Doctor Who writer: 'It was a privilege writing for Elisabeth Sladen'
Toby Whithouse reflected on working with "the most iconic actor".
Doctor Who writer Toby Whithouse has opened up about the "privilege" of writing for Elisabeth Sladen when her character, Sarah Jane Smith, was introduced into New Who.
Celebrating the show's upcoming 60th anniversary, Whithouse, who wrote the School Reunion episode, spoke exclusively to RadioTimes.com about working alongside Sladen.
"It was amazing. What a privilege, what an absolute privilege," he said.
"I'm trying to remember kind of where I was in my career, I think that she was, in a way, the most iconic actor, performer, I think I'd ever written for at that point."
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In the School Reunion episode, the Krillitanes disguise themselves as school faculty members, using the minds of children to solve a theory of everything that would allow them to control time and space.
The episode takes place some time after the events of The Christmas Invasion, and involved the Tenth Doctor (David Tennant) reuniting with former companion Sarah Jane Smith.
Whithouse added: "In hindsight, you just realise what a privilege it was. And when I met her, she was just such a delight and so lovely and so complimentary about the script. Yeah, a real, real privilege."
Reflecting on the legacy Sladen left behind, Whithouse told RadioTimes.com he had grown up watching the actress as Sarah Jane Smith when she was the companion of the Fourth Doctor.
"It was the realisation just how much those characters meant to other people", that led to her reintroduction.
Elisabeth Sladen's character Sarah Jane Smith will be making a return to screens soon, with her spin-off show K-9 and Company: A Girl's Best Friend coming to BBC iPlayer.
Read more:
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- Toby Whithouse: “Doctor Who needs to be protected”
The one-episode pilot, which was first broadcast on BBC One in December 1981, has been listed on the BBC's programme sit as "available soon".
While a date is yet to be confirmed, fans can also get an extra fix of Sarah Jane on Wednesday 1st November after it was announced that over 800 episodes of Doctor Who would be available to stream on iPlayer.
As well as classic and modern era episodes, various spin-off series, including The Sarah Jane Adventures, will be joining the streaming site.
Doctor Who is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Classic episodes are available on BritBox – you can sign up for a 7-day free trial here.
Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on.
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Authors
Katelyn Mensah is the Entertainment and Factual Writer for Radio Times, covering all major entertainment programmes, reality TV shows and the latest hard-hitting documentaries. She previously worked at The Tab, with a focus on reality TV and showbiz news and has obtained a BA (Hons) in Journalism.
