Sarah Jane Adventures: Invasion of the Bane

"Invasion of the Bane" is the pilot episode of the children's science fiction television series The Sarah Jane Adventures, which is a spin-off of the 2005 Doctor Who revival series. This pilot special aired in the United Kingdom on January 7th, 2007 on CBBC - nine months before the series began it's regular broadcast. The episode was directed by Colin Teague and written by Gareth Roberts and series creator Russell T. Davies. In this episode, investigative reporter and former time lord companion Sarah Jane Smith meets her thirteen-year-old neighbor Maria Jackson and her father, Alan. Meanwhile, a woman named Ms. Wormwood - head of a soft drink company that produces Bubble Shock! cola, introduces a secret addictive ingredient called Bane, which enables the alien Bane Mother the ability to control the actions of those who drink it.

Notes & Trivia

 * This episode is included on disc one of The Sarah Jane Adventures: The Complete First Season DVD collection. The collection was released by BBC Home Entertainment in Region 1 format on October 7th, 2008.


 * This is the only episode of The Sarah Jane Adventures that serves as a single, stand-alone story. It is also the only episode that runs a full hour, whereas the remainder of the program aired as thirty-minute episodes.


 * This episode first aired in the United States on Syfy on April 11th, 2008.


 * Although it aired in 2007, the events of this episode actually take place in the year 2008.


 * With the exception of Sarah Jane Smith and K9, this is the first appearance of all other characters on the series.


 * Alan Jackson appears next in "Revenge of the Slitheen (Part 1)".


 * Chrissie Jackson appears next in "Revenge of the Slitheen (Part 1)".


 * Mr. Smith appears next in "Revenge of the Slitheen (Part 2)".


 * This is the only Sarah Jane Adventure episode that does not feature Clyde Langer, who is first introduced in "Revenge of the Slitheen (Part 1)".