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June 1st, 2012 8 comments

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Elisabeth Sladen The Autobiography (P/back)

Elisabeth Sladen: The Autobiography (Paperback) Released July 2012

Foreword by David Tennant

The autobiography of Elisabeth Sladen, the actress behind Sarah Jane Smith, Doctor Who’s most popular companion

Published posthumously, with the support and participation of Elisabeth’s family, this is a warm and witty celebration of an actress who delighted generations of children and is fondly remembered by fans young and old alike

After returning to Doctor Who in 2006, Elisabeth starred in her own spin-off series The Sarah Jane Adventures, which became CBBC’s highest-rated show.

When Elisabeth Sladen first appeared as plucky journalist Sarah Jane Smith in 1973 Doctor Who story The Time Warrior, little did she know the character would become one of the most enduring and fondly remembered of the series’ long history.

Cover image above via the Aurum Press twitter page

The years that followed saw Elisabeth traverse time and space alongside classic Doctors Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker, whilst a generation of children crouched behind the sofa, terrified but transfixed as their tea-time heroine found herself menaced by Daleks, dinosaurs, Cybermen, Egyptian mummies, extras in Bubble Wrap and even the Loch Ness Monster. By the time she quit the TARDIS in 1976, making front-page news, Elisabeth had become one of the most familiar faces of a TV golden age.

But you don’t just walk away from Doctor Who. Elisabeth was asked to reprise the role many times, appearing in anniversary specials; an ill-fated 1981 spin-off with robotic sidekick K-9; radio plays; and for the BBC’s Children in Need. She toured the weird, wide and wonderful world of Doctor Who fandom and became one of the series’ all-time favourite companions. So when TV wunderkind Russell T Davies approached her to come back again, this time to a Doctor Who backed by multi-million-pound budgets and garlanded with critical plaudits, how could she refuse?

This warm and witty autobiography, completed only months before Elisabeth died in April 2011, tells her remarkable story, from humble beginnings in post-war Liverpool, through an acclaimed theatrical career working alongside stage luminaries such as Alan Ayckbourn, to Coronation Street, Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em and the furthest reaches of the Universe.

A unique, insider’s view of the world’s longest running science fiction series, and of British television yesterday and today, Elisabeth’s memoir is funny, ridiculous, insightful and entertaining and a fitting tribute to a woman who will be sadly missed by millions.

Elisabeth Sladen played Sarah Jane Smith in Doctor Who and The Sarah Jane Adventures. She also appeared in Coronation Street, Z-Cars and Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em among others, and enjoyed a long, successful and very happy career in the theatre. She died in April 2011.

The Hardback version already available…


Categorised under: Autobiographies and biographies, Books

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8 comments

  • unknown

    August 17th, 2012 - 11:39pm

    I’ve never read the book, but from what I’ve seen of her on the sarah Jane adventures, Dr. Who and on the Tv talk show ‘The Right Stuff’ she is soooo cool, and such a wonderful person.

    And when I say ‘she IS soooo cool’ To me in my heart she is still with us.

    I just wish I had the chance to meet her in person.

    She will be most defanitley missed.

    Reply
  • hayden7257

    June 1st, 2012 - 9:17pm

    so sad glad theyre thinking of her 🙁

    Reply
  • the TARDIS

    June 1st, 2012 - 4:09pm

    Got this in hardback for Christmas. Read it on the train to and back from Cardiff for the convention. One of the best non-fiction Who-related books I have ever read. Not as good as having her at the convention though. That would have been brilliant! Such a shame she’s gone.

    Reply
  • joseph0332

    June 1st, 2012 - 3:58pm

    after getting Patrick troughtons and I’ve enjoyed it so far I might buy this one

    Reply
  • gary

    June 1st, 2012 - 1:36pm

    That’s a nice cover!!

    Reply
    • joshua leslie exley

      June 7th, 2012 - 12:35pm

      i love Sarah Jane Smith,

  • TARDIS

    June 1st, 2012 - 1:25pm

    what dose farward bt david tennant mean

    Reply
    • booboo

      June 1st, 2012 - 1:29pm

      it means he has written an article to start the book off

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