| “ | You flicked a switch. Flicked a switch! The Ancient Lights survived the Big Bang, and you think you can stop them by flicking a switch? | „ |
| ~ Martin Trueman about the Ancient Lights |
The Ancient Lights are a noncorporeal species of aliens who appeared in the Sarah Jane Adventures episode "Secrets of the Stars".
History
The Ancient Lights existed in the original universe that came before this one, and they controlled every single life form. Their powers were based around astrology; when the stars were in a specific alignment they could begin to take control of life forms based around their star sign. However, that universe was destroyed by the Big Bang, leaving the Ancient Lights as one of the few surviving species.
In 2009, one of them manifested on Earth and possessed a psychic named Martin Trueman, who had a destiny to act as a channel for the Lights. The power of the Lights allowed Trueman to control minds and shoot deadly energy beams from himself, and he took over a woman named Cheryl and forced her to be his assistant, building himself a career using the power of the Ancient Lights.
Trueman was invited by Lisa Trotter, host of Paranormal Planet, to appear on her show at the local theatre. Realising that he could spread the influence of the Ancient Lights on the show, Trueman accepted. On the way there, he passed on the power of the Lights to Clyde Langer and sent him to kill a journalist called Sarah Jane Smith.
Clyde arrived at Sarah's house and attacked her. She appealed to her alien computer, Mr. Smith to help her, but he did not recognise the Ancient Lights and insisted that nothing was happening. Eventually, Luke Smith was able to snap Clyde out of their control. Meanwhile, Trueman killed Lisa and her technical team and took over the broadcast, spreading the Lights to those with the star sign Gemini.
At the local theatre, Truman and the "children of Gemini" formed a circle, and the Ancient Lights began to manifest on Earth. Mr. Smith was able to show a broadcast of Paranormal Planet, now taken over by Trueman, as he slowly took control of the entire world though their star signs. Luke, Clyde, Sarah Jane and their friend Rani were able to cut off the broadcast, but not before the Ancient Lights took over everybody except those with the star sign Taurus. However, as Luke did not have a star sign (having been created by The Bane), he was able to resist them and break the circle, defeating the Ancient Lights. Forced to leave and wait for the stars to align again, the Lights turned Trueman into one of them and released everyone on Earth.
Trivia
- According to executive producer Russel T. Davies, the Ancient Lights are distant cousins of the Mandragora Helix.
