10 Saddest Doctor Who Companion Exits
5. Sarah Jane Smith In The Hand Of Fear
The original plan for Sarah Jane's departure was to kill her off in a story about the Foreign Legion, but script editor Robert Holmes disliked the scripts and nixed the idea. Holmes' decision would unwittingly change the shape of the modern series. Who would they have put in School Reunion instead? Nyssa?!
Due to her intended departure story being abandoned, Sarah's leaving was hastily written into the climax of The Hand of Fear. However, Tom Baker and Elisabeth Sladen found it to be completely unsuitable and instead worked out a version between themselves. It's a sweet, understated scene as the Doctor is recalled to Gallifrey and has to let Sarah go. They promise not to forget each other - and you almost forget that it was an abrupt last-minute change.
What makes Sarah's departure sad is that it doesn't hold the weight that it really should. Sarah Jane Smith was one of the greatest ever companions, and having her simply dropped off on the wrong street just feels wrong. Sadder still is that Sladen reportedly only left because she mistakenly believed that producer Philip Hinchcliffe would want to create his own companion.
Multiple new series episodes, two Doctors and four and a half spin-off series later it all works out okay for her in the end...