There is going to be two new series of Doctor Who spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures, which will see the investigative journalist and her gang of youthful sidekicks continue to annoy health & safety by being thrown into alien danger's way.

Created by Russell T Davies, and featuring Doctor Who's ex-companion, Sarah Jane Smith, the fourth series, set to air autumn 2010, will again star Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane. Young actors Tommy Knight, Daniel Anthony and Anjli Mohindra return as regulars Luke, Clyde and Rani.



The new adventures will feature the enemies old and new, including the terrors of the Nightmare Man, the sinister Shansheeth, the series' first visit to an alien world, and even a dangerous journey back into history.

The series will go into production in Cardiff later this month with series three producer Nikki Wilson stepping up alongside Russell T Davies as executive producer and new producer Brian Minchin joining the team.

Writers on the fourth series include Phil Ford (also co-producer), Joseph Lidster, Rupert Laight, Gareth Roberts and Clayton Hickman. The fifth series will go into production in 2011 for transmission later that year.

Damian Kavanagh told the Nest, "We are thrilled to be making many more episodes of The Sarah Jane Adventures. It is been a huge ratings and critical success on CBBC and we hope our viewers are going to be hooked on Sarah Jane's action-packed adventures for some time to come."