Written by: Michael Hickerson (SoSF Staff Journalist)
The first three Fridays in April will feature three big premieres for the SCI FI Channel. As previously announced, the hit series “Battlestar Galactica” begins its fourth season on Friday, April 4.
Seven days later on April 11, the “Sarah Jane Adventures”, starring Elisabeth Sladen kicks-off on SCI FI. This spin-off from “Doctor Who” features the popular companion Sarah Jane Smith, who travelled with the third and fourth Doctors and returned for the 25th anniversary special and series two’s “School Reunion.” The series kicks off at 7:30 p.m. EST on the 11th and settles into a regular timeslot of 8 p.m. EST the next week.
Finally, on April 18, the good Doctor is back for a new season of adventures. The fourth series of “Doctor Who” kicks off with “The Voyage of the Damned” on SCI FI. “Voyage” was last year’s Christmas special and one of the highest rated episodes of the good Doctor’s return. “Voyage” will run 90 minutes with commercials, kicking off at 8:30 p.m. EST. Regular episodes will air at 9 p.m. EST.
No word yet on the official kick-off for “Doctor Who” in the U.K., though given SCI FI’s schedule, it is expected series four will start sometime in early April.
Elisabeth Sladen returned as Sarah Jane Smith in the 20th anniversary special (not the 25th). That was “The Five Doctors” in 1983.