Today David Tennant, the Tenth Time Lord, will be reunited
with two of his favourite and most iconic companions - Sarah Jane Smith
and the faithful robot dog, K9.
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K9, who was the loyal friend to Tom Baker's Doctor between 1977 and
1981, joins Sarah Jane Smith, the Doctor, Rose and Mickey in a fight against
the evil Krillitanes.
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John Leeson, the voice of K9, says: "I am delighted
to have been invited back on board the series - and a little gathered
rust is no object to a fully functional K9!"
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Producer Phil Collinson adds: "It is great to be welcoming K9 back to
Doctor Who.
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"A whole generation fondly remember him as an ever-faithful companion
and best friend to Tom Baker's Doctor.
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"I hope the new generation of viewers will fall in love with him
in the same way. I'm sure he's going to prove an invaluable help to the
Doctor in the fight against intergalactic evil."
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Elisabeth Sladen says of reviving Sarah Jane: "I am
so thrilled to be back and I feel so empowered by the affection that [the
whole team] have for Sarah Jane Smith and for the programme.
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"Toby Whithouse's script is wonderful - it's an absolutely truthful
progression of Sarah.
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"I just hope I can live up to their expectation, and I hope I can
still run as fast after 30 years!"
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The episode, which will be seen next spring in the eagerly-awaited second
series, sees the team investigate sinister events at a modern-day comprehensive
school, and also stars Anthony Head (Buffy The Vampire
Slayer, Little Britain).
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Notes to Editors
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List of K9 Facts
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K9 travelled with Tom Baker, joining in 1977 and leaving in 1981.
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There have been three K9s.
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K9 Mark 1 was designed as a robotic pet by a Professor Marius, who
left him to the Doctor. The Doctor gave him to his companion Leela when
she left him to join the Time Lords.
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K9 Mark 2 was built by the Doctor
himself. He gave him to his companion Romana when she decided to travel
by herself.
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K9 Mark 3 was built as a gift for his old companion Sarah
Jane.
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Original K9 was swiftly replaced by the production team as his motor
was too noisy and his remote controls were on the same frequency as the
studio cameras.
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Sarah Jane and K9 appeared together in the one-off K9 & Co (1981) and
the anniversary special The Five Doctors (1983).
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