The world of Doctor Who has once again suffered a devastating loss with the death of Elisabeth Sladen who portrayed the beloved character of Sarah Jane Smith.

The character was introduced in 1974 in the story "The Time Warrior". She was a companion to the Third and Fourth Doctors through three seasons, and would return several times over the years in specials, two seasons of audio dramas, and the recent spin-off TV series The Sarah Jane Adventures.

Sladen was 63 years old and had been suffering from cancer for some time.