Forum:Sarah Jane's Ontario license plate?

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I just finished watching one of the first episodes of SJA, and noticed that in the background she has an Ontario Trailer license plate nailed to one of the beams in the attic... This seems completely random to me, so I was wondering if anybody knew of any particular reason (in-universe or out) why that was there?

As far as I know, there's absolutely no in-universe connection between SJS and Ontario. However, it could be a sly OOU reference to the fact that the CBC helped fund the first three years of DW and the first series of Torchwood. As to why Ontario and not any other province, I can only assume becase TVOntario was a huge supporter of the 1963 version of the programme, and was one of the longest broadcasters of Doctor Who in North America. Indeed, they are the original source of the so-caled "Howard Da Silva edits" for the SJS/Baker seasons that became so much a part of the North American viewing experience that they are a standard special feature on Region 1 DVDs of the Baker/SJS serials. Then there's also the point that Sydney Newman was born in Toronto, and therefore an Ontario native.

But for any of this to be relevant, one would have to believe that production designer Ed Thomas and his crew were actually trying to send a specific signal — and therefore specifically created or bought an Ontario plate. I have to say I rather doubt it. It's probably just what they could find locally that would help to suggest SJS' cosmopolitan, hobo-esque life. CzechOut ☎ | ✍ 02:42, June 22, 2010 (UTC)

Thanks, sounds like some good logic there. I just noticed it in the background at the beginning and initially tuned it out as insignificant (because I'm in Ontario) and then suddenly did a doubletake when I realized that the show isn't from Ontario (set in or filmed in) and so it was actually quite out of place. Especially because it's not even a car license plate, but one from a trailer. Anyway, any of your explanations could make sense, though I guess none of them has ever been confirmed so for the moment it remains simply an odd anomoly (and certainly not the only odd thing you'll see on SJA). --Maelwys 13:45, June 23, 2010 (UTC)