Doctor Who assistant gets own TV series

LONDON (Reuters) - Doctor Who fans who can't wait for the time traveller's next TV appearance at Christmas will be able to watch the adventures of one of his former companions from the end of September, the BBC said on Thursday.

Actress Elisabeth Sladen will reprise her role from the 1970s as one of the doctor's best known assistants, journalist Sarah Jane Smith, in a 10-part spin-off from the long-running science fiction series.

She will star in "The Sarah Jane Adventures" to be broadcast on BBC 1 and children's channel CBBC.

The move follows her reappearance in an episode of Doctor Who last year.

"It's great to be back enjoying Sarah Jane with some fantastic new adventures," said Sladen.

"There's still so much more to find out about her after all these years."

Executive Producer Russell T. Davies said: "This is a wonderful opportunity, to use all our Doctor Who resources here in Cardiff for the making of a brand new drama for CBBC."

Doctor Who himself returns to screens on Christmas Day with a special episode starring David Tennant as the doctor and Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue in a guest appearance.

The fourth season of the latest reincarnation of the series will air next Spring but after that Tennant is taking time off to do stage work.

The fifth season will therefore be delayed until 2010, the BBC has said.