Watch the Fourth Doctor Revisited special tonight at 8/7c on BBC America
2013 is DOCTOR WHO’s 50th Anniversary. Each month, BBC AMERICA takes the TARDIS back in time with Brand New Specials on all eleven Doctors. This month, it’s Fourth Doctor TOM BAKER!
Don’t miss the Premiere of the fourth DOCTOR WHO: THE DOCTORS REVISITED Special, plus the classic Fourth Doctor storyline “Pyramids of Mars” Sunday April 28 at 8/7c on BBC America.
Take an in-depth look at the fourth incarnation of the truly timeless Time Lord, who quickly made the part his own, and with his eccentric style of dress and speech — particularly his trademark long scarf — immediately became a recognizable figure. Playing the role for seven consecutive seasons over a seven-year period, he’s the longest-serving actor in the part so far. With exclusive interviews with lead writer & executive producer STEVEN MOFFAT, producer MARCUS WILSON, companion LOUISE JAMESON and TOM BAKER himself!
Then, in the story “Pyramids of Mars,” the Doctor and his companion Sarah Jane Smith (ELISABETH SLADEN) attempt to free a pyramid imprisoned Egyptologist from his possession by Sutekh, the last of a powerful alien called the Osirans.And if you missed the first three ‘Revisited’ specials, watch them on BBC America today beginning at 6:30/5:30c.
DOCTOR WHO Revisited: TOM BAKER - Apr 28 BBC AMERICA
2013 is DOCTOR WHO’s 50th Anniversary. Each month, BBC AMERICA takes the TARDIS back in time with Brand New Specials on all eleven Doctors. This month, it’s Fourth Doctor TOM BAKER:
Take an in-depth look at the fourth incarnation of the truly timeless Time Lord, who quickly made the part his own, and with his eccentric style of dress and speech — particularly his trademark long scarf — immediately became a recognizable figure. Playing the role for seven consecutive seasons over a seven-year period, he’s the longest-serving actor in the part so far. With exclusive interviews with lead writer & executive producer STEVEN MOFFAT, producer MARCUS WILSON, companion LOUISE JAMESON and TOM BAKER himself!
“I didn’t play Doctor Who, I was Doctor Who.”
Then, in the story “Pyramids of Mars,” the Doctor and his companion Sarah Jane Smith (ELISABETH SLADEN) attempt to free a pyramid imprisoned Egyptologist from his possession by Sutekh, the last of a powerful alien called the Osirans.Don’t miss the Premiere of the fourth DOCTOR WHO: THE DOCTORS REVISITED Special, plus the classic Fourth Doctor storyline “Pyramids of Mars” *** Sunday April 28 at 8/7c *** only on BBC America.
(Source: youtube.com)
Pictured above: producer Philip Hinchcliffe with actors Louise Jameson and Tom Baker, who, of course, played companion Leela and the fourth Doctor.
Also in attendance, however, were Anneke Wills (1960s companion Polly), and Brian and Sadie Miller, husband and daughter of Elisabeth Sladen, who died almost exactly two years ago. Before her latterday success with The Sarah Jane Adventures, Sladen was a key figure in the Tom Baker period and, as a tribute, a clip was played of her in buoyant form at a BFI event from 2010.
Read more at Radio Times
Russell T Davies and Katy Manning (Jo Grant) discuss their memories of Elisabeth Sladen in this exclusive commentary clip from Sarah Jane Adventures episode ‘Death of the Doctor’. Listen here: http://bit.ly/15cAw6D
Happy Birthday Elisabeth Sladen (1February 1946 - 19 April 2011)
Every now and then we like to go back and browse the Elisabeth Sladen and Sarah Jane Smith tags on the Doctor Who Tumblr. Today is one of those days.
(Source: thesarahjanesmith)
Elisabeth Clara Heath-Sladen
1st February 1946 – 19th April 2011
Gone but never ever forgotten.
“You’ve got to believe it. If you can make people believe, you’ve won.” - Elisabeth Sladen
R.I.P x
How it could have been: nearly 40 years later, the secret of who was originally cast as Doctor Who’s Sarah Jane Smith has been revealed. It was April Walker, best known for myriad guest roles in Fawlty Towers, The Two Ronnies and Yes, Minister.
Pictured above left is Jon Pertwee in the 1973 story The Time Warrior, which introduced Sarah Jane Smith. Then, above right, is April Walker in a Two Ronnies sketch, The Attractive Barmaid, from the same year.
Doctor Who producer Barry Letts cast Walker when Katy Manning left the role of Jo Grant, the Doctor’s previous companion, and she worked in rehearsals for The Time Warrior. But allegedly the pairing of Pertwee’s Doctor and Walker’s Sarah Jane didn’t work: she was a tall and more obviously strong character, along the lines of Pertwee’s first companion, Liz Shaw (Caroline John).
It’s believed that Pertwee was unhappy with the decision but it would ultimately have been Letts who recast the role. Walker was reportedly paid for both The Time Warrior and the rest of that series.
![Why Elisabeth Sladen Vomited On Edwina Currie and 34 other facts we learnt from the sorely-missed actress’s autobiography
Elisabeth Sladen’s autobiography is released by Aurum Press on Monday, and it’s a fascinating read for any Doctor Who fan. Here’s [some of the] 35 things we gleaned from reading it.
Why was Elisabeth Sladen’s name spelt with an “S”? Whenever asked, her mother would explain, “the ‘S’ is for ‘star’”.
Two inspirations for Sarah Jane’s character were a young cousin of Sladen’s with “an indomitable attitude” and Who producer Barry Letts (for his “honesty and straightforwardness”).
The second time she met Jon Pertwee (who was still distraught about Katy “Jo Grant” Manning leaving) was in a hotel bar. He accidentally said, “What would you like to drink, Katy?”… then burst into tears!
Lis and Tom watched “The Android Invasion” episode three in a complete stranger’s living room, after Tom just knocked on the door and asked if they could come in.
Lis was so appalled by her farewell scene in “The Hand Of Fear” (as originally scripted) that she scrawled obscenities all over the script! She later gave the script to Russell T Davies, as a farewell gift when he left Doctor Who.
One of her leaving gifts was a key to the TARDIS. Years later, she passed it on to David Tennant when he left the show.
It’s a great list. Click the link for the rest. (thx, Anglophenia!)](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lud3czzTef1qijoeyo1_500.jpg)
Elisabeth Sladen’s autobiography is released by Aurum Press on Monday, and it’s a fascinating read for any Doctor Who fan. Here’s [some of the] 35 things we gleaned from reading it.
- Why was Elisabeth Sladen’s name spelt with an “S”? Whenever asked, her mother would explain, “the ‘S’ is for ‘star’”.
- Two inspirations for Sarah Jane’s character were a young cousin of Sladen’s with “an indomitable attitude” and Who producer Barry Letts (for his “honesty and straightforwardness”).
- The second time she met Jon Pertwee (who was still distraught about Katy “Jo Grant” Manning leaving) was in a hotel bar. He accidentally said, “What would you like to drink, Katy?”… then burst into tears!
- Lis and Tom watched “The Android Invasion” episode three in a complete stranger’s living room, after Tom just knocked on the door and asked if they could come in.
- Lis was so appalled by her farewell scene in “The Hand Of Fear” (as originally scripted) that she scrawled obscenities all over the script! She later gave the script to Russell T Davies, as a farewell gift when he left Doctor Who.
- One of her leaving gifts was a key to the TARDIS. Years later, she passed it on to David Tennant when he left the show.
It’s a great list. Click the link for the rest. (thx, Anglophenia!)
The new, 100-page issue of Doctor Who Magazine is out and celebrates the life of Elisabeth Sladen, who died earlier this year. Among those tributes from friends, family and colleagues are my interviews with Doctors Tom Baker, David Tennant, and Matt Smith.
Click through for exclusive audio clips from those interviews.
via benjamincook.net
And the story goes on…forever. The farewell to Sarah Jane segment from the last episode of the Sarah Jane Adventures.
R.I.P Elisabeth Sladen and thank your for the many years of being our Sarah Jane.
(Source: youtube.com)
“From the first (I think) ChicagoTARDIS con, although it had a different name.”
Back row: Ian Marter, Tom Baker, John Nathan Turner, Patrick Troughton (and beard), Peter Davison, Jon Pertwee and two people whom I cannot identify, but who are probably members of the crew. Front row: Janet Fielding, Elisabeth Sladen, Carole Ann Ford, Mark Strickson, Sarah Sutton, Louise Jameson, Mary Tamm and Nicola Bryant.
Details of this picture can be found at the source.
Doesn’t Ian look jolly? hehe. This picture is pretty epic though, considering everyone who is in it.
To remember how amazing Sarah Jane Smith was
One of the sad things about Elisabeth Sladen’s cruelly premature death in April of this year, is that it denied her the chance to tell the full, uninterrupted story of working on the longest running science fiction TV show of all time.
She was one of very few people who had intimate working knowledge of Doctor Who in its ‘70s pomp, made guest appearances in the ‘80s, and got to bring her role as Sarah Jane Smith back to glorious life in the Russell T Davies era. If anyone’s had tales to tell, it would’ve been her.
Well, if it’s any consolation, you might like to know that Elisabeth had handed in the first draft of her autobiography, shortly before she died.
The book covered her entire life, from the early days in Liverpool, to working in the theatre, and of course her time on Doctor Who, playing Sarah Jane Smith opposite first Jon Pertwee, then Tom Baker and then, after returning to the theatre and jobbing TV work, her eventual return to the show, and The Sarah Jane Adventures.
The good news is, with the help of her husband Brian Miller, and daughter Sadie, the redrafting work that Elisabeth had been too poorly to complete has been done. Aurum Publishing will release her memoirs, on November 7.
