The Sarah Jane Adventures recommissioned for Series 4 & 5
CBBC has commissioned a fourth season and fifth season of the Doctor Who spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures, which will see the intrepid investigative journalist and her gang of young sidekicks continue to enthral children for the foreseeable future.
> Buy the Series 1 boxset on Amazon.
> Buy the Series 2 boxset on Amazon.
> Buy the Series 3 boxset on Amazon.
Watch the Series 4 trailer...
> Catch up with our Series 3 episode guide.
> Read our interview with Elisabeth Sladen.
Who's back?
Series 4 will again star Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane. Young actors Tommy Knight, Daniel Anthony and Anjli Mohindra return as popular regulars Luke, Clyde and Rani.
Who's guest-starring?
A galaxy of guest stars are lined up to appear in the series, including Laila Rouass (Primeval) and Cheryl Campbell (Pennies From Heaven), whilst David Bradley (Argus Filch in Harry Potter) will provide the voice of the Shansheeth.
Is it true that we'll see The Doctor return too?
The Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith) will appear in a special edition of the show, penned by executive producer Russell T Davies. He'll be joined by another of the Doctor's former companions, Jo Grant (Katy Manning).
What will this story involve?
Executive producer Nikki Wilson says: "We are absolutely thrilled to be introducing Sarah Jane and the gang to both The Eleventh Doctor and Jo Grant, and to have a script penned by Russell T Davies is the icing on the cake! Viewers are in for a real treat, with an action-packed story full of Russell's usual wit and warmth, which takes the gang inside a secret base beneath Snowdon and introduces brand-new vulture aliens, the mysterious Shansheeth."
When does the show return?
Set to air in autumn 2010, Series 4's 12 x 30-minute episodes will go into production in Cardiff in March with Series 3 producer Nikki Wilson stepping up alongside Russell T Davies as executive producer and new producer Brian Minchin joining the team. Writers on the fourth series include Phil Ford (also co-producer), Joseph Lidster, Rupert Laight, Gareth Roberts and Clayton Hickman.
What's coming up?
The new adventures will feature the usual mixture of thrills, scares and fun with enemies old and new, including the terrors of the Nightmare Man, the sinister Shansheeth, the series' first visit to an alien world, and even a dangerous journey back into history.
When will Series 5 air?
The fifth series, also of 12 x 30-minute episodes, will go into production in 2011 for transmission later that year.
