Tom Baker "consoled" by Lis Sladen memories

Tom Baker has paid tribute to his former Doctor Who co-star Elisabeth Sladen.

The actor played the fourth incarnation of The Doctor alongside Sladen's Sarah Jane Smith. Writing on his official website, Baker expressed his sadness at news of the actress's death yesterday morning.

"Sarah Jane dead? No, impossible! Impossible. Only last week I agreed to do six new audio adventures with her for Big Finish Productions," he wrote. "She can't be dead. But she is, she died yesterday morning. Cancer. I had no idea she was ill; she was so private, never wanted any fuss, and now, gone.

"A terrible blow to her friends and a shattering blow for all those fans of the programme whose lives were touched every Saturday evening by her lovely heroic character, Sarah Jane Smith."

Recalling how he had joined the show, replacing third Doctor John Pertwee, Baker explained: "Lis Sladen was very important to me, you know. When I joined the little world of Doctor Who Lis was already a star.

"She had an enormous success with John Pertwee. She was good pals with The Brigadier, our beloved Nicholas Courtney; she knew all the regular directors. She was adored by Barry Letts, the producer who cast her in the role. She always said she was Barry's girl. It was for that reason she decided to leave the show. But it was not necessary at all. The fans adored her, Philip Hinchcliffe our new and glamorous producer adored her, so did David Maloney, her favourite director."



However, Baker said that he and Sladen soon clicked as she "laughed at my silly antics".

"We both came from Liverpool, that small detail helped," he said. "We both loved old movies. And quite suddenly Lis and Ian Marter and Tom Baker were a trio. It is so consoling when one is sad and bereft to remember the good times, the laughter, the glamour; yes, the glamour: we three switched on the lights at Blackpool! A very great honour. We performed a little melodrama directed by (guess who?) yes, David Maloney! And now Lis was adored by Ian Marter and Tom Baker too.

"And it never ceased. And in the evenings, Lis would simply disappear back to wherever we were staying and the rest of us would often be raucous! And too soon she decided to leave; no fuss at all, all was calm. And Philip Hinchcliffe gave her lovely farewell party at the Hilton. Those sweet memories of happy days with Lis Sladen, the lovely, witty, kind and so talented Lis Sladen."

He concluded: "I am consoled by the memories. I was there, I knew her, she was good to me and I shall always be grateful, and I shall miss her."

A Doctor Who spokesperson has told Digital Spy that the show will pay a "suitable" tribute to Sladen on Saturday night.

> Obituary: Elisabeth Sladen
> Gallery: Elisabeth Sladen 1948-2011
> Reaction: Elisabeth Sladen 1948-2011
> Matt Smith pays tribute to Elisabeth Sladen
> Read our 2006 interview with Elisabeth Sladen
> Read our 2008 interview with Elisabeth Sladen
> Read our 2009 interview with Elisabeth Sladen