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{{real world}}
{{real world}}
'''''The Sarah Jane Adventures''''' is a spin-off series, produced by [[BBC Wales]] for [[CBBC]], starring [[Elisabeth Sladen]] and created by [[Russell T Davies]]. The programme focuses on the adventures of investigative journalist [[Sarah Jane Smith]]. The series debuted on [[BBC One]] with a 60-minute special on [[1st January]] [[2007]]. A full series of ten 30-minute episodes followed later in the year. <ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2006/09_september/14/sarah.shtml BBC Press Releases - Russell T Davies creates new  series for CBBC, starring Doctor Who's Sarah Jane Smith (accessed 11th February 2009)]</ref> A second season aired in the fall of 2008, followed by a third in late 2009. A mini-episode for charity also aired in early 2009. In January 2010 the BBC announced it was looking for a new producer for the series, with season 4 expected to go into production in March 2010.<ref>[http://gallifreynewsbase.blogspot.com/2010/01/sarah-jane-adventures-series-4.html Doctor Who News Page - Series 4 Confirmed], accessed 18 January 2010.</ref>
'''''The Sarah Jane Adventures''''' is a spin-off series, produced by [[BBC Wales]] for [[CBBC]], starring [[Elisabeth Sladen]] and created by [[Russell T Davies]]. The programme focuses on the adventures of investigative journalist [[Sarah Jane Smith]]. The series debuted on [[BBC One]] with a 60-minute special on [[1st January]] [[2007]]. A full series of ten 30-minute episodes followed later in the year. <ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2006/09_september/14/sarah.shtml BBC Press Releases - Russell T Davies creates new  series for CBBC, starring Doctor Who's Sarah Jane Smith (accessed 11th February 2009)]</ref> A second season aired in the fall of 2008, followed by a third in late 2009. A mini-episode for charity also aired in early 2009. In January 2010 the BBC announced it was looking for a new producer for the series, with season 4 expected to go into production in March 2010.<ref>[http://gallifreynewsbase.blogspot.com/2010/01/sarah-jane-adventures-series-4.html Doctor Who News Page - Series 4 Confirmed], accessed 18 January 2010.</ref>


==Premise==
==Premise==


[[Image:Sarah Jane Adventures Logo.jpg|right|200px]]
[[Image:Sarah Jane Adventures Logo.jpg|right|200px]]
The series is set in present-day [[London|West London]] and features the adventures of Sarah Jane and adopted son [[Luke Smith|Luke ]](Grown by the [[Bane]] in [[Invasion of the Bane|SJA: Invasion of the Bane]]), with friends [[Maria Jackson]] (Series One), [[Clyde Langer]], and [[Rani Chandra]] (Series Two and Three), assisted by the super-computer [[Mr. Smith]] (which is also a [[Xylok]]), as well as [[K-9]] (a robot dog given to her by [[The Doctor|the Doctor]]).
The series is set in present-day [[London|West London]] and features the adventures of Sarah Jane and adopted son [[Luke Smith|Luke ]](Grown by the [[Bane]] in [[Invasion of the Bane|SJA: Invasion of the Bane]]), with friends [[Maria Jackson]] (Series One), [[Clyde Langer]], and [[Rani Chandra]] (Series Two and Three), assisted by the super-computer [[Mr. Smith]] (which is also a [[Xylok]]), as well as [[K-9 Mark IV|K-9]] (a robot dog given to her by [[The Doctor|the Doctor]]).


==Background==
==Background==
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The character of Sarah Jane, played by Sladen, appeared in ''Doctor Who'' from [[1973]] to [[1976]], alongside [[Jon Pertwee]] as the [[Third Doctor]], and later [[Tom Baker]] as the [[Fourth Doctor]]. A pilot for another ''Doctor Who'' spin-off series, ''[[K-9 and Company]]'', made in [[1981]], featured Sarah Jane and the robot dog [[K-9]]; however, the option to make a series was not picked up. Sarah Jane and K-9 returned to ''Doctor Who'' in various media many times over the years, most notably in the 20th anniversary special [[DW]]: ''[[The Five Doctors]]'' (1983) and in the 2006 episode [[DW]]: ''[[School Reunion]]'' -- both of which acknowledged the existence of ''K-9 and Company'' within the canon of the Whoniverse by showing Sarah Jane in possession of K-9 as established in the 1981 pilot episode. Reports of a spin-off series first appeared around the time of [[DW]]: ''[[School Reunion]]'' original airing, with the series having the working title of ''Sarah Jane Investigates''.
The character of Sarah Jane, played by Sladen, appeared in ''Doctor Who'' from [[1973]] to [[1976]], alongside [[Jon Pertwee]] as the [[Third Doctor]], and later [[Tom Baker]] as the [[Fourth Doctor]]. A pilot for another ''Doctor Who'' spin-off series, ''[[K-9 and Company]]'', made in [[1981]], featured Sarah Jane and the robot dog [[K-9]]; however, the option to make a series was not picked up. Sarah Jane and K-9 returned to ''Doctor Who'' in various media many times over the years, most notably in the 20th anniversary special [[DW]]: ''[[The Five Doctors]]'' (1983) and in the 2006 episode [[DW]]: ''[[School Reunion]]'' -- both of which acknowledged the existence of ''K-9 and Company'' within the canon of the Whoniverse by showing Sarah Jane in possession of K-9 as established in the 1981 pilot episode. Reports of a spin-off series first appeared around the time of [[DW]]: ''[[School Reunion]]'' original airing, with the series having the working title of ''Sarah Jane Investigates''.


K-9 now [[K-9 Mark IV]], appeared only twice in the first season: during the pilot episode, and again briefly during the season finale, ''[[The Lost Boy]]'' (as well as a brief appearance in [[DW]]: ''[[Journey's End]]''). The decision not to feature K-9 was due to the concurrent development of the television series ''[[K-9 (TV series)|K-9]]'', which is not associated with the BBC and will not feature any ''Doctor Who'' connections beyond K-9 himself. However it has been announced that, despite the competing spinoff scheduled to debut in 2009, K-9 will appear in the upcoming third season.
K-9 now [[K-9 Mark IV]], appeared only twice in the first season: during the pilot episode, and again briefly during the season finale, ''[[The Lost Boy]]'' (as well as a brief appearance in [[DW]]: ''[[Journey's End]]''). The decision not to feature K-9 was due to the concurrent development of the television series ''[[K-9 (TV series)|K-9]]'', which is not associated with the BBC and will not feature any ''Doctor Who'' connections beyond K-9 himself. However it has been announced that, despite the competing spinoff scheduled to debut in 2009, K-9 will appear in the upcoming third season.


In February 2009 the BBC announced that a mini-episode of ''The Sarah Jane Adventures'' would air on 13 March 2009 as part of [[Comic Relief]]'s Red Nose Day appeal. This makes SJA the first of the franchise spin-offs to spawn a mini-episode; to date there have been three produced for ''Doctor Who'' itself.
In February 2009 the BBC announced that a mini-episode of ''The Sarah Jane Adventures'' would air on 13 March 2009 as part of [[Comic Relief]]'s Red Nose Day appeal. This makes SJA the first of the franchise spin-offs to spawn a mini-episode; to date there have been three produced for ''Doctor Who'' itself.
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In a speech to members of BAFTA in March 2009, Davies revealed that production of Series 3 had nearly been cancelled on three occasions due to budget cuts to children's programming at the BBC.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7952655.stm]
In a speech to members of BAFTA in March 2009, Davies revealed that production of Series 3 had nearly been cancelled on three occasions due to budget cuts to children's programming at the BBC.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7952655.stm]


Series 3 debuted on 15 October 2009[http://gallifreynewsbase.blogspot.com/2009/09/sarah-jane-in-october.html], and aired over a period of six weeks (due to the BBC deciding to air two episodes a week). The series received a major ratings boost with a guest appearance by [[David Tennant]] as the Doctor, and maintained its momentum throughout the season, consistently scoring higher-than-average viewership for the time period and also scoring high Appreciation Index numbers.  
Series 3 debuted on 15 October 2009[http://gallifreynewsbase.blogspot.com/2009/09/sarah-jane-in-october.html], and aired over a period of six weeks (due to the BBC deciding to air two episodes a week). The series received a major ratings boost with a guest appearance by [[David Tennant]] as the Doctor, and maintained its momentum throughout the season, consistently scoring higher-than-average viewership for the time period and also scoring high Appreciation Index numbers.


According to ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'' #412, a fourth season is in pre-production as of August 2009. In January 2010 the BBC all but confirmed production of a fourth season by announcing it was seeking a new producer for the series for a March 2010 production start date.<ref>[http://gallifreynewsbase.blogspot.com/2010/01/sarah-jane-adventures-series-4.html Doctor Who News Page - Series 4 Confirmed], accessed 18 January 2010.</ref> Whether this is an indication that Russell T. Davies is no longer involved has yet to be confirmed as of 18 January. Other than this announcement the BBC has, so far, not released any information about the proposed new season, though it is assumed that [[Elisabeth Sladen]], at least, will be returning.
According to ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'' #412, a fourth season is in pre-production as of August 2009. In January 2010 the BBC all but confirmed production of a fourth season by announcing it was seeking a new producer for the series for a March 2010 production start date.<ref>[http://gallifreynewsbase.blogspot.com/2010/01/sarah-jane-adventures-series-4.html Doctor Who News Page - Series 4 Confirmed], accessed 18 January 2010.</ref> Whether this is an indication that Russell T. Davies is no longer involved has yet to be confirmed as of 18 January. Other than this announcement the BBC has, so far, not released any information about the proposed new season, though it is assumed that [[Elisabeth Sladen]], at least, will be returning.
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* [[Clyde Langer]] - [[Daniel Anthony]]
* [[Clyde Langer]] - [[Daniel Anthony]]
* [[Rani Chandra]] - [[Anjli Mohindra]]
* [[Rani Chandra]] - [[Anjli Mohindra]]
* [[Mr Smith]] - [[Alexander Armstrong]]
* [[Mr Smith|Mr. Smith]] - [[Alexander Armstrong]]


===Regular Cast===
===Regular Cast===
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===[[Series 3 (The Sarah Jane Adventures)|Series 4]] - 2010===
===[[Series 3 (The Sarah Jane Adventures)|Series 4]] - 2010===
{{main|Series 4 (The Sarah Jane Adventures)}}
{{main|Series 4 (The Sarah Jane Adventures)}}
===[[Series 5 (The Sarah Jane Adventures)|Series 5]] - 2011===
{{main
|Series 5 (The Sarah Jane Adventures)
}}


==Continuity==
==Continuity==
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*[[Revenge of the Slitheen (novelisation) |Revenge of the Slitheen]]
*[[Revenge of the Slitheen (novelisation) |Revenge of the Slitheen]]
*[[Eye of the Gorgon (novelisation) |Eye of the Gorgon]]
*[[Eye of the Gorgon (novelisation) |Eye of the Gorgon]]
*[[Warriors of Kudlak (novelisation) |Warriors of Kudlak]]  
*[[Warriors of Kudlak (novelisation) |Warriors of Kudlak]]
*[[Whatever Happened to Sarah Jane? (novelisation) |Whatever happened to Sarah Jane?]]
*[[Whatever Happened to Sarah Jane? (novelisation) |Whatever happened to Sarah Jane?]]
*[[The Lost Boy (novelisation) |The Lost Boy]]
*[[The Lost Boy (novelisation) |The Lost Boy]]


'''[[Series 2 (The Sarah Jane Adventures) |Series 2]]'''<br>
'''[[Series 2 (The Sarah Jane Adventures) |Series 2]]'''<br />
''Only Two of the Six televison stories were turned into novels''
''Only Two of the Six televison stories were turned into novels''
*[[The Last Sontaran (novelisation) |The Last Sontaran]]
*[[The Last Sontaran (novelisation) |The Last Sontaran]]
*[[The Day of the Clown (novelisation) |The Day of the Clown]]
*[[The Day of the Clown (novelisation) |The Day of the Clown]]


'''[[Series 3 (The Sarah Jane Adventures) |Series 3]]'''<br>
'''[[Series 3 (The Sarah Jane Adventures) |Series 3]]'''<br />
''Only One of the six television stories was turned into a novel''
''Only One of the six television stories was turned into a novel''
*[[The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith (novelisation) |The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith]]
*[[The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith (novelisation) |The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith]]
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*[[The Thirteenth Stone]] by [[Justin Richards]]
*[[The Thirteenth Stone]] by [[Justin Richards]]
'''[[2008]]'''
'''[[2008]]'''
*[[The Time Capsule]] by [[Peter Anghelides]]  
*[[The Time Capsule]] by [[Peter Anghelides]]
*[[The Ghost House]] by [[Stephen Cole]]  
*[[The Ghost House]] by [[Stephen Cole]]
'''[[2009]]'''
'''[[2009]]'''
*[[The White Wolf]] by [[Gary Russell]]  
*[[The White Wolf]] by [[Gary Russell]]
*[[The Shadow People]] by [[Scott Handcock]]
*[[The Shadow People]] by [[Scott Handcock]]
<br>
<br />
All stories were are by [[Elisabeth Sladen]]
All stories were are by [[Elisabeth Sladen]]


== DVD Release ==
== DVD Release ==
===[[Series 1 (The Sarah Jane Adventures) | Series 1]]===
===[[Series 1 (The Sarah Jane Adventures) | Series 1]]===
Unusually, the first series of ''Sarah Jane Adventures'' saw release to DVD in Region 1 (North America) a full month prior to the announced release in the UK. ''The Sarah Jane Adventures: The Complete First Season'' was released in Region 1 on 7 October 2008; Region 2 (UK) was released on the 10th November 2008. <br>
Unusually, the first series of ''Sarah Jane Adventures'' saw release to DVD in Region 1 (North America) a full month prior to the announced release in the UK. ''The Sarah Jane Adventures: The Complete First Season'' was released in Region 1 on 7 October 2008; Region 2 (UK) was released on the 10th November 2008.<br />
Special features in the four-disc set include:
Special features in the four-disc set include:
* Outtakes (accessible after completing a quiz)
* Outtakes (accessible after completing a quiz)

Revision as of 11:07, 7 March 2010

RealWorld.png

The Sarah Jane Adventures is a spin-off series, produced by BBC Wales for CBBC, starring Elisabeth Sladen and created by Russell T Davies. The programme focuses on the adventures of investigative journalist Sarah Jane Smith. The series debuted on BBC One with a 60-minute special on 1st January 2007. A full series of ten 30-minute episodes followed later in the year. [1] A second season aired in the fall of 2008, followed by a third in late 2009. A mini-episode for charity also aired in early 2009. In January 2010 the BBC announced it was looking for a new producer for the series, with season 4 expected to go into production in March 2010.[2]

Premise

Sarah Jane Adventures Logo.jpg

The series is set in present-day West London and features the adventures of Sarah Jane and adopted son Luke (Grown by the Bane in SJA: Invasion of the Bane), with friends Maria Jackson (Series One), Clyde Langer, and Rani Chandra (Series Two and Three), assisted by the super-computer Mr. Smith (which is also a Xylok), as well as K-9 (a robot dog given to her by the Doctor).

Background

Production Team

The executive producers for The Sarah Jane Adventures are Davies and Julie Gardner. Susie Liggat produced Invasion of the Bane, but Matthew Bouch produced the series; Phil Collinson held the title of Series Producer. Gareth Roberts, writing in Doctor Who Magazine, said, "We're all determined that this will be a big, full-blooded drama; that nobody should ever think of it as 'just' a children's programme."

Development

In 2006, Children's BBC expressed an interest in producing a Doctor Who spin-off. Their initial idea was "a drama based on the idea of a young Doctor Who", but Russell T. Davies vetoed this. "Somehow, the idea of a fourteen-year-old Doctor, on Gallifrey inventing sonic screwdrivers, takes away from the mystery and intrigue of who he is and where he came from," said Davies. He suggested instead a series based on the Doctor's former companion Sarah Jane Smith.

The character of Sarah Jane, played by Sladen, appeared in Doctor Who from 1973 to 1976, alongside Jon Pertwee as the Third Doctor, and later Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor. A pilot for another Doctor Who spin-off series, K-9 and Company, made in 1981, featured Sarah Jane and the robot dog K-9; however, the option to make a series was not picked up. Sarah Jane and K-9 returned to Doctor Who in various media many times over the years, most notably in the 20th anniversary special DW: The Five Doctors (1983) and in the 2006 episode DW: School Reunion -- both of which acknowledged the existence of K-9 and Company within the canon of the Whoniverse by showing Sarah Jane in possession of K-9 as established in the 1981 pilot episode. Reports of a spin-off series first appeared around the time of DW: School Reunion original airing, with the series having the working title of Sarah Jane Investigates.

K-9 now K-9 Mark IV, appeared only twice in the first season: during the pilot episode, and again briefly during the season finale, The Lost Boy (as well as a brief appearance in DW: Journey's End). The decision not to feature K-9 was due to the concurrent development of the television series K-9, which is not associated with the BBC and will not feature any Doctor Who connections beyond K-9 himself. However it has been announced that, despite the competing spinoff scheduled to debut in 2009, K-9 will appear in the upcoming third season.

In February 2009 the BBC announced that a mini-episode of The Sarah Jane Adventures would air on 13 March 2009 as part of Comic Relief's Red Nose Day appeal. This makes SJA the first of the franchise spin-offs to spawn a mini-episode; to date there have been three produced for Doctor Who itself.

In a speech to members of BAFTA in March 2009, Davies revealed that production of Series 3 had nearly been cancelled on three occasions due to budget cuts to children's programming at the BBC.[1]

Series 3 debuted on 15 October 2009[2], and aired over a period of six weeks (due to the BBC deciding to air two episodes a week). The series received a major ratings boost with a guest appearance by David Tennant as the Doctor, and maintained its momentum throughout the season, consistently scoring higher-than-average viewership for the time period and also scoring high Appreciation Index numbers.

According to Doctor Who Magazine #412, a fourth season is in pre-production as of August 2009. In January 2010 the BBC all but confirmed production of a fourth season by announcing it was seeking a new producer for the series for a March 2010 production start date.[3] Whether this is an indication that Russell T. Davies is no longer involved has yet to be confirmed as of 18 January. Other than this announcement the BBC has, so far, not released any information about the proposed new season, though it is assumed that Elisabeth Sladen, at least, will be returning.

Cast

Main Cast

Regular Cast

Former Cast

Television Stories

Specials

Series 1 - 2007

Main article: Series 1 (The Sarah Jane Adventures)

Series 2 - 2008

Main article: Series 2 (The Sarah Jane Adventures)

Series 3 - 2009

Main article: Series 3 (The Sarah Jane Adventures)

Series 4 - 2010

Main article: Series 4 (The Sarah Jane Adventures)

Series 5 - 2011

Main article: [[Series 5 (The Sarah Jane Adventures)

|Series 5 (The Sarah Jane Adventures) ]]

Continuity

Connections with Doctor Who

Crossover Monsters

From Doctor Who

From Torchwood

Novelisations

Series 1

Series 2
Only Two of the Six televison stories were turned into novels

Series 3
Only One of the six television stories was turned into a novel

Audiobooks

2007

2008

2009


All stories were are by Elisabeth Sladen

DVD Release

Series 1

Unusually, the first series of Sarah Jane Adventures saw release to DVD in Region 1 (North America) a full month prior to the announced release in the UK. The Sarah Jane Adventures: The Complete First Season was released in Region 1 on 7 October 2008; Region 2 (UK) was released on the 10th November 2008.
Special features in the four-disc set include:

Series 2

BBC Video released Series 2 to DVD in the UK on 9th November 2009, followed by a Region 1/North American release on 10th November. Extra features include:

  • Cast and crew interviews
  • Season synopses
  • Investigating Tools – a gadget glossary
  • Another quiz with a "special footage prize
  • Character and alien profiles
  • Photo gallery
  • Audio clips
  • UK TV spots
  • Trailers

The North American DVD release of Series 2 occurred without it having first been broadcast in either Canada or the US; this is the first time a complete season of a Doctor Who-franchise programme has been made available on DVD without prior broadcast.

Series 3

DVD release of Series 3 is expected in 2010, but as of early December 2009 BBC Video has yet to announce a release. Precedent has established a gap of up to a year between broadcast and release, but whether this holds true for Series 3 remains to be seen.

International Broadcasts

Series 1 aired on the Sci Fi Channel in the US and BBC Kids in Canada in 2007. In January 2010, Series 2 began airing on BBC Kids. No American broadcast of Series 2 has yet occurred, and there has been no announcement regarding broadcast of Series 3 in North America.

External Links

Footnotes

Template:Wikipedia