I first got to know Sarah Jane Smith in the early 1990s by way of UK Gold’s copious Who repeats. Like many fans, I was instantly taken with her loyalty and tenacity – traits that, as the years went by, I would that see the actress who played her shared. 

Lis Sladen’s love for the series that she helped to make such a scorching success in the mid-1970s has shone through in every interview that she’s ever given, and it’s been borne out by her returning to the character again and again, culminating in Sarah’s own acclaimed spin-off series, The Sarah Jane Adventures. Her loss will be keenly felt by not only those who knew her, but those who knew her work, as we hope this mini-tribute attests.

These last few months have brought more than their fair share of sad news, as we’ve said goodbye to some of Doctor Who’s most admired and beloved actors. Michael Gough, Nicholas Courtney, and now Elisabeth Sladen have all sadly been taken from us. The loss of Elisabeth Sladen is perhaps the most tragic and shocking of all; her death at only sixty-five was entirely unexpected by the majority of fandom, who were unaware of her illness. Indeed, since Lis returned to the world of Doctor Who, she seemed as young and as vital as ever.

Elisabeth Sladen will forever be synonymous with Sarah Jane Smith. The actress and character have achieved the rare feat of returning to our television screens after many years’ absence to greater success and acclaim than ever. Sarah Jane’s three and a half seasons of Doctor Who and four seasons of The Sarah Jane Adventures are a fine monument to Elisabeth Sladen. The future of The Sarah Jane Adventures is uncertain; six episodes of the fifth series have already been recorded, and it is likely that we shall see them one day.  But for now, the final screened episode bears a title that, with tragic irony, is most fitting: Goodbye, Sarah Jane Smith.

     Sarah Jane’s top five Doctor Who appearances:

The Time Warrior: Sarah was at her forthright best in her earliest appearances, and her debut remains perhaps the greatest portrayal of the character. Sladen is instantly hugely likeable in the role, matching Pertwee’s self-assured Doctor for attitude. A confident adventuress, it takes Sarah only minutes to fall in with the local nobility and concoct an audacious mission to remove the Doctor from the villainous Irongron’s castle.

School Reunion: An episode that would have far-reaching repercussions for Lis Sladen, School Reunion was a confident celebration of the series past when its comeback was still new. Perfectly marrying the bold success of the revived series at its best with a love of its glorious past, the episode succeeds not by relying on nostalgia, but by allowing Sladen to portray Sarah Jane as a mature, three-dimensional character.

Genesis of the Daleks: Sladen gets to show her ability to lead a show here, as Sarah spends much of the story away from the Doctor and Harry, leading an audacious escape attempt from the Thal dome.

The Hand of Fear: Sarah’s final appearance as a series regular, and she really gets put through the wringer. Sladen is great as the possessed, unwilling servant of Eldrad, but impresses even more in her final moments with the Doctor. Sarah’s great affection for the Doctor is evident throughout her final moments in the TARDIS, torn between returning to her safe, everyday life and losing the man who has shown her the universe.

Pyramids of Mars: The chemistry between Elisabeth Sladen and Tom Baker is incredible in this story, which shows the fourth Doctor at his inscrutable, alien best. That the affection and camaraderie between the two is so evident in a story which seems them berating each other for their opposing views on life shows the skill of both the writing and the performances.

     And her top five Sarah Jane Adventures:

The Temptation of Sarah Jane Smith: An excellent story that shows Sarah Jane is simply an ordinary person who deals admirably with extraordinary situations, but is still prey to the same hopes, fears and weaknesses as all of us. The scenes in which she meets her parents are subtly played but give no doubt to the effect that this tale has on the character. A very welcome fleshing out of Sarah Jane’s background, which pits her against her very own supervillain, the Trickster.

The Lost Boy: Beyond all the trumping Slitheen stuff is a genuinely excellent turn by Sladen, as Sarah is emotionally assailed when she loses her adoptive son. Faced with not only the collapse of the family she has built around herself, but the betrayal by her trusted computer Mr Smith, this is a strong episode that shows the series isn’t afraid to put its characters through the wringer.

Invasion of the Bane: The series feature-length opener, this special episode shows that Sarah’s still got it. Easily capable of carrying her own show, she gets the perfect foil in the icy Mrs Wormwood, a character who brings Sarah’s warmth and humanity into sharp contrast.

The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith: Overshadowed, perhaps, by David Tennant’s heavily-hyped guest appearance as the Doctor, this two-parter gives Sarah the chance, at long last, to engage in a normal life and a genuine romance, before having it so cruelly snatched away.

The Nightmare Man: A great showcase for our leading lady, as she gets to portray the pride and heartache of her son leaving home, and then her comedy chops as the batty old lady Sarah in Clyde’s depressing nightmare.

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