FOR many, Sarah Jane Smith was the best-loved past companion of The Doctor, and it was indeed fitting that she was given her own series.

It has been so successful that, at the time of writing, the BBC is showing the fifth series of The Sarah Jane Adventures (SJA).

Sadly, this is only half a series and will be the last because, as we all know, Elisabeth Sladen, who IS Sarah Jane, sadly died earlier this year.

This fourth series, released as a two-disc set, features Sarah Jane, with her intrepid band of teenage helpers, saving the world in six adventures.

Sadly, we don’t see much of her adopted son Luke in the stories as he is away at University, leaving the majority of the action to Clyde and Rani.

Having come up against the sinister Nightmare Man in the first story, they end up meeting the Sontarans in the second.

The Empty Planet has Clyde and Rani trapped in a deserted London.

Lost In Time features a mysterious alien (and his parrot) who sends Sarah Jane, Clyde and Rani into the past to recover three items needed to save the planet from being sucked into a space-time anomaly.

Sarah Jane teams up with an Edwardian girl investigating an old house, whilst Clyde battles a German invasion during the Second World War.

Rani meanwhile travels the furthest back and becomes a hand-maiden to Lady Jane Grey, the Nine Days’ Queen.

The series’ finale – the intriguingly-titled Goodbye Sarah Jane Smith, pits our teenage heroes against a woman (played by Julie Graham), who wants to take over from Sarah Jane – but is she all that she seems.

The highlight of the series though, is story three – The Death of the Doctor, in which it appears that The Doctor has been killed and Sarah Jane meets up with her predecessor in the TARDIS – Jo Grant – at his funeral.

Matt Smith pops up in the story as The Doctor.

Just about the best series so far – the writing and acting gets better and better.

There is also a tribute to the memory of Lis Sladen as included in the package, is a four-part Doctor Who story featuring Sarah Jane and the Fourth Doctor in The Pyramids of Mars.

Release Date: October 31st 2011.

Cat No: BBCDVD3137.