Lionel Carson was an old friend of Sarah Jane Smith.
Biography
He was Sarah Jane's editor in the 1970s and harboured unrequited romantic feelings for her.
In 2011, Sarah Jane met Lionel at the demonstration of the SerfBoard, where he expressed a dislike for modern computers, stating "nothing wrong with a typewriter says I". After the demo finished he suddenly developed a liking for the SerfBoard, due to the hologram of Joseph Serf hypnotising him.
Lionel was also present at the launch for the SerfBoard, and met Clyde Langer and Rani Chandra, who were disguised as editors of a magazine. When Luke Smith and Sky Smith modified the hologram so it hypnotised the audience to destroy Harrison's pen, Lionel stepped forward and smashed the pen underfoot, freeing the Skullions. (SJA: The Man Who Never Was)