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Friday January 25, 2008

Sarah Jane – The Return. UPDATED!

SFX was honoured to be granted an interview with Lis Sladen (give the woman a Damehood for services to SF!) for the next SFX Special, out mid March. You’ll have to wait for the full interview, but we know you’re desperate for news on Doctor Who season four. Well, as professional as ever, Lis was tight-lipped about the exact nature of her return in the show’s climactic story, but offered these titbits:

“You must know how many people are in it," she says, referring to the number of special guests from the Doctor’s (recent) past who, it's been confirmed, will be making reappearances alongside Sarah Jane*. "So I don't think I'll be at the centre of things. I would think it would be apportioned off, a bit here a bit there, and the major people will be the Doctor and Donna. That is my take on it. We are coming back to reinforce an already established team. So I don’t think I’ll be leading the group, if you know what I mean! I think there will be a distinct kind of sectioning and apportioning off. Because you can only do so much with so many people. “

After Lis films her Doctor Who return in February, she'll be back filming a second season of The Sarah Jane Adventures.

“Yes, we’re doing 24 episodes," she confirms. "I think we start end of March.“

UPDATED! Although this has yet to be confirmed, we hear on the grapevine that the next two series of Sarah Jane Adventures will be filmed back-to-back, so that probably means series two won’t be 24 episodes, but that we'll have two seasons of 12 episodes.

* Highlight here if you don’t know already and don’t mind knowing: Rose, Martha, Captain Jack

Posted by Dave Golder [Features] ( Friday January 25, 2008 )

Permalink | Comments [38]

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Comments:

Lis Sladen is a top MILF. Looking forward to her return.

Posted by Ace Frehley (127.0.0.1) on January 25, 2008 at 05:40 PM GMT #

Could be the best season climax to new Who so far, and 24 episodes of SJA??!! Gonna be quite a year!

Posted by Scott Thomson (127.0.0.1) on January 25, 2008 at 07:04 PM GMT #

24????

REALLY 24???

Dave, are you sure that's not a typo for 14?

Only to go from 10 episodes to 24 seems a huge jump - that's pretty much the equivalent of a full season of Doctor Who... O_O

Posted by Michele (127.0.0.1) on January 25, 2008 at 07:14 PM GMT
Website: http://scholar-blog.blogspot.com/ #

make a note of the word *apportioned * i like it and want to use it in sentences more

more SJS is always a good thing ...

Posted by Mr Cairo (127.0.0.1) on January 25, 2008 at 07:32 PM GMT #

Very good news, especially given the way the financing of Children's TV is supposed to be heading these days.

Posted by Raven (127.0.0.1) on January 25, 2008 at 10:18 PM GMT #

To be a british show, a british sci-fi show and get 24 episodes thats really impressive. Not even Torchwood and Doctor Who get that kind of treatmeant.

Posted by Paul (127.0.0.1) on January 25, 2008 at 10:19 PM GMT #

24????????????????? Why doesnt Dr Who have this same series length???!?!?!?!

Posted by richard (127.0.0.1) on January 25, 2008 at 10:20 PM GMT #

Remember that two SJA episodes are the equivalent of 1 Doctor Who episode.

Posted by Wolf 359 (127.0.0.1) on January 25, 2008 at 10:29 PM GMT #

24 episodes at the show's current length would be the same as 12 current Dr Who episodes. This will give Sarah Jane a credible run and add substance to the show. My only critism of last year was that it just started to cook and- then it ended! Can't wait for series two!!- Any chance we can get Sigourney Weaver as a guest star? If Sarah Jane met Ripley I could die happy!

Posted by Chris Eilenstine (127.0.0.1) on January 25, 2008 at 11:49 PM GMT #

24 episodes sounds good, just don't turn the Sun off or try to hit Earth with the Moon again... SJA should do smaller, more confined stories like "Warriors of Kudlak" especially since the series is in the same canon as two other shows and alot of the fans of "Doctor Who" are quite serious (I would say fussy but I don't mean it in a bad way) about the continuity of the show.

Posted by Chris H (127.0.0.1) on January 26, 2008 at 12:07 AM GMT
Website: http://www.sr-hub.com/gfpip/index.php #

sorry, I mean "as long as they don't turn the Sun off etc..." I do realize that SFX has no control of the show, that would be silly.... or would it....

Posted by Chris H (127.0.0.1) on January 26, 2008 at 12:10 AM GMT
Website: http://www.sr-hub.com/gfpip/index.php #

And another cheer from here for the news of a second series. Between them, the triumvirate of Who, TW and SJA have found a near perfect story balance and understanding of their audience (and I'm explicitly excluding the more anal fans here, whose only joy in life is apparently to complain about things.)
TW is off to a great start; DW is sounding promising, and SJA ended on a real high. I can't wait.

Posted by David (127.0.0.1) on January 26, 2008 at 01:17 AM GMT #

FANTASTIC News!!!! Can't wait for the new SJA's!!!!

Now please, PLEASE let K9 come back full time for at least a few episodes here and there - and a slew of cameos in several other stories. Having K9 back - and the quality as good or better than last time - will make this series a VERY close 2nd to Doctor Who. Go Sarah and friends - and please bring K9 back for more episodes!!! :-)

Posted by Darrell (127.0.0.1) on January 26, 2008 at 03:36 AM GMT #

Perhaps 24 eps is more than one season? *stirs pot maliciously*

Besides, it's not the equivalent of 12 episodes of NuWho. In terms of runtime, it's like 8.

In budget terms though it's easier to do multi-part stories than individual episodes, so I guess it's more 12 SJA stories to 9 or 10 Who stories.

Posted by Aaron (127.0.0.1) on January 26, 2008 at 11:54 AM GMT #

This sounds great! The only trouble is that 24 episodes might make the effects go downhill...

Posted by Gaz (127.0.0.1) on January 26, 2008 at 11:55 AM GMT
Website: http://sja-land.blogspot.com/ #

"Now please, PLEASE let K9 come back full time for at least a few episodes here and there - and a slew of cameos in several other stories." - Darrel

Speaking of K-9, whats going on with that Jetix K-9 series? I know it will most likely pale in comparison with SJA but I am still interested in it. Will SFX be reporting on with when there is news?

Posted by Chris H (127.0.0.1) on January 26, 2008 at 01:09 PM GMT
Website: http://www.sr-hub.com/gfpip/index.php #

24 new episodes?

I like the sound of that!

Doctor Who gets 13 x 45 minutes and SJA is to get 24 x 25 minutes. That's actually longer than a season of Doctor Who - a whole 15 minutes more!

Posted by Keith (127.0.0.1) on January 26, 2008 at 04:11 PM GMT #

24 new episodes?

I like the sound of that!

Doctor Who gets 13 x 45 minutes and SJA is to get 24 x 25 minutes. That's actually longer than a season of Doctor Who - a whole 15 minutes more!

Posted by Keith (127.0.0.1) on January 26, 2008 at 04:12 PM GMT #

I wonder why that got posted twice?

Posted by Keith (127.0.0.1) on January 26, 2008 at 04:13 PM GMT #

This is fantastic news. Absolutely fantastic! The fanboy in me is ecstatic. Perhaps a once-rubbished rumour about the return of a certain villain holds more water than first thought?

Posted by Tez (127.0.0.1) on January 26, 2008 at 06:56 PM GMT #

Cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!that is sooooooooo brillll!I luv sja! it is brill espescialy yasmin(maria)and lis(sarah) i hope that they will have some more episodes like whatever happened and revenge of the slitheen.lis sladen is brill!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!seee yaaaaaaa!

P.s i am soooooooooooooo happyyyyyyyy

ps does anyone know any websites where i can get pics of sja?

Posted by anonymus (127.0.0.1) on January 26, 2008 at 07:07 PM GMT #

Sheer joy, friends. Sheer joy is what I feel at the news of not only confirmation of a Season 2 of SJA, but a whopping 24 episodes of it! That's double the amount of episodes they had for Season 1, if you count Invasion of the Bane and, as stated, a tad more than Doctor Who!

I'm worried about the effects too, and fear that this series will see a lot more costumes and animatronics rather than special effects - which may be saved for only key scenes and episodes. But they do that on Doctor Who, as well. So long as the writing is top class, like it was in Season 1, I'll be satisfied. Thank you, CBBC and SFX! Here's to a Season 3 this time next year! I shall be sure to get this issue of SFX to read the rest of the interview.

Posted by nabusan (127.0.0.1) on January 26, 2008 at 07:32 PM GMT
Website: http://www.thesarahjaneadventures.co.uk/ #

I have to admit, I love the SJA's! truth be known, I think I enjoy them more than Torchwood!

Posted by Mary (127.0.0.1) on January 27, 2008 at 02:46 AM GMT #

Can't wait for Season 4 of who and Sarah Jane deserves another series bearing in mind what a success the last series was.

It's going to a cracking year for Who.

Posted by Cybos (127.0.0.1) on January 28, 2008 at 08:43 AM GMT #

Can't help but think that the return of the Doc's friends means that Tennant's off. Do hope I'm wrong.

Posted by Miles Hamer (127.0.0.1) on January 28, 2008 at 09:20 AM GMT #

It's two seasons, filmed back-to-back, according to my insider.

Posted by Russell Parker (127.0.0.1) on January 28, 2008 at 10:16 AM GMT #

David Tennant has said he is doing the whole of season 4 and the 4 specials next year. No news as yet if he will do the fifth full series in 2010.

Posted by Cybos (127.0.0.1) on January 28, 2008 at 10:30 AM GMT #

I've heard the back-to-back filming rumours too. I just hope it means Series 3 will out very shorting after Series 2! And I also hope it doesn't mean that we won't be getting a Series 4, as the actors are growing up fast [even though Daniel Anthony who plays Clyde is already 20!]

Posted by nabusan (127.0.0.1) on January 29, 2008 at 09:17 PM GMT
Website: http://www.thesarahjaneadventures.co.uk/ #

The Digital Spy site is today stating that no decision on renewing TSJA has been made as of yet. It quotes the claim in SFX too, which has prompted the article.

Posted by valleykommando (127.0.0.1) on January 30, 2008 at 10:00 AM GMT #

O.M.G O.M.G O.M.G O.M.G

Posted by chloe (127.0.0.1) on January 30, 2008 at 03:01 PM GMT #

Read the Digital Spy article too. I think it's appalling that the Beeb have to twiddle their thumbs about this. Grow a pair! It's an awesome show!

Posted by nabusan (127.0.0.1) on January 31, 2008 at 05:11 AM GMT
Website: http://www.thesarahjaneadventures.co.uk/ #

Well someone mentioned that its a huge jump from 10 episodes to 24. Bearing in mind each episode is 25 minutes and each 2 episodes are a storyline. Meaning around about 12 storylines instead of 5. Its not that huge of a jump, as in Heroes, There have only been 11 episodes instead of 23. They then said that the 11th episode was the 'Finale'. I mean i know it was due to the strike but owell.

Posted by Charlie (127.0.0.1) on February 13, 2008 at 04:28 PM GMT #

wow!! its finally confirmed! i cant wait! doctor who series 4 here we come!! its gonna be one explosive finale!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by crystal (127.0.0.1) on February 16, 2008 at 04:22 PM GMT #

When is it playing?

Posted by George (127.0.0.1) on March 31, 2008 at 11:38 PM BST
Website: http://fgdgjsfdgjdfjdfh #

Huge fan of "Doctor Who" but never got into sarah jane adventures as K9 was not set to appear often. i watched the episodes with the slitheen and was kind of impressed but i still prefer DW. i cant wait for the DW series finale its gonna be massive espeicially with rumors of davros. maybe ill watch SJA next series.

DOC WHO! WOOOO

Posted by Nik (127.0.0.1) on April 08, 2008 at 11:36 PM BST #

i want to see the robot from robot return in some form, maybe someone builds another one from blueprints stolen from unit. maybe see unit in one or two episodes.

Posted by stuby_doo68 (127.0.0.1) on April 11, 2008 at 09:26 PM BST #

Why can't they bring back some of the other companions, like Ace or Nyssa I mean I like Sarah Jane but she wasn't the doctors only companion

Posted by Jess (127.0.0.1) on April 12, 2008 at 12:44 AM BST #

Jess, they're either too hard to find, they dont act any more, or they're dead.

Probs why.

Posted by Charlie (127.0.0.1) on May 26, 2008 at 03:13 PM BST #

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