-
Elizabeth Sladen with Doctor Who actor David Tenant 2007
Doctor Who star Elizabeth Sladen has died aged 63 following a battle with cancer.
Sladen played the Doctor's assistant Sarah-Jane Smith in the popular BBC science fiction show, and the spin-off series The Sarah-Jane Adventures
The Liverpudlian actress first appeared on the show along side John Pertwee in 1973. She continued into the Doctor's fourth incarnation, played by Tom Baker, before leaving the show in 1976.
Sladen reprised her role for The Sarah-Jane Adventures in 2007, which has run for four seasons. A fifth season was planned.
She has appeared along with five versions of the Doctor in a show to mark the show's 20th anniversary in 1983, and has worked with seven of the 11 Doctors, including David Tenant and current Doctor, Matt Smith.
News of the death of the popular star has been met by messages of sympathy on Twitter.
Among the stars paying tribute to the popular assistant were Jonathan Ross and Stephen Fry.
Fry wrote: "What terribly sad news about Elisabeth Sladen - her Sarah-Jane was part of my childhood. Deepest sympathy to her family."
Sladen is survived by her husband Brian Miller and daughter Sadie.
