Last week on April 19, 2011, the ‘Doctor Who’ world mourned the passing of Elisabeth Sladen, the most beloved companion of ‘Doctor Who’. Her character, Sarah Jane Smith was so popular that she went onto her own adventures in a spin-off series called ‘The Sarah Jane Adventures’. After almost of week for us to look back and see what we have lost, it almost made the massive world of Doctor Who a bit small for a while. As many Doctor Who fans like myself speak out about about the loss of an icon, the Doctor Who world mourn and remembers back as well:
Steven Moffat, Executive Producer and Lead Writer: ‘Never meet your heroes,’ wise people say. They weren’t thinking of Lis Sladen,” he said. “Sarah Jane Smith was everybody’s hero when I was younger, and as brave and funny and brilliant as people only ever are in stories. But many years later, when I met the real Sarah Jane—Lis Sladen herself—she was exactly as any child ever have wanted her to be. Kind and gentle and clever; and a ferociously talented actress, of course, but in that perfectly English unassuming way.”
Tom Baker, the Fourth Doctor: “Those sweet memories of happy days with Lis Sladen, the lovely, witty, kind and so talented Lis Sladen. I am consoled by the memories. I was there, I knew her, she was good to me and I shall always be grateful, and I shall miss her.”
Matt Smith, the current and Eleventh Doctor: “What struck me about Lis was her grace. She welcomed me, educated me, and delighted me with her tales and adventures on Doctor Who. And she also seemed to have a quality of youth that not many people retain as they go through life. Her grace and kindness will stay with me because she had such qualities in abundance and shared them freely. I will miss her, as will the world of ‘Doctor Who’ and all the Doctors that had the good pleasure to work with Lis Sladen and travel the universe with Sarah Jane.”
David Tennant, the Tenth Doctor: “I just can’t believe that Lis is gone. She seemed invincible. The same woman who enchanted my childhood, enchanted my time on ‘Doctor Who’ and enchanted generations who have watched her and fallen in love with her—just like I did. I feel very honoured to have shared a TARDIS with Sarah Jane Smith, and I feel very lucky to have shared some time with Lis Sladen. She was extraordinary.”
More from Steven Moffat: “There are a blessed few who can carry a whole television show on their talent and charisma—but I can’t think of one other who’s done it quite so politely. I once showed my son Joshua an old episode of ‘Doctor Who,’ in which Lis appeared. ‘But that’s Sarah Jane,’ he said, confused, ‘In old “Doctor Who.” From years ago. How come she always look exactly the same?’ It’s not a comfort today, of course, but children will still be saying that 50 years from now.”
On Saturday, the premiere of the sixth season of ‘Doctor Who’ premiered on BBC America. Unfortunately, while a tribute to Elisabeth Sladen aired over in the UK, it didn’t over here in the States. As disappointed we were about it, we are glad that fans were able to find it and post in online for our viewing. I said it before and I’ll say it again. We will miss you Sarah Jane.
Hit the jump and check out the tribute for Elisabeth Sladen that aired last weekend!
