Smith]] still misses Maria, even though she's keeping in touch by e-mail. His mum [[Sarah Jane Smith|Sarah Jane]] sympathises and reminds him Maria will visit England soon. She'll be at [[Chrissie Jackson|her mother's]] [[wedding]]. Yet, as Luke notes, it's not the same.
A new family is moving into number [[36 Bannerman Road]], formerly occupied by [[Alan Jackson|Alan]] and [[Maria Jackson]]. [[Luke Smith]] still misses Maria, even though she's keeping in touch by e-mail. His mum [[Sarah Jane Smith|Sarah Jane]] sympathises and reminds him Maria will visit England soon. She'll be at [[Chrissie Jackson|her mother's]] [[wedding]]. Yet, as Luke notes, it's not the same.


There's a new girl at [[Park Vale School]], the boys' comprehensive: clever and inquisitive [[Rani Chandra|Rani]], who wants to be a journalist. [[Clyde Langer|Clyde]] is smitten — even forgetting his odd sightings of [[clown]]s, always just out of the corner of his eye — until he notices there's ''also'' a new head at the school: humourless [[Haresh Chandra|Mr Chandra]]. He is determined to improve the students' scores and put an end to the recent rash of child disappearances. He is ''not'' impressed by Clyde, the class clown. Clyde doesn't make it to lunch before receiving a summons to the new head's office.
There's a new girl at [[Park Vale School]]: clever and inquisitive [[Rani Chandra|Rani]], who wants to be a journalist. [[Clyde Langer|Clyde]] is smitten — even forgetting his odd sightings of [[clown]]s, always just out of the corner of his eye — until he notices there's also a new head at the school: humourless [[Haresh Chandra|Mr Chandra]]. He is determined to improve the students' scores and put an end to the recent rash of child disappearances. He is not impressed by Clyde, the class clown. Clyde doesn't make it to lunch before receiving a summons to the new head's office.
[[File:HareshChandraTDOTC.jpg|thumb|left|[[Park Vale Comprehensive School]] gets a new sheriff: the new girl's dad!]]
 
While he is waiting by Mr Chandra's office, Clyde has another clown sighting. He tries to laugh it off, but he is shaken when his friend Dave ducks into a small art closet for supplies and doesn't come out. The art closet is empty; Dave has vanished into thin air.
While he is waiting by Mr Chandra's office, Clyde has another clown sighting. He tries to laugh it off, but he is shaken when his friend Dave ducks into a small art closet for supplies and doesn't come out. The art closet is empty; Dave has vanished into thin air.


Sarah Jane brings the new family [[tea]] and biscuits as a welcoming gift, but when [[Gita Chandra]]'s back is turned, she performs a scan to check that no alien "residue" remains from the Jacksons' previous inhabitancy, because of Clyde's earlier remark. Only Gita Chandra is there — her husband and daughter are at school, she explains — so the two women share tea. Gita describes her family. She is thrilled to learn that Sarah Jane is an investigative journalist. Her daughter [[Rani Chandra|Rani]] wants to become one herself.
Sarah Jane brings the new family [[tea]] and biscuits as a welcoming gift, but when [[Gita Chandra]]'s back is turned, she performs a scan to check that no alien "residue" remains from the Jacksons' previous inhabitancy, because of Clyde's earlier remark. Only Gita Chandra is there — her husband and daughter are at school, she explains — so the two women share tea. Gita describes her family. She is thrilled to learn that Sarah Jane is an investigative journalist because her daughter [[Rani Chandra|Rani]] wants to become one herself.
[[File:RaniAndLukeTDOTC.jpg|thumb|Luke makes a new friend — in [[Maria Jackson|Maria]]'s old bedroom]]  
 
Clyde and Luke are walking home from school when Clyde sees another clown. Though Luke doesn't see anything, the boys give chase. They encounter only Rani, who has ''also'' been seeing clowns. Rani wonders if there is an extraordinary or supernatural explanation of the disappearances. The three are deep in discussion when they reach Bannerman Road and find Rani's dad is [[Haresh Chandra|Mr Chandra]]. He is not pleased to see his daughter with Clyde, whom he has pegged as a troublemaker. On the other hand, he is delighted she has made friends with Luke, one of Park Vale's most gifted students.
[[File:RaniAndLukeTDOTC.jpg|thumb|Luke makes a new friend — in [[Maria Jackson|Maria]]'s old bedroom]]
Clyde and Luke are walking home from school when Clyde sees another clown. Though Luke doesn't see anything, the boys give chase. They encounter only Rani, who has also been seeing clowns. Rani wonders if there is an extraordinary or supernatural explanation of the disappearances. The three are deep in discussion when they reach Bannerman Road and Luke and Clyde find out that Rani's dad is [[Haresh Chandra|Mr Chandra]]. Mr Chandra is not pleased to see his daughter with Clyde, whom he has pegged as a troublemaker. On the other hand, he is delighted she has made friends with Luke, one of Park Vale's most gifted students.


Luke helps Rani unpack. In her room, they continue their talk of the missing children. The mention of clowns jogs Rani's memory: she remembers taking a ticket to see a [[Spellman's Magical Museum of the Circus|circus museum]]. Rani decides to investigate. Luke feels he has no choice but to follow.
Luke helps Rani unpack. In her room, they continue their talk of the missing children. The mention of clowns jogs Rani's memory: she remembers taking a ticket to see a [[Spellman's Magical Museum of the Circus|circus museum]]. Rani decides to investigate. Luke feels he has no choice but to follow.
[[File:SpellmanInShadowTDOTC.jpg|thumb|Is Spellman simply a showman?]]
 
Clyde and Sarah Jane have independently discovered the same thing. All the missing children received tickets to the same circus museum, and ''only'' children with tickets were seeing the clowns. They elect to visit the clown museum as well.
Clyde and Sarah Jane have independently discovered the same thing. All the missing children received tickets to the same circus museum, and only children with tickets were seeing the clowns. They elect to visit the clown museum as well.
 
[[File:ClydeInFrontOfClownTDOTC.jpg|thumb|Clyde gets accused of having a sense of humour inappropriate to the situation|left]]
[[File:ClydeInFrontOfClownTDOTC.jpg|thumb|Clyde gets accused of having a sense of humour inappropriate to the situation|left]]
[[Spellman's Magical Museum of the Circus]] is run by the strange [[Elijah Spellman]]. He shows them around and leads them to a room filled with clown mannequins. Clyde spots a picture on the wall: an old watercolour painting of a man wearing red, blue and yellow — just like the mysterious ghost clowns he'd been seeing. Sarah Jane explains that the figure depicted is the [[Pied Piper]], a legendary figure of European folklore who stole the children from Hamelin.
[[Spellman's Magical Museum of the Circus]] is run by the strange [[Elijah Spellman]]. He shows them around and leads them to a room filled with clown mannequins. Clyde spots a picture on the wall: an old watercolour painting of a man wearing red, blue and yellow — just like the mysterious ghost clowns he'd been seeing. Sarah Jane explains that the figure depicted is the [[Pied Piper]], a legendary figure of European folklore who stole the children from Hamelin.


Elijah Spellman agrees. He reveals that he is the Pied Piper ''and'' the mysterious clown. He has come for more children. Nor will he tolerate discovery — with a word, he vanishes, and the clown mannequins come to life and threaten Sarah Jane and Clyde.
Elijah Spellman agrees. He reveals that he is the Pied Piper and the mysterious clown. He has come for more children. Nor will he tolerate discovery — with a word, he vanishes, and the clown mannequins come to life and threaten Sarah and Clyde.


They run to the entrance, where they meet Luke and Rani and find that while Sarah Jane's [[sonic lipstick]] is effective against the clown mannequins, the Pied Piper has trapped them in the building...
They run to the entrance, where they meet Luke and Rani and find that while Sarah Jane's [[sonic lipstick]] is effective against the clown mannequins, the Pied Piper has trapped them in the building...


=== Part 2 ===
=== Part 2 ===
Spellman frightens Sarah Jane Smith with insights on her childhood whilst Clyde, Luke and Rani try to escape from the museum. Luke and Clyde  get outside whilst Sarah Jane remains terrified inside the circus. Rani's phone rings and she is confronted by a dilemma as ''Mum'' appears on the screen. While the phone rings, Spellman freezes. After a few seconds, Rani declines the call and runs out of the circus. Sarah Jane follows and the gang get inside Sarah Jane's car to drive back to Bannerman Road.
[[File:SJSGivesRaniAChoiceTDOTC.jpg|thumb|Sarah Jane gives Rani a choice.]]
[[File:SJSGivesRaniAChoiceTDOTC.jpg|thumb|Sarah Jane gives Rani a choice.]]
Once there, Sarah Jane gives Rani a choice: live across the road and not interfere with her life, or go with Sarah Jane and a whole world of adventure. Rani chooses to join Sarah Jane and says she will explain to her mum that she is completing some work experience with her.  
Spellman frightens Sarah Jane with insights on her childhood fear of clowns, whilst Clyde, Luke and Rani try to escape from the museum. Luke and Clyde get outside whilst Sarah remains terrified inside the circus museum. Rani's phone rings and she is confronted by a dilemma as "Mum" appears on the screen. While the phone rings, Spellman freezes. After a few seconds, Rani declines the call and runs out of the circus. Sarah Jane follows and the gang get inside Sarah Jane's car to drive back to Bannerman Road. Once there, Sarah Jane gives Rani a choice: live across the road and not interfere with her life, or go with Sarah and a whole world of adventure. Rani chooses to join Sarah Jane and says she will explain to her mum that she is completing some work experience with her.


Sarah Jane, Rani, Luke and Clyde go into Sarah Jane's house. Rani is amazed at the alien gear in Sarah Jane's attic, particularly alien supercomputer [[Mr Smith]]. The new team quickly determines the history of the [[Pied Piper]] is traceable to a [[meteorite]] that fell to [[Earth]] in [[1283]]. The extrasolar meteorite originated in the [[Jeggorabax Cluster]], a region of space known to house entities that feed off of emotions. To confirm this, Mr Smith will need a sample of the meteorite. Fortunately, it is on loan from the [[University of Munich]] to the [[Pharos Institute]].
Sarah Jane, Rani, Luke and Clyde go into Sarah Jane's house. Rani is amazed at the alien gear in Sarah Jane's attic, particularly the alien supercomputer, [[Mr Smith]]. The new team quickly determines the history of the [[Pied Piper]] is traceable to a [[meteorite]] that fell to [[Earth]] in [[1283]]. The extrasolar meteorite originated in the [[Jeggorabax Cluster]], a region of space known to house entities that feed off of emotions. To confirm this, Mr Smith will need a sample of the meteorite. Fortunately, it is on loan from the [[University of Munich]] to the [[Pharos Institute]].


Luke confronts Sarah Jane about her fear of clowns. Why should his mum, who has seen some of the strangest things in the universe, be frightened of clowns? Sarah Jane explains that she was frightened of a clown marionette owned by her [[Lavinia Smith|Aunt Lavinia]] when she was a child. It was one of the few times she missed having parents she could call on for comfort.
Luke confronts Sarah Jane about her fear of clowns, confused how she could be after having seen some of the strangest things in the universe. Sarah Jane explains that she was frightened of a clown marionette owned by her [[Lavinia Smith|Aunt Lavinia]] when she was a child. It was one of the few times she missed having parents she could call on for comfort.


Sarah Jane visits the Pharos Institute and borrows a piece of meteorite to give to Mr Smith. Whilst she is there, Spellman appears and tells Sarah Jane that families will perish at the deaths of a nation of children.
Sarah Jane visits the Pharos Institute and borrows a piece of meteorite to give to Mr Smith. Whilst she is there, Spellman appears and tells Sarah Jane that families will perish at the deaths of a nation of children.
[[File:KidsWithBalloonsTDOTC.jpg|After mysterious red balloons drop in on [[Park Vale Comprehensive School|Park Vale Comprehensive]], kids go on the march.|thumb]]
Meanwhile, at [[Park Vale School]], a host of red balloons fall from the sky. As the children grab them, they seem to lose free will, and mindlessly walk out of school towards Spellman's museum. Sarah Jane remembers when Rani's phone rang earlier, Spellman froze. She gets Mr Smith to ring all the childrens' mobile numbers, breaking the spell, but Spellman kidnaps Luke and imprisons him in the hall of mirrors. Currently, he is sleeping with the other missing children whom Odd Bob has caught and after a while, "they just fade away".
[[File:SJSInHallOfMirrors.jpg|thumb|left|In a hall of mirrors, Sarah confronts Spellman.]]
Sarah Jane demands the children be brought back, but Spellman correctly deduces she is still afraid of him and says he has been responsible for her lifelong fear of clowns. Spellman and she face off, unaware that Rani and Clyde have entered the building.


Clyde faces Spellman unafraid. He begins to tell jokes. The humour loosens the grip that fear has on Sarah Jane, which in turn weakens Spellman, who feeds on fear. Spellman weakens and Sarah Jane forces him back into the fragment of the meteorite, which she puts into an alien box which nothing can escape from.
Meanwhile, at [[Park Vale School]], a host of red balloons fall from the sky. As the children grab them, they seem to lose free will, and mindlessly walk out of school towards Spellman's museum. Sarah Jane remembers when Rani's phone rang earlier, Spellman froze. She gets Mr Smith to ring all the children's mobile numbers, breaking the spell, but Spellman kidnaps Luke and imprisons him in the hall of mirrors. Currently, he is sleeping with the other missing children whom Odd Bob has caught and after a while, "they just fade away".
 
[[File:SJSInHallOfMirrors.jpg|thumb|left|In a hall of mirrors, Sarah Jane confronts Spellman.]]
Sarah Jane demands the children be brought back, but Spellman correctly [[deduce]]s she is still afraid of him and says he has been responsible for her lifelong fear of clowns. Spellman and she face off, unaware that Rani and Clyde have entered the building. Clyde faces Spellman unafraid. He begins to tell jokes. The humour loosens the grip that fear has on Sarah, which in turn weakens Spellman, who feeds on fear. Spellman weakens and Sarah Jane forces him back into the fragment of the meteorite, which she puts into an alien box from which nothing can escape from.


Rani is a little shaken by her odd experiences, but vows to help Sarah Jane, Luke and Clyde in their adventures.
Rani is a little shaken by her odd experiences, but vows to help Sarah Jane, Luke and Clyde in their adventures.
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== References ==
== Worldbuilding ==
=== Individuals ===
=== Individuals ===
* Mr Chandra is attracted to a woman named [[Dawn French]].
* Haresh is attracted to a woman named [[Dawn French]].
* Sarah Jane Smith views a photograph of [[Clara the Clown]].
* [[Albert G Wicks]] is a senator in Springfield.
* [[Albert G Wicks]] is a senator in Springfield.
* [[Keith Hartridge]] is the chief constable of the Ealing police.
* [[Keith Hartridge]] is the chief constable of the Ealing police.
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* [[Francis Lincoln]] and [[Thomas C. Kent]] are journalists.
* [[Francis Lincoln]] and [[Thomas C. Kent]] are journalists.
* [[Edwin Cleaver]] is a major in [[Littlewood]]
* [[Edwin Cleaver]] is a major in [[Littlewood]]
* [[Kevin Warner|Kevin]] and [[Marie Warner]] are the parents of [[Tony Warner]]
* [[Kevin Warner|Kevin]] and [[Marie Warner]] are the parents of [[Tony Warner]].
* [[Jeremy Larsson]] and [[Tricia Chan]] are kidnapped by the [[Pied Piper]] in [[2009]]. [[Louis Arbourne]], [[Melissa Deaver]] are kidnapped in the [[1930s]] or [[1940]]s.
* [[Jeremy Larsson]] and [[Tricia Chan]] are kidnapped by the [[Pied Piper]] in [[2009]]. [[Louis Arbourne]], [[Melissa Deaver]] are kidnapped in the [[1930s]] or [[1940]]s.
* [[Webster (The Day of the Clown)|Miss Webster]] organises the [[National Schools Science Challenge]].
* [[Webster (The Day of the Clown)|Miss Webster]] organises the [[National Schools Science Challenge]].
* Sarah Jane and [[Johnny Depp]] have [[coulrophobia]].


=== Cultural references from the real world ===
=== Cultural references from the real world ===
* [[Steve Wallace]] refers to the [[Pied Piper]] (while in his Odd Bob the Clown guise) as "{{w|Krusty the Clown|Krusty}}", alluding to the recurring clown character from ''[[The Simpsons]]''.
* When Sarah Jane confronts Spellman as he summons the students of Park Vale School and he discredits her power to stop him, she says, "Perhaps I should phone a friend?", a joke regarding the "Phone-A-Friend" lifeline on ''Who Wants to be a Millionaire?''
* Gita mentions [[William Bligh|Captain Bligh]].
* Gita mentions [[William Bligh|Captain Bligh]].
* Odd Bob mentions Never Never Land, alluding to the land where [[Peter Pan]] lived.
* Luke read about [[Johnny Depp]]'s [[coulrophobia]] in ''[[Heat (magazine)|Heat]]''.
* Luke reads about [[Johnny Depp]]'s [[coulrophobia]] in the [[Heat]] magazine.
* Clyde makes a joke about [[Dracula (fictional character)|Dracula]].
* Clyde makes a joke about [[Dracula (fictional character)|Dracula]].


=== Foods and beverages ===
=== Foods and beverages ===
* [[Sarah Jane Smith]] and [[Gita Chandra]] share [[tea]] and biscuits.
* Sarah Jane and Gita share [[tea]] and [[biscuit]]s.


=== Locations ===
=== Locations ===
* The [[Weserbergland meteorite]] falls to Earth in the [[Weserbergland Mountains]] of [[Lower Saxony]]. [[Hamelin]] is located near the mountains.
* The [[Weserbergland meteorite]] falls to Earth in the [[Weserbergland Mountains]] of [[Lower Saxony]]. [[Hamelin]] is located near the mountains.
* [[Spellman's Magical Museum of the Circus]] is a museum dedicated to the history of the circus.
* From [[1932]] and [[1940]], Odd Bob kidnapped children from the [[Millhouse community]] in [[Pennsylvania]], and from [[Nebraska]].
* From [[1932]] and [[1940]] Odd Bob kidnapped children from,  the [[Millhouse community]] in [[Pennsylvania]], [[Littlewood]], [[Nebraska]],
* The [[Jeggorabax Cluster]] is a dark nebula located near the [[Bezeta-Vordak system]].
* The [[Weserbergland meteorite]] was preserved at [[University of Munich|the University of]] [[Munich]].


=== Objects ===
=== Objects ===
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== Story notes ==
== Story notes ==
* Luke claims they have saved the world twelve times.  It's unclear if he's approximating or being literal. Even if one were to throw in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Thirteenth Stone (audio story)|The Thirteenth Stone]]'' and ''[[The Glittering Storm (audio story)|The Glittering Storm]]'' — and even [[TV]]: ''[[Journey's End (TV story)|Journey's End]]'' — that only amounts to ten world-saving operations since Luke met Sarah. So either Luke is approximating, or there are a couple of missing adventures.  
* Gita's name was originally Sundra, Haresh's name was originally Suresh and theirs and Rani's last name was originally going to be Rakhit.<ref>http://www.shannonsullivan.com/doctorwho/sarahjane/2008cd.html</ref>
* Luke claims that he and the Bannerman Road gang have saved the world twelve times, indicating that the gang have had several off-screen adventures given that the previous stories plus ''[[The Thirteenth Stone (audio story)|The Thirteenth Stone]]'', ''[[The Glittering Storm (audio story)|The Glittering Storm]]'' and even ''[[Journey's End (TV story)|Journey's End]]'' only amounts to ten.
* [[Gita]] continues the tradition of misnaming of Sarah Jane that was begun by [[Chrissie Jackson]], albeit to a smaller degree by calling her simply "Sarah" as opposed to Sarah Jane. It is shown that Sarah Jane is irritated by this, despite the Doctor having done the same repeatedly throughout their friendship. This inconsistency is resolved in ''[[The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith (TV story)|The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith]]'', where the [[Tenth Doctor]] clarifies to Rani that Sarah Jane only allows him to call her "Sarah".


=== Ratings ===
=== Ratings ===
* Part 1 - 514,000 viewers
 
* Part 2 - 443,000 viewers
* Part 1 - 0.51 million viewers ([[DWMSE 23]])
* Part 2 - 0.44 million viewers ([[DWMSE 23]])
 
''Part One's BBC One repeat gained 0.6 million with an AI score of 82, whilst Part Two's BBC One repeat gained 0.76 million with an AI score of 81.''


=== Filming locations ===
=== Filming locations ===
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=== Production errors ===
=== Production errors ===
*[[Script editor]] [[Gary Russell]] appears to drop the ball here, allowing [[Clyde Langer]] to claim that the house over the road from [[13 Bannerman Road]] is 36 Bannerman Road. Not only is that illogical according to typical [[English]] numbering, but it contradicts the ''[[Invasion of the Bane (TV story)|Invasion of the Bane]]''-established fact that the Jacksons live at 12 Bannerman Road.
{{SJA discontinuity}}
* [[Clyde Langer]] claims that the house over the road from [[13 Bannerman Road]] is 36 Bannerman Road. This contradicts ''[[Invasion of the Bane (TV story)|Invasion of the Bane]]'', where it was established that Maria and Alan lived at 12 Bannerman Road.
* Rather than have his face painted, Bradley Walsh simply wore a mask when dressed as Odd Bob the Clown. This is obvious during Sarah Jane's final confrontation with him when creases are visible on the back of his neck.


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
{{SJA discontinuity}}
[[File:ClaraClown-on-SJSs-Computer.jpg|thumb|right|[[Clara the Clown]]]]
[[File:ClaraClown-on-SJSs-Computer.jpg|thumb|right|[[Clara the Clown]]]]
* One of the clowns shown on Sarah Jane's laptop is [[Clara the Clown]] from [[TV]]: ''[[The Celestial Toymaker (TV story)|The Celestial Toymaker]]''.
* Sometime after she meets Sarah Jane, [[Rani Chandra]] got trapped in the dark hall of mirrors of [[Spellman's Magical Museum of the Circus|Spellman's Museum of the Circus]]. She went there to investigate the disappearance of the kids, but, with the help of several light sources like the [[sonic lipstick]] and a torch, she got out. ([[WC]]: ''[[Light (video game)|Light]]'')
* Sometime during the events of this episode [[Rani Chandra]] get's trapped in the dark hall of mirrors of the [[Spellman's Magical Museum of the Circus|Spellman’s Museum of the Circus]]. She went there to investigate the disappearance of kids, but with the help of several light sources like the [[sonic lipstick]] and a torch she gets out. ([[WC]]: ''[[Light (video game)|Light]]'')
* Cylde refers to past battles with [[Sontaran]]s, ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Last Sontaran (TV story)}}) the [[Slitheen family]] ([[TV]]: {{cs|Revenge of the Slitheen (TV story)}}) and the [[Gorgon]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Eye of the Gorgon (TV story)|Eye of the Gorgon]]'')
* The [[First Doctor]], [[John and Gillian]] encountered the [[Pied Piper]] in [[COMIC]]: ''[[Challenge of the Piper (comic story)|Challenge of the Piper]]''. They were present for the story told about him near the end of part one, and uncovered him as a practitioner of science, rather than of hypnotic flute playing.
* [[Haresh Chandra]] refers to the "vanished" [[Greg Blakeman]], the previous head teacher, who was actually killed by the Slitheen and used as a skin suit by their leader. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Revenge of the Slitheen (TV story)}})
* The [[Nestene Consciousness]] also used animated mannequins as attack drones. ([[TV]]: ''[[Spearhead from Space (TV story)|Spearhead from Space]]'', ''[[Terror of the Autons (TV story)|Terror of the Autons]]'', ''[[Rose (TV story)|Rose]]'')
* Clyde refers to [[Kudlak]] when mentioning how aliens have been involved with kidnapping children. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Warriors of Kudlak (TV story)}})
* On Sarah Jane's staircase there are on the way several framed newspaper cuttings, appearing to have been written by Sarah Jane. One of them is about events at [[Deffry Vale High School]], regarding the "explosive results" involving it being blown up. ([[TV]]: ''[[School Reunion (TV story)|School Reunion]]'')
* The [[First Doctor]], [[John Who|John]] and [[Gillian Who|Gillian]] encountered the [[Pied Piper]] in [[1284]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Challenge of the Piper (comic story)|Challenge of the Piper]]'')
* [[Haresh Chandra|Mr Chandra]] refers to the "mysteriously vanished" [[Greg Blakeman]], the previous head teacher, who was actually killed by the Slitheen and used as a skin suit by their leader. ([[TV]]: ''[[Revenge of the Slitheen (TV story)|Revenge of the Slitheen]]'')  
* While missing Maria, Luke looks at the photo Alan took of them and the Bannerman Road gang when they went skateboarding. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Whatever Happened to Sarah Jane? (TV story)}})
* Clyde refers to the [[Uvodni]] of [[Kudlak]], who were also involved with kidnapping children. ([[TV]]: ''[[Warriors of Kudlak (TV story)|Warriors of Kudlak]]'')
* On Sarah Jane's staircase there are several framed newspaper cuttings, appearing to have been written by her. One of them is about events at [[Deffry Vale High School]], regarding the "explosive results" involving it being blown up. ([[TV]]: {{cs|School Reunion (TV story)}})
* In part one, Rani convinces Luke to go to [[Spellman's Magical Museum of the Circus]] by spouting a core ''Doctor Who'' value: "The supernatural is only science we don't know yet". This reveals her to both the audience and Luke as someone who shares the worldview that Sarah Jane got by travelling with the Doctor.
* One of the clowns shown on Sarah Jane's laptop is [[Clara the Clown]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Celestial Toymaker (TV story)}})
* [[Celeste Rivers|Professor Rivers]] reappears, along with the [[Pharos Institute]], thanking Sarah Jane for helping them with the incident involving [[Nathan Goss]], who was actually [[Korst Gogg Thek Lutiven-Day Slitheen]] in disguise. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Lost Boy (TV story)|The Lost Boy]]'')
* Sarah Jane tells Luke about her parents, and how they had died when she was a baby. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Temptation of Sarah Jane Smith (TV story)}})
* [[Celeste Rivers|Professor Rivers]] thanks Sarah Jane for helping the [[Pharos Institute]] with the incident involving [[Nathan Goss]], who was actually [[Korst Gogg Thek Lutiven-Day Slitheen]] in disguise. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Lost Boy (TV story)}})
* With Mr Smith, Rani will later make a record of her encounter with Odd Bob for the [[Alien Files]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[SJAF 2]]'')


== Home video releases ==
== Home video releases ==
This story, along with the rest of series 2, was released on DVD on the 9th November 2009 (UK) and 10th November 2009 (North America).
* This story, along with the rest of series 2, was released on [[DVD]] on the 9th November 2009 (UK) and 10th November 2009 (North [[America]]).
* It was also released in the Complete Collection Series 1-5 boxset release (Region 2 release: 6th February 2012).
 
== Footnotes ==
{{Reflist}}
 
== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{dwrefguide|sja_08.htm|{{StoryTitle}}}}
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* {{briefhistory|sarahjane/2008cd.html|{{StoryTitle}}}}
* {{briefhistory|sarahjane/2008cd.html|{{StoryTitle}}}}
* {{locguide|dayoftheclown|{{StoryTitle}}}}
* {{locguide|dayoftheclown|{{StoryTitle}}}}
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Latest revision as of 18:03, 31 March 2024

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The Day of the Clown was the second serial of series 2 of The Sarah Jane Adventures. It was written by Phil Ford and directed by Michael Kerrigan. It introduced Rani, Gita and Haresh Chandra as the new occupants of 36 Bannerman Road. Also noteworthy was the guest appearance of Bradley Walsh as the episode's villain, Elijah Spellman, almost ten years before his casting as Graham O'Brien, a companion of the Thirteenth Doctor.

Synopsis[[edit] | [edit source]]

Rani Chandra is the new girl on Bannerman Road. She is haunted by a sinister clown. Does it have anything to do with local children who have gone missing? When Clyde's friend Dave disappears, the trail leads to a strange circus museum and the legend of the Pied Piper.

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

Part 1[[edit] | [edit source]]

A group of boys are playing football when the ball goes out of the pitch. A child goes over to fetch the ball but sees a clown. A few seconds later, the child is scared by the clown and disappears, never to be seen again.

A new family is moving into number 36 Bannerman Road, formerly occupied by Alan and Maria Jackson. Luke Smith still misses Maria, even though she's keeping in touch by e-mail. His mum Sarah Jane sympathises and reminds him Maria will visit England soon. She'll be at her mother's wedding. Yet, as Luke notes, it's not the same.

There's a new girl at Park Vale School: clever and inquisitive Rani, who wants to be a journalist. Clyde is smitten — even forgetting his odd sightings of clowns, always just out of the corner of his eye — until he notices there's also a new head at the school: humourless Mr Chandra. He is determined to improve the students' scores and put an end to the recent rash of child disappearances. He is not impressed by Clyde, the class clown. Clyde doesn't make it to lunch before receiving a summons to the new head's office.

While he is waiting by Mr Chandra's office, Clyde has another clown sighting. He tries to laugh it off, but he is shaken when his friend Dave ducks into a small art closet for supplies and doesn't come out. The art closet is empty; Dave has vanished into thin air.

Sarah Jane brings the new family tea and biscuits as a welcoming gift, but when Gita Chandra's back is turned, she performs a scan to check that no alien "residue" remains from the Jacksons' previous inhabitancy, because of Clyde's earlier remark. Only Gita Chandra is there — her husband and daughter are at school, she explains — so the two women share tea. Gita describes her family. She is thrilled to learn that Sarah Jane is an investigative journalist because her daughter Rani wants to become one herself.

Luke makes a new friend — in Maria's old bedroom

Clyde and Luke are walking home from school when Clyde sees another clown. Though Luke doesn't see anything, the boys give chase. They encounter only Rani, who has also been seeing clowns. Rani wonders if there is an extraordinary or supernatural explanation of the disappearances. The three are deep in discussion when they reach Bannerman Road and Luke and Clyde find out that Rani's dad is Mr Chandra. Mr Chandra is not pleased to see his daughter with Clyde, whom he has pegged as a troublemaker. On the other hand, he is delighted she has made friends with Luke, one of Park Vale's most gifted students.

Luke helps Rani unpack. In her room, they continue their talk of the missing children. The mention of clowns jogs Rani's memory: she remembers taking a ticket to see a circus museum. Rani decides to investigate. Luke feels he has no choice but to follow.

Clyde and Sarah Jane have independently discovered the same thing. All the missing children received tickets to the same circus museum, and only children with tickets were seeing the clowns. They elect to visit the clown museum as well.

Clyde gets accused of having a sense of humour inappropriate to the situation

Spellman's Magical Museum of the Circus is run by the strange Elijah Spellman. He shows them around and leads them to a room filled with clown mannequins. Clyde spots a picture on the wall: an old watercolour painting of a man wearing red, blue and yellow — just like the mysterious ghost clowns he'd been seeing. Sarah Jane explains that the figure depicted is the Pied Piper, a legendary figure of European folklore who stole the children from Hamelin.

Elijah Spellman agrees. He reveals that he is the Pied Piper and the mysterious clown. He has come for more children. Nor will he tolerate discovery — with a word, he vanishes, and the clown mannequins come to life and threaten Sarah and Clyde.

They run to the entrance, where they meet Luke and Rani and find that while Sarah Jane's sonic lipstick is effective against the clown mannequins, the Pied Piper has trapped them in the building...

Part 2[[edit] | [edit source]]

Sarah Jane gives Rani a choice.

Spellman frightens Sarah Jane with insights on her childhood fear of clowns, whilst Clyde, Luke and Rani try to escape from the museum. Luke and Clyde get outside whilst Sarah remains terrified inside the circus museum. Rani's phone rings and she is confronted by a dilemma as "Mum" appears on the screen. While the phone rings, Spellman freezes. After a few seconds, Rani declines the call and runs out of the circus. Sarah Jane follows and the gang get inside Sarah Jane's car to drive back to Bannerman Road. Once there, Sarah Jane gives Rani a choice: live across the road and not interfere with her life, or go with Sarah and a whole world of adventure. Rani chooses to join Sarah Jane and says she will explain to her mum that she is completing some work experience with her.

Sarah Jane, Rani, Luke and Clyde go into Sarah Jane's house. Rani is amazed at the alien gear in Sarah Jane's attic, particularly the alien supercomputer, Mr Smith. The new team quickly determines the history of the Pied Piper is traceable to a meteorite that fell to Earth in 1283. The extrasolar meteorite originated in the Jeggorabax Cluster, a region of space known to house entities that feed off of emotions. To confirm this, Mr Smith will need a sample of the meteorite. Fortunately, it is on loan from the University of Munich to the Pharos Institute.

Luke confronts Sarah Jane about her fear of clowns, confused how she could be after having seen some of the strangest things in the universe. Sarah Jane explains that she was frightened of a clown marionette owned by her Aunt Lavinia when she was a child. It was one of the few times she missed having parents she could call on for comfort.

Sarah Jane visits the Pharos Institute and borrows a piece of meteorite to give to Mr Smith. Whilst she is there, Spellman appears and tells Sarah Jane that families will perish at the deaths of a nation of children.

Meanwhile, at Park Vale School, a host of red balloons fall from the sky. As the children grab them, they seem to lose free will, and mindlessly walk out of school towards Spellman's museum. Sarah Jane remembers when Rani's phone rang earlier, Spellman froze. She gets Mr Smith to ring all the children's mobile numbers, breaking the spell, but Spellman kidnaps Luke and imprisons him in the hall of mirrors. Currently, he is sleeping with the other missing children whom Odd Bob has caught and after a while, "they just fade away".

In a hall of mirrors, Sarah Jane confronts Spellman.

Sarah Jane demands the children be brought back, but Spellman correctly deduces she is still afraid of him and says he has been responsible for her lifelong fear of clowns. Spellman and she face off, unaware that Rani and Clyde have entered the building. Clyde faces Spellman unafraid. He begins to tell jokes. The humour loosens the grip that fear has on Sarah, which in turn weakens Spellman, who feeds on fear. Spellman weakens and Sarah Jane forces him back into the fragment of the meteorite, which she puts into an alien box from which nothing can escape from.

Rani is a little shaken by her odd experiences, but vows to help Sarah Jane, Luke and Clyde in their adventures.

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

Movement

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]]

Cultural references from the real world[[edit] | [edit source]]

Foods and beverages[[edit] | [edit source]]

Locations[[edit] | [edit source]]

Objects[[edit] | [edit source]]

Other[[edit] | [edit source]]

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

  • Gita's name was originally Sundra, Haresh's name was originally Suresh and theirs and Rani's last name was originally going to be Rakhit.[1]
  • Luke claims that he and the Bannerman Road gang have saved the world twelve times, indicating that the gang have had several off-screen adventures given that the previous stories plus The Thirteenth Stone, The Glittering Storm and even Journey's End only amounts to ten.
  • Gita continues the tradition of misnaming of Sarah Jane that was begun by Chrissie Jackson, albeit to a smaller degree by calling her simply "Sarah" as opposed to Sarah Jane. It is shown that Sarah Jane is irritated by this, despite the Doctor having done the same repeatedly throughout their friendship. This inconsistency is resolved in The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith, where the Tenth Doctor clarifies to Rani that Sarah Jane only allows him to call her "Sarah".

Ratings[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Part 1 - 0.51 million viewers (DWMSE 23)
  • Part 2 - 0.44 million viewers (DWMSE 23)

Part One's BBC One repeat gained 0.6 million with an AI score of 82, whilst Part Two's BBC One repeat gained 0.76 million with an AI score of 81.

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

to be added

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.
  • Clyde Langer claims that the house over the road from 13 Bannerman Road is 36 Bannerman Road. This contradicts Invasion of the Bane, where it was established that Maria and Alan lived at 12 Bannerman Road.
  • Rather than have his face painted, Bradley Walsh simply wore a mask when dressed as Odd Bob the Clown. This is obvious during Sarah Jane's final confrontation with him when creases are visible on the back of his neck.

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

Clara the Clown

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

  • This story, along with the rest of series 2, was released on DVD on the 9th November 2009 (UK) and 10th November 2009 (North America).
  • It was also released in the Complete Collection Series 1-5 boxset release (Region 2 release: 6th February 2012).

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ http://www.shannonsullivan.com/doctorwho/sarahjane/2008cd.html

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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