By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 1:11 AM on 20th April 2011
Doctor Who actress Elisabeth Sladen has died following a battle with cancer. She was 63.
The Liverpool-born star, who played the Doctor’s assistant Sarah Jane Smith since the Seventies, passed away yesterday morning after suffering from the illness for some time.
The BBC confirmed her death in a statement: ‘It is with much sadness that we can announce Elisabeth Sladen, the much-loved actress best known for her role as Sarah Jane Smith in Doctor Who and CBBC’s The Sarah Jane Adventures, passed away this morning. She was 63.’
Cult TV star: Actress Elisabeth Sladen died on Tuesday morning following a battle with cancer
She joined the cast of Doctor Who in 1973 playing the assistant to Jon Pertwee’s incarnation as the Time Lord.
Sladen remained on the BBC show for a further three and a half seasons, continuing to assist the Doctor in his next incarnation as Tom Baker, before leaving in 1976.
As one of the most popular Dr Who assistants ever, the character of Sarah Jane was brought back for the new series, appearing alongside David Tennant.
Starting out: A young Sladen as Sarah Jane alongside Jon Pertwee as The Doctor in Doctor Who in the early Seventies
Popular: Sladen appeared alongside the current Doctor, Matt Smith, in an episode of The Sarah Jane Adventures
In a 2006 interview ahead of rejoining the series, she said: ‘I think it has lovely layers and I’d defend the programme to anyone.
‘I’m very emotionally part of that programme and I think a lot of the people who worked on it are. You used to love going to work every day.’
Her return to the franchise was such a success, she then appeared in a spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures, which was broadcast on CBBC.
TV classic: She remained on the show when Tom Baker replaced Pertwee as the Doctor in 1975
The show proved popular with young fans with the fourth series being screened last autumn.
The BBC had planned to produce a fifth series, but that now looks unlikely following her death.
Sladen is survived by her actor husband of 42 years, Brian Miller, and their actress daughter Sadie.
Among the stars paying tribute on Twitter was Dr Who fan Jonathan Ross, who wrote: ‘RIp Elisabeth Sladen aka Sarah Jane. Sad news.’
Long marriage: Sladen is survived by her husband of 42 years, actor Brian Miller
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Doctor Who star Elisabeth Sladen, 63, dies after cancer battle