SJA Series 2............

Today is the day Series 2 of Sarah Jane Adventures airs!!! The long awaited spin off will be airing on the following channels and times:

The Last Sontaran Part One - 4.35pm - BBC One

The Last Sontaran Part Two - 5.15pm - CBBC

Also Digital Spy has a Sarah Jane Adventures Series 2 preview:

Intrepid investigator Sarah Jane Smith returns to our screens this week, fresh from helping her Time Lord pal thwart the Daleks alongside surrogate son Luke and computer Mr. Smith. Armed once more with her sonic lipgloss and young cohorts, Sarah Jane will face a procession of dastardly enemies during the second season, which comprises six stories split into two episodes each.The RegularsThe big news is that actress Yasmin Paige will be departing the show in the early part of the season because filming clashed with her GCSEs. Not only will Sarah Jane be bidding adieu to Maria Jackson, but her father Alan and mother Chrissie will also jump ship. However, there are strong rumours that the family may make a surprise reappearance later in the series.Luke, Clyde and a more humorous version of Mr. Smith are all hanging around, and they'll be joined by a new face too. Mention the word 'Rani' to seasoned Doctor Who fans and they'll instantly start quivering amidst flashbacks of the Time Lord's 1980s recurring Gallifreyan adversary played by Kate O'Mara, decked out in big shoulder pads and spluttering technobabble sci-fi jargon.

Fortunately, Rani Chandra is a feisty young lass intent on saving the world, not destroying it. The new sidekick, played by Anjli Mohindra, will take up residence at Maria's old house in Bannerman Road with parents Haresh and Gita. Now if only her father was called Sanjay then an EastEnders crossover could have been a possibility.New EnemiesClown phobia is a pretty common fear for children and adults alike - and Sarah Jane is no exception. So expect there to be some scuttling behind the sofa during second story 'The Day Of The Clown' - especially because former gameshow host Bradley Walsh will be donning the make-up and juggling some balls. The legend of the Pied Piper is also set to play a prominent part of the circus-related narrative too, which revolves around local children going missing. That sounds a bit similar to the laser quest-based 'Warriors Of Kudlak' last year, but the story does manage to throw in the mysterious Pharos research centre glimpsed during last year's finale.

Old Enemies
A lone Sontaran in the spud-faced shape of Commander Kaagh roams the curiously-titled Goblin's Copse in the exciting opening adventure, which functions as a sequel to Doctor Who episode 'The Poison Sky' from earlier this year. Watch out for a nifty new method for a Sontaran to remove his helmet. The diminutive Graske is back too, but it remains to be seen whether the mega scary 'Trickster' is in charge of him again. Perhaps he's too busy sulking after his time beetle failed to alter Donna Noble's past for good?Delving back to the very origins of The Sarah Jane Adventures, the dreaded Mrs. Wormwood (Samantha Bond) and her fellow Bane return to do business for the season finale. Purportedly working with the Sontarans, it'll be fascinating to see how Wormwood plots global domination this time, following her previous fizzy drink masterplan.

Old Friends
Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart makes his first canonical on-screen appearance since the 1989 Doctor Who story 'Battlefield'. The UNIT legend, freshly bestowed with a knighthood, appeared in many adventures and alongside several Doctors over the years since his Yeti-fighting debut as a Colonel in 1968's 'The Web Of Fear'.Seeing as the character spans 40 years and struck up a friendship with Sarah Jane in the mid 1970s, it's no wonder that Whovians are drooling at the prospect of his imminent return. Squeals of joy will be heard across the nation should he bark out his famous catchphrase "five rounds rapid!" There's no word on whether K-9 will return yet. Perhaps he's too busy wagging his metal tail on the set of the cartoon spinoff that's been caught in development hell for the best part of two decades?

Sontaran Return to Sarah Jane: Digital Spy

'The Last Sontaran' refers to Commander Kaagh, who survived the destruction of the Sontaran battlefleet at the hands of the Doctor and came crashing down to Earth (with the scar to prove it).He's now wandering the woods, generally causing mischief and plotting to destroy the planet by crashing satellites into nuclear sites.

Sarah Jane is genuinely scared when she first discovers the Sontaran's ship. "This is too big for us," she tells the kids. "We have to call UNIT."As well as references to UNIT (she never gets to make that call, by the way), there are also references to the Doctor - and flashbacks to Doctor Who - plus mention of an incident from an early series three episode.

At one point Sarah Jane is asked to make a difficult choice but refuses, with the somewhat questionable logic: "One life is as sacred as an entire planet."Alongside all this we have the departure of original gang member Maria (Yasmin Paige) after her dad Alan lands a job in America.

As previously hinted, though, this is definitely not the last we see of the two characters this series. (Keep your eyes peeled around episode 8...)

Digital Spy interview with Elisabeth Sladen:

The Sarah Jane Adventures - CBBC's Doctor Who spinoff for kids - is back for a second series. We say "for kids", but a large number of fully-grown Whovians may well disagree. The new run of 12 episodes promises to deliver a Smörgåsbord of delights for all ages, from a Sontaran in episode one to the much-anticipated return of The Brig in the series finale. We paid a visit to the set of the show to find out more from the lovely Elisabeth Sladen.

How would you say this series of Sarah Jane Adventures is different from the first?

"It comes in the dialogue. It's just more explanatory and it doesn't cut off quite so quickly. There are more grown-up stories and it's much harder hitting, I think. We stay with the problem this time, therefore we have to have dialogue that will not patronise."

Have you learnt more about Sarah Jane this series?

"I learn more about her every day. Russell [T Davies] said 'There are so many places she can go. We're only just starting to find out about her'. When the series started, I did think 'where is this going?' Quite honestly, when the pilot went out, I thought I was going to get so much stick from journalists. I love the programme, and always thought it was very good, but that's not always other people's perceptions. It's lovely how people have been so embracing of it."

How did you react when you were offered Sarah Jane Adventures?

"I went for a meal with Russell and Julie [Gardner, BBC Wales head of drama] and I actually thought I was going to be offered to go into Torchwood! Then I thought it was going to be K-9 and Sarah Jane, after what happened in 'School Reunion'. I loved K-9 to bits, but I wondered if that could work. They would have had to do something with the dog - they really would - because all you could do is crouch down and talk to it. That's very limiting, so I am blessed that I have the kids instead!"

How did you feel about The Brigadier (Nicholas Courtney) coming back?

"I've seen Nick on and off over the years, but he was so pleased to be asked back. It's a lovely thing to do because he's spoken about doing it and it's really nice for the fans."

Did he expect to be asked back?

"I don't think he did. I think he thought his time had gone, because now there's a different UNIT in place."Is it a reunion for the two characters on-screen?"They kind of muzz over that a little, but it has been a long time, so that leaves it open to how long it's been. Sarah Jane doesn't really want to introduce the kids to UNIT, because they use guns. Sarah Jane doesn't think a gun is a good thing, not even as a last resort, so it must be pretty special to have to go to The Brig."

It's often rumoured, but do you think the Doctor could ever appear in Sarah Jane Adventures?

"Well, who would have thought Sarah Jane could have been working with Torchwood? I never thought that could happen! That's what was so amazing about the Doctor Who [finale]. The prospect of crossover between the programmes is quite incredible, so 'yes' in answer to your question, I don't see why you couldn't have the Doctor on this show."

Would you go back to Doctor Who again?

"I actually think that was the last time. But then again, I thought 'School Reunion' was the last time! I thought 'what a lovely send-off, thankyou so much', but now I think that actually might be the last time. I would be really happy if it ended there."

How do you feel about Russell leaving?

"I don't know if he's leaving us, though. I truly, truly don't know that. Steven [Moffat] is taking over Who, which will be really interesting. I am really looking forward to seeing what happens there."

Will there be a third series of Sarah Jane?

"It's in the offing. It depends on this [series] and there are a lot of ifs. I think they're planning it, and it would be lovely to see where we go next!"

TY Digital Spy!!!!