Dr Who is tonic for time traveller Liz
- Publication: Middlesex County Times
- Date: 1984-12-07
- Author: Sue Blackhall
- Page: 25
- Language: English
USED to travelling back and forth in time, Elisabeth Sladen was delighted to retrace her space age steps for a galactic gathering.
It was a more orthodox jet rather than the TARDIS, which transported Elisabeth back to her Dr Who days.
She has just got back from a Chicago convention, recapturing her exploits as the Doctor's companion in many a time-warp adventure.
The convention, organised by an American businessman star struck by the popular BBC series, celebrated 21 years of Dr Who's astral antics.
Elisabeth, who played journalist Sarah Jane for three series, is not a newcomer to the marathon meetings of the Doctor's devotees.
"You are looked after by a bodyguard which sounds rather grand but it just ensures you can get from one hall to another without getting behind with people stopping you.
"You move from panel to panel, answering questions on the series, signing autographs and meeting people," she said.
Elisabeth accompanied two Dr Whos - Tom Baker and John Pertwee during her television appearances.
She is used to the sometimes hectic demands made by her fans, having helped the Doctor battle with such interplanetary horrors as the Daleks.
"They were so awkward they had trouble getting upstairs, but don't tell anyone," said Elisabeth, anxious to preserve their menacing image.
While we were in America we performed a small sketch. They love all that sort of thing.
"The programme has many human elements with good triumphing over evil, she said.
Although she quit the programme in 1976 she fondly remembers her first encounter with the successful series.
"I went along to audition for what I thought was going to be a four-part appearance.
"But when I was introduced to John Pertwee, I realised there was more to it.
"I was left to feel my way in the part which I thought was very brave of them.
"It was a new way of working for me because to help you become the character you are filled in with her background, age, her job, her parents."
Around 4,000 fans filed to the Chicago hotel to meet Elisabeth, another former Who girl Janet Fielding and Doctors John Pertwee, Colin Baker, Patrick Troughton and Peter Davison.
"I was the fine person to go out to a convention in 1980 in Los Angeles, but I don't want to become a professional convention goer. I want to work as well!
Awaiting the birth of her first baby in February, she is spending more time at home in Pitshanger Lane, Ealing.
Here next television appearance is as the Dormouse in Alice in Wonderland, part of which had to be shelved last year because of a technicians' strike.
Her actor husband Brian Miller - seen currently in ITV's Eh Brian, It's a Whopper - takes the part of the Griffin
Caption: Some of the creatures Elisabeth Sladen tackled in her role as Sarah Jane in the cult BBC TV series Dr Who.
Spelling correction: Jon Pertwee
Disclaimer: These citations are created on-the-fly using primitive parsing techniques. You should double-check all citations. Send feedback to whovian@cuttingsarchive.org
- APA 6th ed.: Blackhall, Sue (1984-12-07). Dr Who is tonic for time traveller Liz. Middlesex County Times p. 25.
- MLA 7th ed.: Blackhall, Sue. "Dr Who is tonic for time traveller Liz." Middlesex County Times [add city] 1984-12-07, 25. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: Blackhall, Sue. "Dr Who is tonic for time traveller Liz." Middlesex County Times, edition, sec., 1984-12-07
- Turabian: Blackhall, Sue. "Dr Who is tonic for time traveller Liz." Middlesex County Times, 1984-12-07, section, 25 edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Dr Who is tonic for time traveller Liz | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Dr_Who_is_tonic_for_time_traveller_Liz | work=Middlesex County Times | pages=25 | date=1984-12-07 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=24 March 2025 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Dr Who is tonic for time traveller Liz | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Dr_Who_is_tonic_for_time_traveller_Liz | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=24 March 2025}}</ref>
