Despite comments that he let the opportunity go last month, "Doctor Who" producer Russell T Davies is going forward and has created "The Sarah Jane Adventures", a brand new spin-off series for CBBC reports The BBC.
Set in present-day West London, the programme stars Elisabeth Sladen, continuing her much-loved role as Sarah Jane Smith. Smith was a former companion of the Third and Fourth Doctors from 1973 to 1976, and is cited by many fans of the long running "Doctor Who" franchise as 'the best he ever had'. Smith reprised her role in the third episode of the second season of the relaunched "Who".
A 60-minute special will be broadcast in early 2007, with a series following later in the year. In the special, Sarah and her 13-year-old neighbour Maria (Yasmin Paige) form an unlikely alliance to fight evil alien forces at work in Britain, and against the scheming Ms Wormwood. That role will be played by Samantha Bond, best known as Miss Moneypenny in the Pierce Brosnan James Bond films.
Filming begins next month on location in Wales, with the series going into production in spring 2007. K-9, the faithful robot dog and Sarah Jane's goodbye present from The Doctor, makes an appearance in the special but will not appear in the series.
