Sarah Jane Smith and the kids of Bannerman Road faced many dangers in their time. Alien soldiers, robot armies and immortal tricksters, but one in particular proved a persistent foe - one of the Bane, aliens with their greedy sights set on Earth.
The first time Mrs Wormwood led an invasion, she created an Archetype - later Luke Smith, adopted by Sarah Jane. On her next visit she made an enemy of Rani Chandra, but was dispatched into an interdimensional portal - never to be seen again. Or so Rani and Clyde believed...
But Wormwood survived to plot and plan in her vortex prison - now she has found a way back and will have her revenge!
2.1 Time Schisms! by Lizbeth Myles
Podcast fan Anna thinks there's a time traveller working in her local post office. So, who else should she ask to investigate other than Rani Chandra? Unconvinced at first, Rani is shocked when an old friend warns her off. If UNIT don't want her looking into it, there must be something to the phenomena... But will Rani's quest for the truth drive a wedge between her and Luke?
2.2 The Star-Crossed Diversion by Alison Winter
After falling asleep on the night tube, Rani and Clyde wake in a nightmare - a future in which the Bane have succeeded in taking over the Earth. Humans are docile cattle, the planet's resources sold to the highest bidder. Bane Uncle Crispin believes all opposition has been crushed, but the new arrivals are ready to fight. Are they the last hope of resistance? And how can Rani and Clyde ever return home?
2.3 The Ghost of Bannerman Road by Jonathan Morris
13 Bannerman Road. The place where it all began, where Rani, Clyde and Luke fought alien menaces with Sarah Jane. Now it’s locked up, derelict and under the watch of UNIT, because top scientists are mysteriously disappearing, and items of alien technology are being stolen from laboratories. An old friend is planning to make her return... and Rani and Clyde have to face their own ghosts.
Recorded on: 27-29 July 2022
Recorded at: The Soundhouse
Russell T Davies, creator of The Sarah Jane Adventures, said: “I can’t actually remember how the audio series came about, if it was Big Finish who came to me with it or if it was the producer Emily Cook. I think it was Emily!
“Anyway, we got in touch with Anjli, Daniel and Tommy who all agreed to take part. It’s fantastic that Anjli can do this because she’s such a leading actor these days. I’m delighted for her. I’ve been following her and always congratulate her. Her continued success is just one of the great pleasures in my life.
“There were many stories being bandied about for this new box set so I had a Zoom with the writers and gave them a lot of suggestions as to how things should go. I’ve always loved the relationship between Daniel and Anjli as Clive and Rani. I had a lot to tell the writers and it was a fun session. I actually thought, ‘I should do calls like this more often,’ as they are a really nice bunch!
“And then, I left them to it. And I’ve got to say, I’m delighted by the end result.”
Samantha Bond said: “Getting back into character was really rather easy. I hadn’t forgotten her and she hadn’t forgotten me – it's been a lovely experience. I don’t get to play baddies very often and the audio scripts are captivating.”
Anjli Mohindra added: “Samantha Bond is incredible. I remember being really in awe of her performance even way back when. She’s so sinister, strong and poised.”
Daniel Anthony said: “It’s been so great to have Samantha back. It felt like we were back on set with Mrs Wormwood – it was lovely.”
Tommy Knight said: “It was so exciting to hear that more stories and adventures were coming out of Bannerman Road. It made me so excited to get back into the booth, bring a little bit of Luke back out of me. It was a big part of my life growing up and I don’t think I’ll ever really forget how amazing that whole experience was.”
Anjli Mohindra & Mina Anwar
Helen Goldwyn & Emily Cook
Anjli Mohindra and Daniel Anthony © Oliver Bowring
George Naylor and Carla de Wansey © Oliver Bowring
Samantha Bond © Oliver Bowring
Helen Goldwyn, Daniel Anthony, Anjli Mohindra, Raghad Chaar, Maddison Bulleyment, Milo Twomey
