Once you got to know Nick, you loved everything about him. We were a double act. I loved everything he did. I would have loved him as Othello. All other critical faculties were abandoned. You just couldn’t explain yourself. It was almost like someone saying, ‘What an Earth do you see in her?’ or ‘What on Earth do you see in him?’ Once you actually love someone, you just love being with them – and I loved being with Nick.

Right up until the reveal, people are enjoying trying to guess. Is she really on the Doctor’s side? Or is there something more to her? Is she actually not such a good person? Even once we know who River is, I don’t think we’ve lost her potential for adventure.

If this episode works like it’s meant to work, you will go from curiosity, thinking ‘who is this person?’ – to amusement – ‘She’s very funny, she’s mad, oh my God, she’s biting him, she’s a bit weird! – to irritation – ‘Why is she so high and mighty?’ – to heartbreak, genuine, absolute real heartbreak. And to joy.

The Sarah Jane Companion
Volume Two

The ultimate guide to the adventures of the Doctor’s best-loved companion, as played by Elisabeth Sladen.

Written and researched by Andrew Pixley.

Sarah Jane Smith – journalist, mother and friend of the Doctor. Over the last few years, Sarah Jane has been responsible for saving the Earth on countless occasions. With the help of her robot dog K9, her computer Mr Smith, her son Luke, and her young friends Clyde Langer and Rani Chandra, she’s faced a multitude of menaces including Judoon, Shansheeth, Slitheen, the Trickster... even the Mona Lisa! And twice recently, she was visited by the last of the Time Lords, in remarkable adventures that would test her courage to the limit.

Doctor Who Magazine takes you behind the scenes of Series Three and Four of The Sarah Jane Adventures with an in-depth episode guide – including original storylines, deleted scenes, media appearances, ratings information and thousands of facts about the day-to-day life of the making of the award-winning programme – all illustrated with gorgeous, never-before-seen photographs. This collectors’ edition examines Prisoner of the Judoon, The Mad Woman in the Attic, The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith, The Eternity Trap, Mona Lisa’s Revenge, The Gift, The Nightmare Man, The Vault of Secrets, Death of the Doctor, The Empty Planet, Lost in Time and Goodbye, Sarah Jane Smith, as well as the Alien Files, the specially-made trailers and more.

Just as it was for everybody else, it was a massive, massive shock on Tuesday evening, when I heard the news of Elisabeth Sladen’s passing. It scarcely seemed possible. It was sadly ironic that we’d just received copies of the latest DWM Special in the office that morning; this one focusing on The Sarah Jane Adventures. I was greatly looking forward to seeing Lis’ reaction to the magazine. She was always so kind in complimenting the work we put into the mag – but in truth we could never do any of it without the huge support of the people who make the programmes. Elisabeth was more generous than anyone in offering up her time for interviews.

This DWM Special Edition is officially published today, and although it certainly wasn’t intended to be a commemoration of Elisabeth’s life and career, I hope people enjoy it, and find comfort in the huge amount of pleasure she gave to millions of viewers – children of all generations. In due course, DWM will be publishing a proper tribute issue, which will look at Elisabeth’s life, with contributions from friends and colleagues.

"In this digital age it is really heartening to see that our top brands continue to have huge appeal with the pre-teen audience. In particular, I am delighted with the performance of Doctor Who Adventures magazine – up by an impressive 26.8% year on year – demonstrating the continuing strength of the title and the increased interested generated by Matt Smith in his role as the Doctor.

Doctor Who has been the biggest thing in my life really, and it’s entirely because I was scared stiff of it – but I loved it,". "It didn’t traumatise me, and a healthy scare is as important as a good laugh. It’s exactly the same emotion, I think. Steven Moffat said to me, ‘Make a Barret home terrifying like you did in Crooked House,’ but Crooked House was on at ten o’clock at night, this is on at six. You have to find that balance...