Doctor Who: Top 10 Moments Of The Fourth Doctor

By Allan Johnstone /

2. "Oh Sarah, Don't You Forget Me" (The Hand Of Fear)

Before the new series, companion departures were generally stiff upper lip affairs, the sort of formal farewells you might give to an employer on your last day of work. Looking back on it with the enlarged role that Sarah Jane Smith has taken on in Who lore, Elisabeth Sladen€™s final scene in The Hand of Fear is surprisingly quiet. It€™s clear that she€™s on the edge of tears but there is not one emotional pyrotechnic from the Doctor in sight. And yet€ there€™s something there. The Fourth Doctor and Sarah were written as best pals and the chemistry between Tom and Lis brought that to life. But during this scene, the Doctor seems to withdraw from that, looking at Sarah under his mop of curls like a shy little boy. He cuts through Sarah€™s banter as well, strictly forbidding her from coming with him to Gallifrey - which is notable in that this Doctor has never been one to observe Time Lord decorum. His last line to her (€œOh Sarah, don€™t you forget me€) is delivered with a splutter, as though he can€™t think of a pithy comeback this time round. The Fourth remains the most alien of the Doctors but this is the closest fans came to seeing him heartbroken. It would be out of character for him to admit strong feelings but Tom€™s performance - both subtle and melancholy - gives more than a hint that he has them.