Elisabeth Sladen 1948-2011

Just seen over on GB that Elisabeth Sladen has passed away due to cancer. Very very sad and shocking news, from what I can gather I wasn't the only fan who was unaware of her illness.

RIP, a true childhood hero for many generations.

Words fail, truly. I'll miss her.

very sad. Memory eternal.

"I feel like an iceberg. Bits of me keep breaking off and melting away."
Whilst the death of Nicholas Courtney earlier this year was entirely expected, today's news that Elisabeth Sladen has passed away came as a complete surprise. I met her once and she was as completely charming in real life as she was on screen. This has been one hell of a shock, and she will be missed.

This is desperately sad. She's thought of as the cream of Doctor Who companions for a reason. I'll miss her.

I have been out having a wonderful evening and have returned to this shock news. The fact that Lis had cancer actually explains quite a few things that have happened over the past 6-9 months.

For me Sarah Jane was, and likely always will be, the greatest companion of them all. Not so much the modern version, but the original. The interplay between Lis and Tom was truly special.

I can still vividly remember squeeing like a little fanboy when I first met Lis, especially emabarrasing as it was JNT who introduced us. But it was a wonderful experience.

RIP Lis, you will be sorely missed.

I had no idea she was ill. Far too young.

Absolutely shocked, and had no idea she was ill. You can see her impact from some of the messages tonight - fans remembering her meaning for them, and others wondering how they'll tell their kids that Sarah Jane's died.

i'm really gutted.

but what a legacy! -kids then and now all loved her. RIP Lis.

I wonder how the kids at work will take this - they love the SJA. The lady has made such an impact on so many.

What a shocking piece of news. Words truly fail me.

Thank you, Lis. You will truly be missed.

Sarah Jane, like the Brigadier before her, had the honour of being one of the few characters synonymous with the programme. Starting watching Dr Who when I did around the advent of Tom Baker, she was the companion and remained so in my eyes for years after her departure, and no small part of that was down to the actress, whose performance always matched that of her co-star.

My condolences to her family and friends.

I heard it on the 8 o'clock news on Radio 4. When I heard 'Elisabeth Sladen who...' in the past tense I guessed what was coming but the shock was enormous as I had no idea she was ill and sixty three is no age at all. Very upsetting.

The Sun says:"Greatest Dr Who girl ever".

This morning, I find this particularly poignant.

Tom Baker's tribute to her here: http://www.tom-baker.co.uk/pages/content/index.asp?PageID=159 He mentions that he was meant to be doing Big Finish with her, which I guess is one of the things Tony is referring to.

And tributes from CBBC viewers here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_9460000/newsid_9463000/9463099.stm which shows what she meant to the youngsters too.

There were a few things Nick, the most obvious being the fact that they filmed 6 episodes of Series 5 of SJA late Summer/Early Autumn last year.

Lis went to a "Health Farm" for a while ahead of the SJA Series 4 promotion. She also pulled out of the Time 4 Convention in October for what, at the time, seemed somewhat spurious reasons.

When the PR announcement about Tom doing BF was released it stated Louise and Mary as companions. Clearly the intention was orginally also for Lis as well.

It all now adds up. She carried on filming during the earlier stages of her battle and did her very best until she could then try and focus on beating the cancer. It's so sad that, ultimately, it beat her.

It may also explain them filming the SJA finale along with the first two episodes.

Really is such sad news.

Terribly sad news, and such a shock. We're very lucky that she's left us such a legacy.

Nick Barlow wrote:Tom Baker's tribute to her here: http://www.tom-baker.co.uk/pages/content/index.asp?PageID=159 He mentions that he was meant to be doing Big Finish with her, which I guess is one of the things Tony is referring to.

And tributes from CBBC viewers here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_9460000/newsid_9463000/9463099.stm which shows what she meant to the youngsters too.

Very touching indeed.

Can't say it any better than Lee did.

Very sad, and thinking of her family.

I wonder if me and Tony and Ninja saw her last public appearance, at the BFI preview for Death of the Doctor.

http://www.bfi.org.uk/live/video/457

Very sad news - I had to tell my niece this morning. She was gutted

Rich Flair wrote:I wonder if me and Tony and Ninja saw her last public appearance, at the BFI preview for Death of the Doctor.

http://www.bfi.org.uk/live/video/457

Very sad news - I had to tell my niece this morning. She was gutted

yeah my niece and nephew were sad- i took them to the exhibition on monday. he got a sonic screwdriver and she got a robot of death action figure!

Rich Flair wrote:I wonder if me and Tony and Ninja saw her last public appearance, at the BFI preview for Death of the Doctor.

http://www.bfi.org.uk/live/video/457

I have a feeling it probably was Rich.

I can't say anything that hasn't already been stated more eloquently in the posts above. I only learned of this tragic news a couple of hours ago - so I've still not fully processed it yet.

R.I.P. to a genuinely lovely lady and enduring icon.