Offically Hotting Up!

Whilst srowling around on the good old internet before, I found this: a BBC page, blank of information, but also lacking the traditional "Page not found" message; meaning the site is either preparing to launch soon, or has been added to the BBC's server by mistake.

Why's this information important to this site's legion of Smithies? Well, it happens to be www.bbc.co.uk/sarahjaneadventures - the expected offical site for Elisabeth Sladen's forthcoming spin-off series. The address will no doubt come in useful over the next month or so, as promotion begins on the BBC channels....

Talking of which, I'm hearing that advertisements for "The Runaway Bride" will begin any time in the next week, with the first Sarah-Jane Adventures promotions following shortly after. Sources have revealled that trailers will air during "CBBC Hours", so around 3:30 till 5:35 in the afternoon. There's also set to be numerous Blue Peter and TMI appearences by Elisabeth Sladen and Yasmin Paige. Watch this space for more news surrounding the media promotion of the series.

Finally, before I stop babbling for the day, BBC Books are expected to announce shortly a series of short Sarah-Jane Adventures novels. These will likely take the form of hardback books, much like the current New Who ones, and will likely debut a short time before the series proper hits our screens next year. In related news, Doctor Who Adventures may be giving a section of its magazine away to previewing new Sarah-Jane Adventures episodes when the series airs next year. An offical decision (I'm told) hasn't been reached yet...

Right, I've said enough now. It honestly does like the whole series is hotting up, preparing for its January 1st launch. I'll see you every step of the way...

Brand New Smithies!

The hit counter for this site has been slowly increasing this week, following the BBC's press release regarding this Christmas' special Sarah Jane Adventures episode.

AN INTRODUCTION TO TWO OLD FRIENDS...

The website's slowly receiving a swanky new look (man, i got sick to death of seeing those damn dots on screen - they had to go!) and on top of that, we've got two brank spanking new recruits now on the team - meet raxacoricofallapatorius and romana1! Together with myself and RedLion we'll be keeping you up-to-date on all things SJA - but for all those new readers out there (and welcome btw, it's always a pleasure to greet a new face) I thought I'd run through some of the essentials, and inform you guys what SJA - and this site too - is all about...

Sarah-Jane Smith was a companion on the classic series of "Doctor Who" who returned to the show this year for the one off special "School Reunion". Her popularity ensured that another return was guarenteed - but all were shocked to learn that she'd not be returning to Doctor Who, but would star in her own spin-off instead!

The Sarah Jane Adventures (formally Sarah Jane Investigates) started to film back in September, and a one-off special will broadcast on New Year's Day this year. A 10 part series follows sometime next year. And we can't wait.

Now, as for the site, we were created way back in August 2006, when The Sarah jane Adventures (or SJA as we call it here) was first announced. We aim to follow the production of the new spin-off series, in the same style as our sister site Torchwood.TV, and bring you all the very best SJA news.

On top of news, we're also keen on following Sarah-Jane's rich history. User raxacoricofallapatorius is currently open up his filing cabinet of knowledge (known better these days as the internet) to explore Sarah's past appearences on screen, and romana1 promises us her own personal reviews of Sarah-Jane's adventures, which first aired over 30 years ago.

Put your hand up if you suddenly feel so old?

Despite the "children's television" label the show has aquired, it's a sure fact that SJA will be very much family television. If past Sarah-jane adventures are anything to go by (k9 and Company excluded) then we're in for a treat. I hope all you new readers will be along for the ride.

Until next time, auf wiedersehen, pet.

Those Damn Fizzy Drinks...

The BBC Press Office has released information for the entire festive period, and as well as synopsis for upcoming Torchwood episodes, and the Doctor Who special too, the press release states the following about the forthcoming Sarah-Jane special, "The Sarah Jane Adventures":

THE DOCTOR AND SARAH - CHRISTMAS HIGHLIGHTS!

"Elisabeth Sladen – Doctor Who's former sidekick – is back as Sarah Jane Smith in a brand-new, fast-paced children's drama, created by Russell T Davies and from the makers of Doctor Who. The Sarah Jane Adventures ensures that children never look at fizzy drinks in the same way again...

Sarah Jane is fascinated by Bubbleshock, a strangely addictive organic drink that is taking the world by storm. She is almost oblivious to the arrival of her new neighbour, Maria, a young girl starting a new life with her father.

Maria becomes intrigued by the strange goings on at Sarah Jane's house but, before she can investigate, she's whisked away by her new friend, Kelsey, to the brightly coloured, but sinister, Bubbleshock factory.

As Sarah Jane tries to find out what the mysterious Mrs Wormwood is doing at the factory, Maria and Kelsey embark on a tour which leads them into the path of a monstrous creature and a strange young boy with no name or past.

When Sarah Jane and Maria discover the secret ingredient of Bubbleshock, they realise they are the only ones who can stop Mrs Wormwood and her evil plans for the human race.

Maria is played by Yasmin Page, Kelsey by Porsha Lawrence Mavour, Mrs Wormwood by Samantha Bond and the young boy/Luke by Thomas Knight. "

So, at last we've got some decent information to report upon! The new spin-off is set to air on New Year's Day at 5pm - and from the sounds of it, it sounds like an episode the entire family will enjoy.

A Girl's Best Friend?

From the reports we've heard so far, k9's not going to be sticking around in The Sarah Jane Adventures for long. So, hardly k9 and Company, is it?

We do know that k9 is going to appear in this New Year's Day special, "Sarah Jane Investigates", and is likely to vanish at the end of it. As this is a children's series, the special episode's villian, played by Samantha Bond, is hardly likely to die is she?

No, it's more likely that her character (much like Margaret Slitheen) will redeem herself, and leave a 'new person', likely with k9 in tow. Will Sarah-Jane give up her faithful dog to a more needy cause? This seems to be the most likely sceniro.

No matter what happens (look, we could speculate until next Tuesday - lets not!) k9 won't be appearing in the series proper when it starts transmitting. It's thought that k9's creators Bob Baker and Dave Martin have asked for him to be removed from the show, due to their developing series "k9 Adventures".

That particular series isn't regarded as offical cannon within the Doctor Who universe, and isn't even thought to feature the same k9 as we're currently use to seeing. The cheeky so-and-sos!

Sarah-Jane Smith's new "tin dog" it seems will be 13 year old Maria - her new neighbour. As great as Maria may turn out to be, I'm sure you'll agree that she won't ever be a patch on k9!

We'll keep you up to date on all of the latest k9 Adventures news, as the show progresses through development hell towards broadcast (possibly in late 2007).

We all know how great that silly, camp robotic dog is.

And we'll lement his passing from The Sarah Jane Adventures.

Goodbye old friend...

She Never Gives Up...

We're promised an optimistic (if slight) interview with Lis Sladen next week as she's interviewed by children's magazine "Doctor Who Adventures" to promote her New Year's Day bound Sarah Jane Adventures series. The press release for the issue can be seen below, along with a cover of the issue in question:

"Get ready for a seriously Ood issue with the next Doctor Who Adventures.

We find out about the funny-faced aliens and look at loads of weird and wonderful facts about the yucky creatures.

Elisabeth Sladen pops in to tell us a bit about The Sarah Jane Adventures. She tells us what she would so do if she met an alien. “I’d probably panic and scream a lot!” she says. “But I wouldn’t give up!”

In the comic strip, the Doctor and Rose arrive in Paris where all is not as it seems.

Our adventure guide takes us back to when Rose first met the Doctor, and we discover how the story was made in Doctor Who Confidential Extra.

For monsters this issue, you can stick a Graske on your face to scare your enemies, J is for Jagaroth in the Monster A to Z and we learn loads of essential data about Dalek Sec.

And that’s not all. You’ll find all the usual posters, prizes and puzzles too. The issue comes with a free gift that will last all year long - an amazing Doctor Who Adventures calendar stuffed with pictures of monsters, the Doctor, Rose and even Martha."

When she says she never gives up, she means it. Look at her spin-off series. It's only taken a further 25 years since "K9 and Company" but she's got it back on the screens again.

What a lady!

Doctor Who Adventures (issue 18) hits news stands next Wednesday 29th November, priced £1.99.

Make those kids happy by buying them a copy, won't you?

Christmas Overload

I've been sent the following Christmas Schedule by somebody claiming to work within the BBC - and who has "inside" information on this festive season's television.

What follows is supposedly a up-to-date line-up for Doctor Who programmes over the Christmas Period:

Sunday 24th December: Torchwood - "Combat" (BBC Three @ 10pm)

Monday 25th December: Doctor Who - "The Runaway Bride" (BBC One @ 7pm)

Wednesday 27th December: Torchwood - "Combat" repeat (BBC Two @ 9pm)

Sunday 31st December: Torchwood - "Captain Jack Harkness" (BBC Three @ 10pm)

Monday 1st January: Sarah Jane Adventures - "Sarah Jane Investigates" (BBC One / CBBC @ 5pm)

There's also a repeat of "The Runaway Bride" planned for New Year's Day, at 4pm - immediately before the launch of the all new Sarah Jane Adventures spin-off. On top of this, I'm hearing that the special Doctor Who Confidential (a filmed version of last weekend's concert) is still unplaced in the schedules, but is rumoured to feature on Christmas Eve's schedule - in the afternoon some time.

Don't forget BBC 7's new Paul McGann audio adventures, beginning with "Blood of the Daleks", on 31st January.

Now, from what I hear the schedule still isn't locked. My source claims that it could change within the next few days or so. Just don't blame me if it does! *Not jackharkness' fault*

Take care guys, gals and robotic dogs.

30 odd days until Christmas - better get that shopping completed!

The One To Watch This Christmas!

The BBC Press Office has just this minute released information regarding the festive season - and more importantly (to us anyway) the programming that'll be on offer for us to watch.

Besides the Doctor Who festive episode, guess what else in on the Christmas list? Looks like somebody's been a good boy or girl this year:

"This Christmas BBC viewers can look forward to a star-studded seasonal fare brought to you by a veritable who's who of British television.

BBC One celebrates with a Doctor Who special; BBC Two reunites the cast of This Life; BBC Three features a Tittybangbang Christmas show; BBC Four weighs in with a very special edition of The Thick Of It; and younger viewers can find out how their favourite characters and presenters are celebrating Christmas on CBBC and CBeebies.

On BBC One Doctor Who re-materialises for a one-off special episode in which The Doctor (David Tennant) finds himself with a new companion Donna (Catherine Tate) - but she's late for her wedding…

A stellar cast joins Billie Piper and Julie Walters for an adaptation of award-winning writer Philip Pullman's The Ruby In The Smoke, charting the adventures of Sally Lockhart (Piper), a feisty young Victorian heroine.

And multi-award winning Doctor Who writer Russell T Davies has written a brand new programme for CBBC called The Sarah Jane Adventures, starring one of The Doctor's most famous companions, investigative journalist, Sarah Jane Smith.

Jana Bennett, Director, BBC Vision, said: "I'm so proud of our Christmas schedule this year – not least because it boasts an abundance of original British talent.

"From unmissable BBC dramas and British films to top notch entertainment there really is something for everyone on the BBC this holiday.

"If you want to put your feet up at the end of the year and be entertained by the very best in the business the BBC is the place to be."

Programme information for weeks 52 and 1 (23 December to 5 January) will be published at bbc.co.uk/pressoffice on Monday 27 November."

The news has been reported here at BBC News.

Stayed tuned - next week we're sure to have our very first offical pictures of the Sarah-Jane Adventures, and I can't wait.

Christmas can't come soon enough!

Listen In Carefully...

A quick heads up: the BBC Children in Need Doctor Who Concert aired over the weekend, and raised over £52,000 for the charity!

As well as featuring music from the first two series of Doctor Who (including the Sarah Jane-centric "School Reunion") the event also housed a neat Russell T Davies questiona nd answer session. He told the audience that this year's Doctor Who Christmas Special ("The Runaway Bride" with Catherine Tate) is scheuled to air on Chistmas Day, with the Sarah Jane Adventures special set to follow it "over the next couple of weeks".

Is this our closest indication so far for a New Year's Day launch?

The concert is available to listen to for the next 5 days over at the Radio Wales site.

Don't Go Down That Hole...

This week the kasterborous news site reported that the Tom Baker adventure, "Planet of Evil" is set for release in 2007.

1975's "PLANET OF EVIL"

The underated classic, from 1975, features Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah-Jane Smith. The story sees the TARDIS land on a world, under attack by strange anti-matter creatures... Can the Doctor and Sarah save the lives of the Earth exploration crew trapped on the planet? "Genesis of the Daleks" director David Maloney (recently deceased) returned to helm the adventure.

For viewers of the new David Tennant series, it's interesting to note that the story's theme; a planet of pure evil (apparently, at first sight). An influences on this series "The Satan Pit" adventure perhaps? Hell (pardon the pun) the Fourth Doctor even ventures down a hole in the ground to confront the threat!

The story's release hasn't been confirmed by either the BBC or the Restoration Team - and neither has the previously mentioned "The Time Warrior" release. We'll have to wait and see how things pan out I guess.

If the story's true, we could be looking at a Sarah-Jane packed year in 2007.

Who are we to complain?

All Good Things...

The nervous wait for Sarah-Jane's Smith's first spin-off adventure since December 1981 (k9 and Company, fact fans) continues in earnest, with very little actual news to report.

THE STORY OF SARAH-JANE SMITH...

However, SFX Magazine issue 151 arrived on my doorstep yesterday, and although it doesn't feature any Sarah-Jane Adventures news like I'd hoped, in the 'next issue' section, we're promised: "Next Month; Doctor Who 'The Runaway Bride' and beyond. And by beyond we mean season three and Sarah Jane Adventures!" The countdown begins for issue 152 today. It's expected to hit news stands on Wednesday 20th December 2006, although subscribers will no doubt receive their copies early.

In the only other news of the day, DWM's latest special, "In Their Own Words - Volume Two" has been released. It covers the years 1970 - 1976, and talks about the casting and development of Sarah-Jane Smith. As it's an "In Their Own Words" memoir, there's interviews with Elisabeth Sladen, and her collagues on the show. An intersting read it is too! It's out now at all WHSmith's priced £5.99 - so go by it!

Alas, we'll have to wait until November 2007 for Volume Three - which promises to feature the story of robot dog K9!

And that's it for now. Fingers crossed that some more official news is released soon enough - or you'll have to endure my random ramblings for even longer! Take care guys and gals, and I'l see you all again very soon...

What's In A Name?

It's a known fact that Doctor Who fans are referred to as "Whovians" these days. Star Trek fans are "Trekkies". Hell, even Torchwood fans have a title ("Woodies" - thanks to kurly over at Torchwood.TV). So, just what are fans of Sarah-Jane Smith and her forthcoming spin-off called?

It's an essential debate, in days when news is thin on the ground!

There's a competition over at the Outpost Gallifrey forums to find a title, with some of the potentials listed below:

Janeys
Adventurers
Janeites
Smithys / Smithies
Smithers
Sladenites
Smithereens (seriously!)
Sarites

As you can probably see (!) there's no definite front runner yet. But I'm opting for "Smithies", and it's the title I'm be using more than any other on this site. It's got a nice ring to it, and I love thinking that I'm part of the Smith family!

*Giggles*

Please, leave a comment below explaining which of the above is your preferred choice - and if your comments are good enough, they may just tempt me to switching titles!

Until then, see you all soon, Smithies...

More Tantalising Details...

The latest issue of DWM, issue 376 (which hit news stands last week) has a small section of news regarding the development of The Sarah Jane Adventures. The magazine confirms:

NEW YEAR'S DAY - BBC ONE?

"The Sarah Jane adventures Special, starring Elisabeth Sladen and Yasmin Paige, and planned for BBC One broadcast in the New Year, has now finished shooting in Cardiff.

Producer Susie Liggat says: 'We're now locked away in the edit, signing off Visual FX shots for the Mill - and we've already got some brilliant images, they've going to look amazing! (Director) Colin Teague has really pulled all the stops out. We're delighted with it, and we can promise something really special to add to the Doctor Who universe. Also, in the cast list, we can now announce Tom Kihjt as "The Boy"' "

The Christmas Schedules are being finalised now - and the christmas listings magazines are expected to go on sale within the next three weeks. It does look like (at the moment) the SJA one-off Special, "Sarah Jane Investigates", will air in the afternoon on New Year's Day - aimed very much at a family audience. Exact TX details will follow when they're made available.
In other news, I'm very sorry about the 'missing' two parts to my "Children's Television" examination. A lack of time has resulted in my being away from the computer for longer than I would like - but I can promise that the articles will appear next week at some point. So keep reading!

Return soon, for all that Sarah-Jane goodness!

Who's A Good Dog?

Scrowling around the internet, I managed to find this neat little teaser poster (from parkentertainment's website) for the new K9 Adventures series.

Interestingly, the production company lists the series as a "comedy" - and it confirms that they'll be 26 half hour episodes, due some time in 2007/8.

Keep watching the site as we bring you up to date news on that series, as well as the more mainstream Sarah Jane Adventures.

Toodles.

Children, Are You Watching?

Some important news surrounding the current output of Children's TV over at the BBC. The BBC's own news service explains some changes that are to be implimented in 2007 - changes that will, of course, cover the development of Sarah-Jane Adventures:

The BBC is to revamp its digital channels CBeebies and CBBC, with "fewer but higher quality" programmes. "CBBC is due for refreshing, we were losing four to five-year-olds, especially boys," said CBeebies creative director Michael Carrington.

He said there would be "fewer, bigger and better" programmes and boys had already started returning with shows like Lunar Jim and Underground Ernie.

CBeebies, aimed at pre-schoolers, will now target those up to the age of six.

Extending the reach to six-year-olds means there are another one million viewers to target.
"It's an exciting time for us," said Mr Carrington.

CBBC's creative director Anne Gilchrist said the channel, for six to 12-year-olds, would create more "ambitious programming" such as spy drama MI High, the new-look Jackanory with CGI features, and quest-based drama The Roman Mysteries.

The next major programme launch for CBeebies is In The Night Garden, which Mr Carrington described as "Teletubbies for the Millennium".

Higher programming quality? More money spent on programming? Is this the first indication that Sarah Jane Adventures will, unlike most feared, have a decent sized budget? Such a move would guarentee bums on seats when the series debuts, because if therw's one thing children hate, it's cheap television.

A greater budget would indicate that the BBC want a wider children's audience, especially for "quality drama" like SJA. So, should we mark the series down as a centre point of the BBC's Childen's schedule...?

Fingers crossed...

Warrior of Time

I'm hearing rumours that next year will see the launch of classic series adventure, "The Time Warrior" on DVD. The story features the Third Doctor, as played by Jon Pertwee, and includes the introduction of both the Sontaran race, and Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah-Jane Smith.

LIS SLADEN IN "THE TIME WARRIOR" 1973

It's not known if the adventure will be a standard edition (like the recent "The Sontaran Experiment") or a worthier Special Edition. Whatever the case, true fans of Sarah-Jane can't afford to miss out...

Now, about "The Invisable Enemy"...

UPDATE: It now seems like "The Time Meddler", a 1965 adventure starring William Hartnell, will feature amongst next year's DVD selection...