Yes, her attempts to hold back time have not had the greatest of success really.

If S J-S is now a hard-bitten tabloid newspaper editor a la Eve Pollard I will send a cheque doubling my licence fee direct to the DG by return of post...obviously without the cleavage, it being a family show and all...

Although it may seem a long shot, I wouldn't be suprised if this new series (series 2 for the public, series 28 for the fans) had a couple of UNIT based stories, perhaps with a new Brigadier.

I am unable to comment on Sarah Jane Smith just yet. Maybe when I get round to buying copies of 'The Ark in Space' and 'Pyramids of Mars' on DVD.

She is very fondly remembered by many DW fans. I think mainly because she is such a fine actress and she stayed longer than most - 3 years.

She was also there when Jon Pertwee regenerated into Tom Baker, so will be able to offer Rose some (I'm sure) much needed advice.

Very exciting news about Dame Sarah-Jane Smith making a return. Using her journalism would be the obvious way to do it. Interviewing Jackie and Mickey about their experiences? Meeting a Doctor who looks considerably younger than she does would be interesting viewing!

It's about time Elisabeth Sladen regained "proper" limelight, too, instead of ekeing out her days doing the convention circuit. A very underrated actress. I once read she was offered the role of the mother of the incest family in Brookside (the Simpsons?), but declined. She was always able to rescue the poorest of Doctor Who scenes, and SJ is a great character.

Love the new Doctor's costume, too.

chuff.x.

I like the idea of Unit being more involved. We did see a bit of them in Series 1 but a new Brigadier type figure is needed. If it went well why not spin off Unit into its own show?

I like your wording ... very gentlemanly

LOL. Yes, I was trying to be diplomatic!

Not really, the scene would go something like this... (Bob Newhart, eat your heart out )

Doctor: "Sarah Jane! Lovely to see you again after so many years."

Sarah-Jane: "Sorry, do I know you?"

D: "It's me, The Doctor."

S-J: "Doctor? You've regenerated again?"

D: "Six times since I last saw you (Forget about The Five Doctors for a moment, Anoraks!)"

S-J: "Nice to see you again, your dress sense has... changed. Thats a very 1940s suit."

D: "Yeah, enough of that, listen, do you want a pound of sausages, genuine pork, sell 'em to you cheap, they fell off a lorry you see..."

OK, maybe not that last bit, but as we all know, she was there when JP changed to TB, so she wouldn't be surprised that he had changed.

I'm not sure if this mounting sausage obsession won't get us all into a lot of trouble in the coming months

Story of my life....

If a joke is good enough, its worth telling more than once to make sure everyone sees it

Well, someone said he looked like a spiv a la Private Walker from Dad's Army, and the only "deal" that I can think of is his trying to sell Jones (who, for those who have not seen Dad's Army, was a butcher) some sausages of dubious origin.

A Dad's Army anorak will no doubt post that he never tried to sell anyone sausages and its a figment of my imagination, and the whole conceit will get shot down in flames!

Don't panic! Walker would have sold ice to Innuits, given 'alf a chance. Sossies to Corporal Jones, I'm sure I remember that episode.

Good joke, btw ....

He just needs a pencilled-on moustache

Have to possibly disagree- SJS was a fine character. However, I had a bit of a thing for Tegan, myself

That's what I'm saying, SJS was my favourite companion for all these years but Rose has come along with the differently-expressed but similarly superb results in terms of dramatic and emotional performance. So we actually agree, I hope?

You like Tegan, eh? I rather liked her fellow companion - no, not Adric - Nyssa ......

Peri was good, as long as she didnt talk, or do anything, ever. Wasn't a great actress, she looked good though.

I still think Rose is the best companion now, she does all the "doctor help me" stuff but doesnt complain about the danger every few minutes.

Tegan was very good. V unlikely she'll return though, as Janet Fielding has said that hell must freeze over before she will return to the role...

What didn't she like about it?

On the subject of returns, I heard from a mate and also read another post on here from another reader saying that an old Doctor would be returning in series 2. Do you think Peter Davisons arrival on set late last week could be an indication of this?

PD in his old cricket whites and the eternal celery in his lapel? That would be, er .... interesting

Pervert lol

She's been quite a full-on advocate of equal rights for women, etc since she left. Somehow she didn't think that screaming and running around corridors, while the guy got all the best scenes & lines, was a good role for a woman.

Things have moved on now, but you kind of see her point I suppose...

Yes, her views are fair enough. Having said that, she's not slow to cash in on her involvement with the series through personal appearances, DVD commentaries etc.

For somebody who was so vocal about the role in the past, it seems a tad hypocritical to me.

Good point - compare her attitude to Elisabeth Sladen who has continued to embrace her association with the programme and speak with fondness of her time as SJS. She has obviously benefitted from her attitude and the fans will always love her.

I loved Tegan too, but you're right, JF does seem a little ungrateful. After all she had some great stories - Kinda and Snakedance for example - when she had the opportunity to do more than the average companion actor.

It would be great to see Tegan now - and see the effect that her travels had on her long-term. To see her spar with the Doc now would be a treat.