Just when escape seems impossible, salvation comes from an unlikely source – the sound of Rani’s cell phone ringing somehow disrupts Spellman’s telekinetic power, allowing Sarah and the others to escape. With Mr. Smith’s help, Sarah discovers that Spellman – as well as the legendary Pied Piper and the clown known as Odd Bob, both of whom Spellman also claims to be – is most likely an alien, a creature that can only maintaining its existence by feeding on strong emotions. Spellman’s preferred diet is fear, and he promises to provide himself with a feast by causing more children to disappear. Even if she can stop Spellman’s diabolical plan, Sarah and Luke may not escape his clutches.
written by Phil Ford
directed by Michael Kerrigan
music by Sam Watts / title music by Murray GoldGuest Cast: Bradley Walsh (Odd Bob / Elijah Spellman / The Pied Piper), Ace Bhatti (Haresh Chandra), Mina Anwar (Gila Chandra), Alexander Armstrong (voice of Mr. Smith), Floella Benjamin (Professor Rivers), Jessica Mogridge (young Sarah Jane)
Notes: Again, Sarah visits the Pharos Institute, last seen in the season one two-parter The Lost Boy and possibly (but possibly not) related to the Pharos Project in the 1981 Doctor Who story Logopolis. In a Doctor Who in-joke that only longtime fans would spot, one of the clown images Sarah views on her laptop is a cropped portion of a well-known publicity photo from the 1966 story The Celestial Toymaker, starring William Hartnell; clearly the production team was clowning around. Mr. Smith’s ability to manipulate the British telephone network en masse was first demonstrated in the Doctor Who episode The Stolen Earth.
LogBook entry by Earl Green