Invasion of the Bane

01 – "Invasion of the Bane"
01 – "Invasion of the Bane"
The Sarah Jane Adventures episode
	Mrs Wormwood as a Bane
Cast
	Starring Elisabeth Sladen – Sarah Jane Smith; Yasmin Paige – Maria Jackson; Tommy Knight – Luke Smith; John Leeson – Voice of K9; Alexander Armstrong – Mr Smith;
	Others Samantha Bond – Mrs Wormwood; Porsha Lawrence Mavour – Kelsey; Jamie Davis – Davey; Joseph Millson – Alan Jackson; Juliet Cowan – Chrissie Jackson; Rungano Nyoni – Secretary; Philip North – Technician; Sydney White – Bubbleshock Girl; Olivia Hill – TV Reporter; Konnie Huq and Gethin Jones – As themselves;
Production
Directed by	Colin Teague
Written by	Russell T Davies; Gareth Roberts
Script editor	Simon Winstone
Produced by	Susie Liggat
Executive producer(s)	Phil Collinson; Russell T Davies; Julie Gardner
Music by	Sam Watts
Production code	1.X
Series	New Year's Day special
Running time	60 minutes
First broadcast	1 January 2007
Chronology
← Preceded by; —	Followed by →; Revenge of the Slitheen

"Invasion of the Bane" is the first episode of the British science fiction television series The Sarah Jane Adventures. It was written by series creator Russell T Davies with Gareth Roberts and was directed by Colin Teague. It was originally broadcast on BBC One on 1 January 2007 as a New Year special. Since a full series of the show was commissioned before the script for the episode was written it is not a pilot, despite serving the introductory functions of one.

The episode focuses upon a teenage girl, Maria Jackson, discovering the existence of aliens which intend to conquer Earth using a mind-altering soft drink. She teams up with investigative journalist Sarah Jane Smith, a former travelling companion of the Doctor in Doctor Who, to prevent their plans.