Tonight, the CBBC channel broadcast a special programme in tribute to Elisabeth Sladen, who died this week, aged 63.

The show featured memories of the actress from her co-stars on The Sarah Jane Adventures, Daniel Anthony, Anjli Mohindra and Tommy Knight, the two recent Doctors she worked with, David Tennant and Matt Smith, and series creator Russell T Davies, plus contributions from Katy Manning, John Barrowman and Barney Harwood. A variety of clips from throughout her 38-year association with Doctor Who appeared in the programme, including a montage at the end set the song She (as sung by Elvis Costello for the film Notting Hill).


The tribute programme is available to watch in the United Kingdom via the BBC iplayer until next Saturday (30th April).


Update: The programme was watched by 707,000 viewers when broadcast, representing some 4.1% of the audience.

The BBC have released the trailer for the next episode of Doctor Who, Day of the Moon, which will be broadcast next Saturday at 6:00pm on BBC1.



 

With media interest in the imminent return of Doctor Who running high, it is perhaps unsurprising that some of the popular characters from previous series were discussed, looking at the possibility of their return in the future.

American broadcaster NBC has announced that its morning news show Today will meet Doctor Who on 6th May! Forming part of an initiative to broadcast from places all around the world, the show's presenter Meredith Vieira will visit the set of the show in the United Kingdom, and will also feature in a cameo in an upcoming episode. It has yet to be revealed whether she will be appearing in her role as Today presenter or in some other capacity.

Vieira's appearance follows a tradition of cameos in the series, which include Barbara Windsor in Army of Ghosts, Sharon Osbourne, Anne Widdecombe and band McFly in The Sound of Drums, Richard Dawkins and Paul O'Grady in The Stolen Earth, and Patrick Moore in The Eleventh Hour, plus the vocal talents of Anne Robinson, Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine portraying their robotic counterparts in Bad Wolf.

The first four series of Doctor Who regularly featured American news reports by Trinity Wells (played by Lachele Carl) from fictional network AMNN.

Media Links: UPI

The Impossible Astronaut, the first episode of Doctor Who's sixth series (or thirty-second season, if you prefer) will air tonight at 6:00pm BST on BBC One in the UK, at 9:00pm Eastern (6:00 Pacific) on BBC America in the USA, and at 8:00pm Eastern (5:00pm Pacific) on SPACE in Canada. US viewers will also be able to purchase episodes from iTunes or Amazon Instant Video.

After the episode airs, viewers in the UK will be able to view My Sarah Jane: A Tribute to Elisabeth Sladen on the CBBC channel. Doctor Who Confidential will follow on BBC Three at 7:00pm.

Finally, to tease the final hours before the debut of The Impossible Astronaut, the BBC's Doctor Who website has posted some potentially spoilerrific photos from the episode, as well as this enigmatic video under a link to "The Silence":

Big Finish have revealed that Tom Baker's debut adventure with them as the Fourth Doctor got underway today, with the actor performing alongside Louise Jameson, who reprises her role as Leela. Recording commenced at 10:00am this morning, with the photo depicting the duo enjoying the sunny Good Friday morning beforehand.

The first series of six episodes will be available to buy on CD and via download from January 2012, and may be pre-ordered from Big Finish.


The news was first announced last month, with Big Finish clarifying that these adventures are independent to and will not clash with the successful BBC Audio adventures (with Tom Baker teamed with Richard Franklin as Mike Yates).

The actor commented:
Louise Jameson added:
Producer David Richardson has also revealed that the adventures will utilise the 'gothic' wooden console room from Season 14!

With the sad news of the death of Elisabeth Sladen still raw in many people's minds and so difficult to comprehend, many fans around the world have been making their own tributes to a woman who was such a central part of so many childhoods.

British folk singer Talis Kimberley has recorded her own tribute, Goodnight Sarah Jane, available as a download from her website. Kimberley says "this is my tribute to the actor Lis Sladen. Along with many other people I was desparately saddened to hear of her death; her portrayal of Sarah-Jane Smith was an inspiration during two periods of my life."

Other tracks released include Companion by Parralox and What's the Story Sarah Jane by New Magnet.

The tribute page in Gallifrey Base now stands at over 2000 posts and a special thread has been setup where fans can post their own artwork. Meanwhile a whole new generation of fans have been expressing their sense of loss on the BBC's Newsround page, which has had its biggest response ever to a story covered on the site. Some of the messages from children are read out by the co-stars of The Sarah Jane Adventures, Tommy Knight and Daniel Anthony, who are mourning the loss of the woman they called their "Mother Hen, ...always smiling, always laughing".

Many fans have made their own tribute videos which can be found on YouTube. Dork Tower, the online comic, has also produced its own cartoon in tribute.

A group of fans have launched a JustGiving site raising money for the charity Cancer Research UK, in memory of the actress. To date over £3000 has been raised. Other fans have been donating to the Lymphoedema Support Network, which was understood to be a charity the actress supported. A JustGiving site has been set up to buy an imaginary pint to toast Sarah Jane.

The BBC's programme in memory of Elisabeth Sladen, My Sarah Jane, which contains contributions from many of those who worked with her, can be seen in the UK on CBBC at 6.45pm Saturday, directly after Doctor Who finishes on BBC One.


News links: Obituary, Doctors pay tribute, Elisabeth Sladen Tributes, Press Roundup

BBC America have released another clip from Doctor Who Insider, looking ahead to the new adventures starting this Saturday

This week's Doctor Who Adventures features a new cover design, and comes with either a free TARDIS money-box or Doctor Who pencil set.

The magazine is also launching a competition to win a Sony Cyber-Shot Camera by submitting a photo of the TARDIS in the "craziest place imaginable", closing date 18th May 2011. (see our earlier article for readers' votes on TARDIS landing sites)

Also in this issue:

• Letter from the Doctor
• Who’s Who – get up to speed with Doctor Who!
• Top secret preview of Episode 1 – The Impossible Astronaut!
• Mega Who Win – win over £1,000 of prizes!
• Matt Smith interview
• AAAGH comic – William and Katie ask the Ood for wedding help!
• Meet the monster panel – DWA’s own quality control crew!
• We Want Answers – The Doctor Who mysteries we hope they solve this year!
• Doctor, Doctor – the Doctor answers YOUR questions!
• Silence scares!

Plus the usual comic strip adventures, exclusive posters and puzzles.


Issue 214 of Doctor Who Adventures is out in the UK now.

BBC Worldwide have revealed the results of a poll undertaken to see where readers of Doctor Who Adventures would like the TARDIS to land:


The new issue of Doctor Who Adventures (214), features a competition for readers to submit photos of the TARDIS in the "craziest place imaginable", with the chance to win a Sony Cyber-Shot camera. Full details of the competition are in the magazine.

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Of course, the Doctor has already visited the Olympic Stadium on screen, with his tenth incarnation arriving in time for the Opening Ceremony (Fear Her, 2006). Indeed, it was the Doctor himself who saved the Games by carrying the Torch to its final destination - and lighting the Olympic Flame!