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Wednesday, 20 April 2011

The Memory of a Doctor Who Legend: A Tear, Sarah Jane?

The official Doctor Who BBC site released a commemorative article about Elisabeth Sladen and the indelible mark she made on millions. These are the highlights of their personal testimonials from those involved in her career, followed by some our own readers' comments.

Apparently having suffered from cancer even during the filming for Series 5 of her hit children's drama The Sarah Jane Adventures, Elisabeth Sladen passed away at only 63. She leaves behind actor and loving husband Brian Miller and her daughter Sadie.
The Sarah Jane Adventures brought Lis a whole new generation of fans who grew up to love her alien-busting adventures. The series was hugely popular with fans young and old and won this year's RTS Award for best children's drama.
Controller of CBBC Damian Kavanagh said tonight: "I'm deeply saddened and shocked by the news of Lis' untimely death. Lis brought joy, excitement and a sense of wonder to her many fans in her role as Sarah Jane Smith. She was adored by our young audience and I know all of them will miss her as much as I will." 
The creator of The Sarah Jane Adventures Russell T Davies said: "I absolutely loved Lis. She was funny and cheeky and clever and just simply wonderful. The universe was lucky to have Sarah Jane Smith; the world was lucky to have Lis." 
Steven Moffat, Doctor Who's Lead Writer and Executive Producer said: "'Never meet your heroes' wise people say. They weren't thinking of Lis Sladen. 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. 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 fifty years from now."
Keith Jones, Director, BBC Cymru Wales, said: "The Sarah Jane Adventures has been one of the most successful children's programmes on television in recent years - and without Elisabeth Sladen it would not have happened. A brilliant presence on screen and on set, she brought the excitement and energy of the Doctor Who family of programmes, of which we are very proud at BBC Wales, to a whole new generation. She will be missed by all at BBC Wales who worked with her." 
Roger Carey, who represented Lis for many years, said, "She was not just a client, but a dear friend. She was so positive about life and her natural energy was intoxicating. She couldn't believe her luck when her career was resurrected in her own series."
The Doctor Who News Page has reported further condolences from across the Web, mostly Twitter.
John Barrowman, who worked with Sladen on Doctor Who, posted on twitter: "I loved my time on the Tardis with her. I am proud to have worked with such an icon of the sci fi world, your Dr Who family are very sad and will miss you and your beautiful smile." 
Mark Gatiss Doctor Who writer and actor, posted on twitter: "A tear, Sarah Jane?' Farewell to the wonderful, irreplaceable Lis Sladen." 
Paul Cornell, Doctor Who writer tweeted: "Very sorry to hear about Elisabeth Sladen, a great actor, special to everyone of my generation and a whole new one." 
Colin Baker: Very sad to hear of the death of Lis Sladen. Great sympathy for her husband and daughter. She was far too young to be lost to them. 
Gareth Roberts: Can't really find the words. Goodbye, our wonderful wonderful Lis. 
Matthew Graham: Sarah Jane was a childhood pal, a childhood crush, a childhood hero. And she never stopped being. Goodbye Mistress. Xxx 
Lizo Mzimba: Very sad news that Elisabeth Sladen has died. 
Nicola Bryant: I'm so sorry to have to say I've just had a call to say Liz Sladen has died. It's too much to take in, but it's true. How tragically young. 
Phil Ford: Sarah Jane was my Companion as a kid. To later know Lis and write for her and share a laugh with her was a privilege. 
Joe Lidster: The last time I saw Lis. http://bit.ly/9uP9QJ The interview shows her fantastic sense of humour & how much she cared about the show. Lovely. 
James Moran: Without Elisabeth Sladen, the world is a less magical place. Can't believe she's gone. You'll be missed, Sarah Jane. So much. 
Murray Gold: Elisabeth Sladen enchanted three generations, never seeming to age, tire or cloud. RIP
Mark Ayres: Elisabeth Sladen, the actress who played Sarah Jane Smith; friend and colleague. We are in shock. Love to Brian and Sadie. R.I.P. xx 
Ed Stradling: V sorry to hear the shock news about Lis Sladen. . . .
Toby Hadoke: I hate today, unbelievable. My eyes are stinging with tears. My children will be devastated tomorrow. By God she was good. RIP Lis Sladen. 
Tom Spilsbury: I feel utterly drained. Farewell, Lis - I'm so sorry I didn't have the chance to say goodbye. We'll do you proud in DWM, I promise. 
Benjamin Cook: Lovely lady. Met her many times over the years. She was always so kind. Heartfelt condolences to Brian & Sadie. Such sad news. 
Clayton Hickman: Will miss Lis Sladen more than I can say. A beautiful person and an outstanding actor. Oh it's all too sad for words. 
Gary Gillatt: A hand, tight on your arm; anxious, uncertain. But you're amazing, you would say. Thank you, she'd reply, are you sure? Yes, Lis. Amazing. 
Stephen Fry: What terribly sad news about Elisabeth Sladen - her Sarah Jane was part of my childhood. Deepest sympathy to her family. 
Noel Clarke #SARAHJANESMITHLIVES because Elisabeth Sladen made her Great. Liz, you were awesome and will be missed 
Neil Gorton Big sadness. Rest in Peace
Follow Noel Clarke's style by using the Twitter hashtag #SARAHJANESMITHLIVES. Meanwhile, here are some of our favourite comments from our original post about Elisabeth Sladen's death.

Graske's Corner:
Liz in your words "life on earth can be an adventure too, you just need to know where to look", and you knew where to look, and you showed it off, your always with me, My sarah jane smith
RabidPuppyDesign:
I refuse to belive it, its spread through the internet like wild fire! and as far as im aware their was no info or anything on Lis having cancer before this. Maybe im just being stupidly Optomisitc :-( You will be missed sorely :'(
Combom himself:
damn, i never saw that coming! RIP
Collin Kelley:
Absolutely devastated by this news. Part of my childhood has gone with her. I hope they were able to get a few episodes of the next series of SJA completed so we can see them. I had no idea she had cancer, which makes it even more of a shock. Gutted.
Cody:
I am sitting at my desk at work, and literally just started to cry enough that I had to excuse myself. 
There are no words. <3
seanw500:
Today I watched Whatever Happened To Sarah Jane on CBBC, where it shows what life would be like without Sarah Jane... Now it's all too real :'(
newelectricmuse:
Goodbye Sarah Jane...loved by fans of the original Doctor Who and by a whole new generation of children who made her own series such a success. Sincere condolences to Lis Sladen's family - I hope it helps to know that many will be crying with you tonight, and even more tomorrow when Sarah Jane's young fans wake up to hear this sad news. 
Rest in peace Lis.
The Dark Chronicles:
RIP Elisabeth, very sad news. I would like to see the series somehow honour her or have a small nod to this news. Either in the main series or in SJA. It wouldn't take much, it would have to be one scene. Like the doctor, amy and rory are somewhere else and the doctor just "knows" somethings wrong so takes the Tardis to her house or something and theres the funeral car outside and then amy's like who was she? And he's like "the greatest woman i never knew" x x
Mike Jackson:
When Tom Baker first strode across a TV screen when I first discovered Doctor Who, Liz Sladen was right behind him speaking sense to silliness and I was in love with her ever since. Saying she was my favorite seems like something she'd chide us for like, "Hey, give the next girl a chance, you'll like her too!" because Liz was always invariably described as that sort of generous person. And she'd have been right; so many favorites, but she was the tops among a sea of them. 
I can't make sense, it's all too sudden - terrible things should never happen on a Tuesday, but they do...
richardwatts:
Devastating news. Thank you Lis, for so many remarkable and wonderful episodes of fantastic television, and for one of the best characters in the world. My deepest sympathies to your family, as well as your television family at Bannerman Road.
quaint singularity:
I'm just so devastated by this news! Elizabeth Sladen is one of the most beautiful people on the planet, inside and out. She will be missed so much, all over the world. The worst part is, you know that this is someone who had so many more stories to tell, so much talent to share with all of us. I hope they address the death of both her and Nicholas Courtney in the show. Sarah Jane and the Brigadier were such cornerstones of the Doctor Who universe, and we all feel their loss so deeply.
liminalD:
I just can't stop crying... there will be so many people out there just absolutely shattered, she was a great actress and more importantly, a truly beautiful human being... the world is truly a darker place without her in it.
Bear through it, everyone. We'll do it together.
On Earth, 1948-2011. In our hearts and memories, forever.

2 comments:

DAK4Blizzard said...

Nicholas Courtney, and now Elisabeth Sladen? This has been a rough year. Rest in peace, Elisabeth. Your memory will certainly live on!

Claude said...

This is sappy, I know. Erase it if you must.....To the tune of Elton John's "Candle in the Wind"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Good bye, Sarah Jane
And I hope you knew you were loved
Even when you screamed aloud
On planet far away

Daleks and Sontarans
Yelled for your surrender
But you never gave an inch
We knew you'd win the day.

And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a girl on borrowed time
Never knowing where you'd be next
with the Doctor or K9

The Doctor himself had flown you
To my home as a kid
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did.