20. Elisabeth Sladen Wasn't The BBC's First Choice For Sarah Jane Smith
Sarah Jane Smith has gone down in history as one of
Doctor Who's most popular companions but her journey to the screen was almost as turbulent as her subsequent escapades aboard the TARDIS. Although it's now impossible to imagine anyone but Elisabeth Sladen as everybody's favourite investigate journalist, the role was initially given to actress April Walker before incumbent Time Lord Jon Pertwee requested her dismissal. And what the Doctor wants, the Doctor gets. It was a bad day to be April but she still got paid for the whole series so it could've been worse. Swings and roundabouts, and all that jazz.