Guide Note

The Sarah Jane Adventures is a spin-off of the television series Doctor Who. It focuses on his former companion Sarah Jane Smith and several neighborhood teenagers, and their investigations into extraterrestrial and supernatural phenomena.

Fast Facts

1. Original Network: BBC One, CBBC Channel
2. US Network: Sci-Fi Channel
3. First Aired: January 1, 2007
4. Starring: Elisabeth Sladen, Yasmin Paige, Thomas Knight, and Daniel Anthony

Sarah Jane Smith was a companion of the Doctor on Doctor Who in the 1970s, and was extremely popular with audiences. In 1981, the BBC created a TV movie about her adventures on Earth with her robot dog called K-9 and Company, but despite high ratings, it was not turned into a TV series. In 2006, Sarah Jane returned to Doctor Who for one episode, along with a broken K-9. The Doctor repaired K-9 and returned him to her.

The BBC wanted a children's show focused on a teenage Doctor. Producer Russell T. Davies rejected this idea, and proposed instead a series about Sarah Jane Smith and a team of teens, investigating strange occurrences on Earth. The network agreed. K-9's appearances have been limited, as the network is developing an animated show around the character.