Thank the TARDIS, Doctor Who fans. It looks like Sci Fi won't let too much time pass between the third and fourth seasons here in the States.The cabler today announced that it had acquired Doctor Who's fourth season and spinoff series The Sarah Jane Adventures. Both series will launch in April on Sci Fi.
The fourth season of Doctor Who will feature David Tennant as the 10th Doctor in his third go-around (again, reason for celebration); he'll be joined by Catherine Tate's Donna Noble, who reprises her role as the uppity companion from her previous appearance in the Doctor Who Christmas Special entitled "Runaway Bride."
Fans of Freema Agyeman's Doctor Martha Jones, however, won't have to fret. Agyeman, after a recurring stint on Season Two of spinoff Torchwood, will rejoin the Doctor in the middle of the fourth season.
"We are excited to have Doctor Who back on Sci Fi for its 4th season," said Chris Regina, Vice President of Programming, in a press release. "It's an exciting franchise that continues to reinvent itself for new generations of viewers. The youthful appeal of The Sarah Jane Adventures will no doubt attract even younger new viewers."
Meanwhile, I'll be curious to see how and when Sci Fi programs that spinoff, The Sarah Jane Adventures, which seems much more geared towards the tween set than adults. Series revolves around Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen), a former companion to the Doctor (who popped up in the current series in Season Two's "School Reunion") who investigates mysteries with children Maria, Luke, and Clyde and "becomes embroiled in an offbeat world of mystery and danger." That series will also launch in April, though the press release made no mention of launch dates or timeslots.
"The imagination of Russell and the rest of the production team in Cardiff who have produced these two incredible shows is outstanding," said Candace Carlisle, EVP of Sales of Co-productions of BBC Worldwide Americas. "We are so pleased that the loyal fans of the SCI FI Channel will be able to meet a whole new range of characters and aliens that are intrinsically linked to the Doctor's history. Both Sarah Jane Adventures and the new season of Doctor Who are jam packed with some of the most creative storylines ever produced by the BBC's brilliant team."
To tide you over until the April launch of both series, here's a sneak peek at the fourth season of Doctor Who:
I can't wait!
Comments
You forgot to mention the much anticipated return of Billie Piper's Rose!!! I can't wait.
And I'm happy I won't have to find ways through the internets to get the show before I have to wait.
It's great that we're seeing Torchwood and now Dr. Who only a week or so after they've aired in the UK.
Heck, the Torchwood's are even UNCUT for the most part! Who would have thought?
Anyway I think it's great that the US networks are catching on that we want to see these series just as early as the UK (and like they do for our shows over there). Now if BBC America would only launch Ashes to Ashes sooner rather than later, I'd be very happy.
I'm sorry I thought it was common knowledge as the BBC posted it months ago.
Sorry.