Also, Tegan was hardly a running-down-coridors-and-screaming type anyway. I thought she did very well out of three years on the show. She certainly got to play a more ballsy companion than the likes of Peri or Melanie (shudders).

Re Sarah Jane Smith.

I always had a soft spot for her apart from her screaming "Doctor " at 120 dbs.

I was really moved when she left ( i was about ten at the time) so to have a reprise with her character is great.

The ark in space i never want to see that again or the one with the giant compost heap PDWTSD

< Blame my hayfever medication for this one off bit of sci fi sentimentality >

I would say that Tegan's leaving story was one of the most heart-felt (until the current series)

I would love to see Tegan & SJS back. Maybe Janet Fielding would reconsider given the latest series

Possibly - esp given the increased character-exploration nowadays.

Maybe series 3?

Tegan did meet Sarah Jane (briefly) in the Five Doctors.

Didn't someone say that in the audio adventures or books Sarah became a top-selling sci-fi writer with stories based on her travels with the Doctor?

If that is the case, she must have been contacted by plenty of other companions living in her time period/on earth. It would be interesting if she mentioned this to The Doctor.

I'm assuming that Romana and Leela can never return, as they were both living on Gallifrey and so were probably killed during the Time War.

I think that was in one of the DWM specials but I could be wrong.

Didn't Romana stay in E-Space with K-9 Mk I?

Indeed - as far as the TV series was concerned (K9 Mark II).

But the Big Finish Audios - and the webcast version of Shada - have seen her return as the President of Gallifrey.

If you're interested they're very good - and Lalla Ward is excellent.

The second series even has her meeting up with Mary Tamm as Romana I.

I thought I'd mention on this forum that news isn't looking good - depending on what you believe. Rumour has it that contract-related problems have reduced Elisabeth Sladen's role to just a couple of scenes where Sarah Jane is in a mental asylum.

I'm a bit suspicious of this one as the mental asylum scenario was actually posted on this forum as a (joke) suggestion on how to bring Sarah Jane back.

The notion of Liz Sladen returning to the Doctor's universe is very appealing. Although I was very young during her tenure, alongside Tom and the late Ian Marter, that period of DW remains my most cherished memory.

K9. Well, as others have mentioned. A CGI/animatronic model might be more palatable. However, he'll always be what Jar Jar is to Star Wars. A merchandising mistake! Hm, let an encounter with a Cybermat mark the end of K9 once and for all...

agredd the old prop on a string would be out of date but what about an updated build - like with the daleks - you know the kind of thing, hover and ability to use stairs etc - maybe also a character change - maybe in the direction of marvin the robot from hitchikers guide - having been left on a boring planet like earth, and getting rafitied by the kids on the local estate, i think they could get some classic moments out of an apearance by the old dog

Yes, that has already been mentioned on this forum. If she's allowed to appear at all, I'd be surprised thar her appearance would be limited in this way.

Let's hope this is wrong (which I expect it is).

Ahhh... I'm gonna have to take issue with this AGAIN. Repeating rumours - and that's all they are - from a source as hateful and laughable as POPBITCH is just daft, especially when it is totally obvious that the poster on the POPBITCH board has some personal issue with Ms Sladen. Massive pinch of salt and a reality check here folks.

Judging by ES's comments in the latest DWM, I think it's obvious that the rumours about her reduced role are complete tosh.

Thank God - it would have been a waste of time if so.

Its a good time for SJ to be back - is it me or did Lis Sladen look younger on DWConfidential than she did in Downtime 10 years ago?

Would you kindly care to quote ES's comments from DWM for us U.S.-limited fans, who can't get the mag on the newstand?

I'd be much appreciative.

Thanks.

hrh

I don't have the copy to hand, but can paraphrase for now.

She said something along the lines of how pleased she was to be back. They (RTD and Phil Collinson) had got the progression of Sarah's character absolutely right, and she thought Billie and David were wonderful.

I'll type some more in detail when I get the chance

I'm assuming that filming on the SJS/K-9 episode has started. Has anyone seen any pictures of either Elisabeth Sladen on set, or the Doctor/Rose and K-9?

Please post a link here if you have.

Here is what she said in issue 360 of DWM

Elisabeth tells DWM: "My past life is whizzing before my eyes! I am so thrilled to be back and I feel so overpowered by the affection that Russell, Phil and Julie have for the programme and for Sarah. I was amazed at what was being offered, as it was so much more than I could have envisaged. And Toby Whithouse's script is wonderful - it's an absolutely truthful progression of Sarah, I really feel that she and I are in very safe hands. I just hope I can live up to their expectations, and that I can still run as fast after 30 years - I can't wait to see the corridors!"

Phil Collinson says of it "We're determined to do Elisabeth proud - it's a great script, full of fun and danger, and whole new sides to Sarah Jane's character. To see her meet the new Doctor and Rose is an absolute joy! And never mind the legacy of the past, because in some ways, that's the least important factor - the fact is Elisabeth's a fantastic actor, Sarah Jane is a brilliant character, and that's what drama is all about!"

There is more but in truth I can't be arse to type it up! It sounds quite promising to me though. I very much doubt she'll have been locked up in a mental asylum. That's just silliness!

Damn hyperlink button thingy not working, but if you visit this url...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/galle...1024/k9_01.jpg

you can see what K9 now looks like after 20 plus years of rust and batterings.

Possibly in some wonderful alternative universe, "K9 and Company" was made instead of "The Twin Dilemma"...

I'm sincerely hoping that that is merely a publicity photo, and the new K9 will be a bit more "spruced up" than that. Surely SJS would have some WD40 to hand? If not she's in danger of being reported to the RSPCR...

I'd have thought a battered K9 much more realistic - he has no way of repairing himself nor would SJS be able to in the 20th century.

In K-9 and Company, Sarah had a really brainy nephew/cousin (teenage male relative) who - rather bizarrely - new exactly how K-9 operated. I assume he was being lined up as the character who would ‘fix’ K-9 whenever he went wrong/blew up etc (had the series continued).

I remember one thing they pointed out was that K-9 was self-charging – which answers the question about how he managed to last 20+ years on earth without his battery going flat.



Ready, no doubt, for a new Christmas toy range and possibly another spin-off. By the way – did you hear that this year’s Buzz Lightyear (the big selling Christmas toy) is thought to be the remote controlled Dalek from the new series? How cool is that.

Thanks to both of you who responded with the essence of the info. from DWM on the return of SJS/Lis. Sounds great!

And I agree that seeing "whole new sides to Sarah Jane's character" in the context of Collinson's quote certainly doesn't sound like she's locked up in the cuckoo's nest.

hrh

No - he wouldn't be able to repair himself physically, but he would be able to instruct Sarah as to what to do.

I hope.