Quote:Current Doctor Who head writer Steven Moffat added: "'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."

Quote:Lis Sladen
1948 - 2011
Sarah Jane dead?  No, impossible!  Impossible.  Only last week I
agreed to do six new audio adventures with her for Big Finish
Productions.

She can't be dead.  But she is: she died yesterday morning.  Cancer.
 I had no idea she was ill; she was so private, never wanted any fuss,
and now, gone.  A terrible blow to her friends and a shattering blow for
all those fans of the programme whose lives were touched every Saturday
evening by her lovely heroic character, Sarah-Jane Smith.

Lis Sladen was very important to me, you know. When I joined the
little world of Doctor Who, Lis was already a star.  She had an
enormous success with Jon Pertwee.  She was good pals with the
Brigadier, our beloved Nicholas Courtney; she knew all the regular
directors.  She was adored by Barry Letts, the producer who cast her in
the role.  She always said she was Barry's girl.  It was for that
reason she decided to leave the show.  But it was not necessary at all.
 The fans adored her, Philip Hinchcliffe, our new and glamorous
producer, adored her, so did David Maloney, her favourite director.

Terry Walsh, the regular stunt man adored her.  Once in deep, dark
Wooky Hole caves Lis was almost swept away in a small boat, fifty feet
from a terrifying black hole that looked like the entrance to hell.  In
a flash Terry Walsh dived in and caught the boat and all was well,
thanks to the devotion of Terry.  Lis was safe and and the show could
go on.
So when I replaced Jon Pertwee, it must have been an anxious time
for Lis; it was a very anxious time for me.  Following in the big
footsteps of Jon was daunting.  Tom Baker?  Never heard of him.  And so
we started on the first story under Barry Letts as director.  We did
the location stuff first and I just obeyed orders; running about, with
the Brigadier and that silly car Bessie Trotwood, I think it was
called: too small for me, but also in its own way a "character".  Jon
loved cars.  

 

But back in the rehearsal room things were quieter and there was
time to put in little details, time for Lis and me to get acquainted,
time for me to try and make a little mark, so to speak.  And Lis
laughed at my silly antics; yes, she did, she laughed me to success.
 We both came from Liverpool, that small detail helped.  We both loved
old movies.  And quite suddenly Lis and Ian Marter and Tom Baker were a
trio.  It is so consoling when one is sad and bereft to remember the
good times, the laughter, the glamour; yes, the glamour: we three
switched on the lights at Blackpool!   A very great honour.  We
performed a little melodrama directed by (guess who?) yes, David
Maloney! And now Lis was adored by Ian Marter and Tom Baker
too.
And it never ceased. And in the evenings Lis, would simply disappear
back to wherever we were staying and the rest of us would often be
raucous!   And too soon she decided to leave; no fuss at all, all was
calm.  And Philip Hinchcliffe gave her lovely farewell party at the
Hilton.   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.