Terrific news from the BBC, as it's confirmed that two further series of The Sarah Jane Adventures have been commissioned. Each series will consist of 24 episodes, and will see Elisabeth Sladen in the title role as usual, alongside Tommy Knight, David Anthony and Anjli Mohindra.

The fourth series will kick off in the autumn, and filming on it is set to start in Cardiff in the month ahead. Russell T Davies may have departed Doctor Who, but he remains as executive producer here, working alongside Nikki Wilson and Brian Minchin.

The next series, we're promised, will see the show visit an alien world for the first time, and the BBC press release also promises The Nightmare Man and the Shansheeth amongst its enemies.

Series five meanwhile will be produced next year, for transmission in Autumn 2011. Marvellous, marvellous news...