Fireball XL5

The interplanetary adventures of the crew of the World Space Patrol spacecraft Fireball XL5, patrolling Sector 25 of the galaxy in the year 2062.

AP Films/ATV/ITC

Produced: 1962

First UK broadcast: Sunday 28th October 1962 – 4.25pm

ATV London, Westward, Channel, Ulster and Scottish Television

39 episodes x 25 minutes

Producer: Gerry Anderson

Associate Producer: Reg Hill

Production Supervisor: David Elliott

Director of Photography: John Read and Ian Struthers

Art Director: Bob Bell

Special Effects: Derek Meddings

Music Composed, Arranged and Conducted by Barry Gray

Title Music Arranged by Charles Blackwell

Episodes List
1 Planet 46

2062 AD: Space City detects a planetomic missile being fired at Earth and directs Steve Zodiac and his World Space Patrol craft Fireball XL5 to destroy it. The Fireball crew – Steve, with Venus, Matt Matic and Robert – head for the missile’s origin, Planet 46, but when Steve and Venus land in Fireball Junior they are captured by the Subterrains. The aliens plan to use another missile to destroy Earth – this time with Venus on board!

Written by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson

Directed by Gerry Anderson

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 28th October 1962 – 4.25pm (ATV London, Ulster, Scottish, Westward and Channel)
  • Sunday 11th November 1962 – 4.25pm (Anglia)
  • Sunday 11th November 1962 – 4.40pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Wednesday 26th December 1962 – 5.25pm (Granada and Wales West and North)
  • Sunday 6th January 1963 – 4.50pm (Southern)
  • Monday 7th January 1963 – 5.25pm (T.W.W.)
  • Monday 25th March 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)
  • Tuesday 12th August 1986 – 11.05am (Yorkshire)

Repeat Broadcasts (ITV):

Anglia

  • Monday 1st April 1985 – 11.10am

ATV London / Thames

  • Sunday 3rd November 1963 – 4.00pm
  • Saturday 25th December 1965 – 10.10am (Broadcast as part of a Saturday Morning Adventure Showcase comprising of an episode of Supercar and Stingray)
  • Monday 22nd July 1985 – 10.05am

ATV Midlands / Central

  • Wednesday 10th June 1964 – 5.25pm
  • Monday 16th August 1965 – 5.25pm
  • Thursday 17th September 1970 – 4.55pm
  • Tuesday 7th December 1971 – 1.50pm
  • Monday 8th July 1985 – 9.25am

Scottish

  • Thursday 27th February 1964 – 5.25pm
  • Friday 18th June 1971 – 4.55pm
  • Sunday 6th June 1986 – 1.00pm

Tyne Tees

  • Friday 8th October 1965 – 5.25pm
  • Sunday 5th January 1986 – 9.25am

Ulster

  • Sunday 3rd November – 4.00pm
  • Saturday 2nd February 1985 – 11.20am

 

Rest Of The World Broadcasts:

Australia

  •  Tuesday 24th May 1966 – 5.55pm (Canberra CTC7)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Subterrain 1 John Bluthal
  • Subterrain 2 David Graham
2 Hypnotic Sphere

The crew of Fireball XL5 find fuel tanker EF24 floating in space with its crew in a trance. They take the tanker back to Earth and escort the next one, EF25. The crew are entranced by a light emanating from a satellite, but Robert is immune and pilots XL5 to safety. Steve and Matt trace the satellites back to their origin on the icy planet Cevena, home to a brain being.

Written by Alan Fennell

Directed by Alan Pattillo

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 13th October 1963 – 4.00pm (ATV London and Ulster)
  • Monday 2nd December 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)
  • Saturday 4th January 1964 – 5.15pm (Anglia and Tyne Tees)
  • Thursday 16th April 1964 – 5.25pm (Scottish)
  • Wednesday 6th May 1964 – 5.25pm (Granada)
  • Sunday 31st May 1964 – 5.40pm (Grampian)

Repeat Broadcasts (ITV):

Anglia

  • 22nd November 1986 – 11.00am

ATV London / Thames

  • Sunday 19th July 1964 – 4.15pm
  • Wednesday 20th August 1986 – 10.35am

ATV Midlands / Central

  • Monday 26th July 1965 – 5.25pm
  • Monday 25th April 1966 – 5.25pm
  • Thursday 15th April 1971 – 4.50pm
  • Thursday 15th August 1985 – 9.25am

Tyne Tees

  • Friday 17th June 1966 – 5.25pm

Rest Of The World Broadcasts:

Australia

  • Tuesday 31st May 1966 – 5.55pm (Canberra CTC7)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Hypnotic Voice John Bluthal
  • Tanker Pilot Joe David Graham
3 Planet Of Platonia

Bizann of Platonia is about to enter into trade talks with Earth as his world is rich in Platinum, but his enemy Ginerva makes six attempts on his life. The crew of Fireball XL5 arrive on Platonia to protect Bizann, but his aide, Volvo, attacks Robert as he guards Fireball Junior and plants a bomb on the ship.

Written by Alan Fennell

Directed by David Elliott

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 20th January 1963 – 4.50pm (ATV London, Anglia and Ulster)
  • Sunday 10th February 1963 – 4.40pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Monday 18th March 1963 – 5.25pm (Granada and Wales West And North)
  • Monday 17th June 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)
  • Sunday 16th August 1987 – 10.30am (Yorkshire)

Rest Of The World Broadcasts:

Australia

  • Tuesday 7th June 1966 – 5.25pm (Canberra CTC7)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Bizann John Bluthal
  • Volvo David Graham
4 Space Magnet

Fireball XL7 disappears and when XL5 replaces it on patrol, both the ship and the Moon are dragged away to the planet Magneton where the crew find debris from XL7 being fed into a powerhouse for a magnetic force generating plant. Soon the crew have been captured by the invisible Solars who seek light.

Written by Anthony Marriott

Directed by Bill Harris

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 27th October 1963 – 4.00pm (ATV London and Ulster)
  • Monday 16th December 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)
  • Saturday 28th December 1963 – 5.15pm (Anglia)
  • Saturday 18th January 1964 – 5.15pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Thursday 30th April 1964 – 5.25pm (Scottish)
  • Wednesday 20th May 1964 – 5.25pm (Granada)
  • Sunday 14th June 1964 – 5.40pm (Grampian)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Ken Ross John Bluthal
  • Super Solar David Graham
5 The Doomed Planet

Narrowly missing a planet which has spun out of its orbit, the crew of Fireball XL5 realise that it is on a collision course with the planet Membrono. A recce of the planet finds it uninhabited but on returning to Earth, Steve thinks that he has seen a flying saucer and, later, the same ship lands near Venus’ house to lure XL5 back to Membrono on a mercy mission.

Written by Alan Fennell

Directed by Alan Pattillo

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 4th November 1962 – 4.25pm (ATV London, Ulster, Scottish, Westward and Channel)
  • Sunday 18th November 1962 – 4.40pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Friday 7th December 1962 – 5.27pm (Grampian)
  • Sunday 23rd December 1962 – 4.25pm (Anglia)
  • Wednesday 2nd January 1963 – 5.25pm (Granada and Wales West and North)
  • Monday 8th April 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Membronoan John Bluthal
6 Plant Man From Space

Space plant expert Dr. Rootes sabotages Space City’s power supply whilst visiting the base, and an apparently empty missile lands near Venus’ beach hut. But the missile carries the seed of an alien creeper plant which grows out of control and over-runs the whole area. Rootes tells Zero that he can solve the problem, but must acquire hormones from the planet Hedra with the help of the XL5 crew.

Written by Anthony Marriott

Directed by John Kelly

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 18th November 1962 – 4.20pm (ATV London, Scottish, Westward, Anglia and Channel)
  • Sunday 2nd December 1962 – 4.40pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Friday 21st December 1962 – 5.27pm (Grampian)
  • Wednesday 16th January 1963 – 5.25pm (Granada and Wales West and North)
  • Monday 22nd April 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)
  • Tuesday 26th August 1986 – 11.05am (Yorkshire)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Howard Rootes Paul Maxwell
  • The Chlorophon David Graham
  • Ken Ross John Bluthal
  • Jock Campbell John Bluthal
  • Alarm Service Sylvia Anderson
7 The Sun Temple

The sun-worshipping fanatics on Rejusca feel that their God will be angered by Earth’s new suns, actually missiles exploding as Space City deflects meteorites. The Rejuscans destroy the missile launchers with a heat ray and when Fireball Junior lands, they capture Venus and use the sun’s rays to burn her.

Written by Alan Fennell

Directed by Bill Harris

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 2nd December 1962 – 4.20pm (ATV London, Scottish, Westward, Anglia and Channel)
  • Sunday 16th December 1962 – 4.40pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Friday 4th January 1963 – 5.28pm (Grampian)
  • Monday 28th January 1963 – 5.25pm (Granada and Wales West and North)
  • Monday 29th April 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)
  • Tuesday 9th September 1986 – 11.05am (Yorkshire)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Kazak John Bluthal
  • Zodan David Graham
  • Warrior Countdown David Graham
8 Space Immigrants

Minodor and Minotran, a pair of evil Lillispatians, capture XL7 pilot Ken Ross as he assesses New Earth for colonisation. The Lillispatians intend to trap the crew of Mayflower 3, piloted by Venus, as it travels to New Earth with the colonists, but they are unaware that Zoonie the Lazoon is also on board…

Written by Anthony Marriott

Directed by Alan Pattillo

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 11th November 1962 – 4.25pm (ATV London, Scottish, Westward and Channel)
  • Sunday 25th November 1963 – 4.40pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Friday 14th December 1962 – 5.27pm (Grampian)
  • Sunday 30th December 1962 – 4.55pm (Anglia)
  • Wednesday 9th January 1963 – 5.25pm (Granada and Wales West and North)
  • Monday 15th April 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)
  • Tuesday 19th August 1986 – 11.05am (Yorkshire)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Minodor David Graham
  • Minotran John Bluthal
  • Ken Ross John Bluthal
  • Jock Campbell John Bluthal
9 Space Monster

On planet Monotane, Ken Johnson and Al Stomper, the crew of Fireball XL2, hide in a cave to escape a huge space monster, but are trapped by the creature. When the crew of XL5 investigate, Fireball Junior is almost knocked out of the sky by the creature and Steve and Venus are trapped in the cave with Johnson and Stomper, leaving Matt and Zoonie to effect a rescue.

Written by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson

Directed by John Kelly

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 6th January 1963 – 4.50pm (ATV London, Channel, Anglia, Westward and Ulster)
  • Sunday 27th January 1963 – 4.50pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Saturday 2nd February 1963 – 5.00pm (Scottish)
  • Friday 8th February 1963 – 5.28pm (Grampian)
  • Monday 4th March 1963 – 5.25pm (Granada and Wales West and North)
  • Monday 3rd June 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Ken Johnson John Bluthal
  • Al Stomper David Graham
10 Flying Zodiac

Over dinner at Venus’ house, Steve explains his family’s background in the circus and Venus dreams that a charity circus is being staged at Space City. In disguise, Boris and Griselda Space Spy sabotage Ken Ross’ jetpack so that Steve’s trapeze act is left unsafe – in the confusion, alien Nomadians will land and take over Earth!

Written by Anthony Marriott

Directed by Bill Harris

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 23rd December 1962 – 4.40pm (ATV London, Westward and Channel)
  • Sunday 13th January 1963 – 4.55pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Saturday 19th January 1963 – 5.00pm (Scottish)
  • Friday 25th January 1963 – 5.28pm (Grampian)
  • Monday 18th February 1963 – 5.25pm (Granada and Wales West and North)
  • Sunday 17th March 1963 – 4.50pm (Anglia)
  • Monday 20th May 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)
  • Sunday 19th July 1987 – 10.30am (Yorkshire)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Boris Space Spy David Graham
  • Griselda Space Spy Sylvia Anderson
  • Jock Campbell John Bluthal
  • Ken Ross John Bluthal
  • Caravan Leader John Bluthal
11 Spy In Space

Fireball XL9 is attacked by a mysterious ship so XL5 replaces it on patrol. Steve heads to refuel at the Companion 12 space station, but the crew find it deserted except for Boris and Griselda Space Spy, who plan to steal XL5.

Written by Alan Fennell

Directed by Alan Pattillo

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 25th November 1962 – 4.20pm (ATV London, Scottish, Anglia, Westward and Channel)
  • Sunday 9th December 1962 – 4.40pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Friday 28th December 1962 – 5.27pm (Grampian)
  • Wednesday 23rd January 1963 – 5.25pm (Granada and Wales West and North)
  • Monday 1st April 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)
  • Tuesday 2nd September 1986 – 11.05am (Yorkshire)

Repeat Broadcasts (ITV):

Anglia

  • Wednesday 17th April 1985 – 11.05am

ATV London / Thames

  • Sunday 1st December 1963 – 4.00pm
  • Thursday 25th July 1985 – 10.05am

ATV Midlands / Central

  • Wednesday 8th July 1964 – 5.25pm
  • Monday 13th September 1965 – 5.25pm
  • Thursday 6th May 1971 – 4.45pm
  • Tuesday 13th August 1985 – 9.25am

Grampian

  • Sunday 9th August 1964 – 5.35pm
  • Saturday 24th August 1985 – 11.20am

Granada

  • Wednesday 17th June 1964 – 5,25pm
  • Saturday 12th December 1970 – 12.15pm

Scottish

  • Thursday 26th March 1964 – 5.25pm

Tyne Tees

  • Friday 5th November 1965 – 5.25pm
  • Sunday 2nd February 1986 – 9.25am

Ulster

  • Sunday 1st December 1963 – 4.00pm
  • Saturday 25th May 1985 – 11.20am

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Boris Space Spy David Graham
  • Griselda Space Spy Sylvia Anderson
  • XL9 Pilot Paul Maxwell
12 XL5 To H20

Rald and Jerek are the sole survivors on Zolpheid when their city is attacked by an Aquaphibian with a smoke gun. Space City picks up their faint SOS and a specially strengthened Fireball Junior dives into the planet’s ocean to seek out the two survivors as they shelter in a cavern.

Written by Alan Fennell

Directed by John Kelly

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 9th December 1962 – 4.25pm (ATV London, Westward, Anglia and Channel)
  • Sunday 23rd December 1963 – 4.40pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Friday 11th January 1963 – 5.28pm (Grampian)
  • Monday 4th February 1963 – 5.25pm (Granada and Wales West and North)
  • Monday 6th May 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)
  • Thursday 25th July 1963 – 5.25pm (Scottish)
  • Sunday 5th July 1987 – 10.30am (Yorkshire)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Rald David Graham
  • Jerek John Bluthal
13 Space Pirates

Venus tells Jonathan Zero a story about space pirates from Aridan who plunder freighters of radioactive ore from Minera en route for Earth. The XL5 crew plan to take a Q ship along the route to catch Captain Katt, but the pirates have overpowered Jock in freighter SF4 on Minera, setting a trap for Steve in his disguised Q ship.

Written by Anthony Marriott

Directed by Bill Harris

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 16th December 1962 – 4.25pm (ATV London, Westward, Channel and Anglia)
  • Sunday 6th January 1963 – 4.55pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Friday 18th January 1963 – 5.28pm (Grampian)
  • Monday 11th February 1963 – 5.25pm (Granada and Wales West and North)
  • Monday 13th May 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)
  • Thursday 1st August 1963 – 5.25pm (Scottish)
  • Sunday 12th July 1987 – 10.30am (Yorkshire)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Captain Katt David Graham
  • Patch John Bluthal
  • Jock Campbell John Bluthal
  • Jonathan Zero Sylvia Anderson
  • Eleanor Zero Sylvia Anderson
  • XL9 Pilot Paul Maxwell
14 The Last Of The Zanadus

At Space City, Steve is preparing to host a dinner party in honour of Major Jim Ireland, who is returning to Earth after exploring space for the last decade. Leland arrives at Space City in his ship Explorer and after dinner at Steve’s apartment, he shows the WSP team videotapes of the planets that he has visited, including Herbos the jungle planet and Zanadu. Steve and Matt recall that Kudos, the sole surviving inhabitant of Zanadu, has vowed to destroy all Lazoons after the planet was overrun by them. They are unaware that Ireland has become an unwitting agent for Kudos and, during the night, he infects a box of Zoony’s favourite Martian Delight with deadly milomytosis virus…

Written by Anthony Marriott

Directed by Alan Pattillo

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 13th January 1963 – 4.50pm (ATV London, Westward, Ulster, Channel and Anglia)
  • Sunday 3rd February 1963 – 4.40pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Saturday 9th February 1963 – 5.00pm (Scottish)
  • Friday 15th February 1963 – 5.28pm (Grampian)
  • Monday 11th March 1963 – 5.25pm (Granada and Wales West and North)
  • Monday 10th June 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)
  • Sunday 9th August 1987 – 10.30am (Yorkshire)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Kudos David Graham
  • Major Jim Ireland John Bluthal
15 Space Pen

Lieutenant 90 receives a request for landing clearance from Freighter ZX4, but the ship is occupied by a pair of gangsters, Carmachi and Al, who plan to steal Space City’s stock of isotopes. Waiting until nightfall, the gangsters break into Steve’s apartment and take his identification papers before cleaning out the isotope store and stealing Zero’s uniform. 90 tracks the gangster’s ship to Conva, the prison planet, but Zero reports that he cannot send the XL5 crew there without the approval of Conva’s controller General Shan. Determined to bring the gangsters and the mastermind behind their scheme to justice, Steve, Matt and Venus pose as dangerous criminals who have stolen XL5.

Written by Dennis Spooner

Directed by John Kelly

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 30th December 1962 – 4.20pm (ATV London, Westward and Channel)
  • Sunday 20th January 1963 – 4.55pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Saturday 26th January 1963 – 5.00pm (Scottish)
  • Friday 1st February 1963 – 5.28pm (Grampian)
  • Monday 25th February 1963 – 5.25pm (Granada and Wales West and North)
  • Monday 27th May 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Carmachi David Graham
  • Al John Bluthal
  • General Shan Paul Maxwell
16 Convict In Space

Top secret plans are stolen from WSP’s North American research base by Grothan Deblis who escapes in a 37H spaceship. Zero alerts the XL5 crew and Matt soon spots Deblis’s ship, but its course suggests that Deblis has already made a stop-off to hide the plans. Deblis surrenders when Steve targets his ship with a blast missile. Three months later, Deblis is sentenced to 20 years on the prison planet Conva and he is ferried there aboard XL5. Boris and Griselda Space Spy plan to rescue Deblis and force him to hand over the top secret papers, so they disguise the S.S. Thor and transmit a distress signal to XL5 which Steve immediately responds to. Matt crosses to the Thor to effect engine repairs, but he is captured by Boris and Griselda who then offer to exchange him for Deblis…

Written by Alan Fennell

Directed by Bill Harris

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 10th February 1963 – 4.50pm (ATV London, Ulster, Channel, Westward and Anglia)
  • Sunday 3rd March 1963 – 4.40pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Thursday 7th March 1963 – 5.25pm (Scottish)
  • Friday 15th March 1963 – 5.28pm (Grampian)
  • Monday 8th April 1963 – 5.25pm (Granada and Wales West and North)
  • Monday 8th July 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Grothan Deblis David Graham
  • IFN Newsreader John Bluthal
  • Research Control Paul Maxwell
17 Wings Of Danger

On Planet 46, the Subterrains plan revenge on Steve Zodiac for the capture of their leader and develop a robot bird which targets a subject with deadly radium capsules. Steve and Venus arrive on the planet to investigate some strange radio signals which have been detected at Space City, so the Subterrains programme the robot bird to follow XL5 when the crew return to Earth. Steve gives Venus and Zoony a lift to the beach house in his hoverer, but he collapses after the robot bird fires one of its capsules at him and Venus discovers that she must conduct an emergency operation to save his life!

Written by Alan Fennell

Directed by David Elliott

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 3rd February 1963 – 4.50pm (ATV London, Ulster, Westward, Channel and Anglia)
  • Sunday 24th February 1963 – 4.40pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Thursday 28th February 1963 – 5.25pm (Scottish)
  • Friday 8th March 1963 – 5.28pm (Grampian)
  • Monday 1st April 1963 – 5.25pm (Granada and Wales West and North)
  • Monday 1st July 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Subterrain 1 John Bluthal
  • Subterrain 2 David Graham
18 The Triads

A series of massive planetary explosions in deep space are detected at Space City and Matt traces them to Triad, a planet three times the size of Earth, Zero sends XL5 across the space frontier to investigate and after a three-week journey, Steve, Venus and Matt take Fireball Jr. down to the planet’s surface. Steve finds that Triad’s gravitational pull is enormous and using the emergency retros to fight it soon exhausts the ship’s fuel supply. Crash-landing in the Triad jungle, the trio explore on jetmobiles, but take refuge in a tree when they are attacked by a giant lion. Steve’s coma ray gun proves ineffective against the lion, but then they are all suddenly plucked from the tree by a giant man!

Written by Alan Fennell

Directed by Alan Pattillo

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 27th January 1963 – 4.50pm (ATV London, Anglia, Westward and Ulster)
  • Sunday 17th February 1963 – 4.40pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Saturday 23rd February 1963 – 5.00pm (Scottish)
  • Friday 1st March 1963 – 5.28pm (Grampian)
  • Monday 25th March 1963 – 5.25pm (Granada and Wales West and North)
  • Monday 24th June 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)
  • Sunday 23rd August 1987 – 10.30am (Yorkshire)

Repeat Broadcasts (ITV):

Anglia

  • Monday 15th April 1985 – 11.10am

ATV London / Thames

  • Sunday 2nd February 1964 – 3.55pm
  • Thursday 1st August 1985 – 10.05am

ATV Midlands / Central

  • Wednesday 9th September 1964 – 5.25pm
  • Monday 15th November 1965 – 5.25pm
  • Thursday 10th December 1970 – 4.55pm
  • Thursday 11th July 1985 – 9.25am

Grampian

  • Sunday 12th April 1964 – 5.40pm
  • Sunday 24th November 1985 – 9.30am

Granada

  • Wednesday 19th August 1964 – 5.25pm
  • Saturday 13th September 1969 – 5.40pm

Scottish

  • Thursday 28th May 1964 – 5.25pm
  • Saturday 1st January 1972 – 10.55am
  • Saturday 17th January 1987 – 11.00am

Tyne Tees

  • Friday 7th January 1966 – 5.25pm
  • Sunday 23rd March 1986 – 9.25am

Ulster

  • Sunday 2nd February 1964 – 3.55pm
  • Saturday 23rd February 1985 – 11.20am

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Graff David Graham
  • Snaff John Bluthal
19 Sabotage

As the XL5 crew complete another patrol and return to Earth, the ship is suddenly rocked by the explosion of a neutron control bomb in the space gyro mechanism, detonated by the Arcon Commander of Gamma Ship 30 from planet Electra. Steve manages to put out the fire caused by the explosion but contact is lost with Space City and the space gyro mechanism will have to be repaired before the ship can return to Earth. When Matt discovers the remains of the bomb, Steve realities that they are the victims of sabotage and XL5 is now a sitting duck. The Gamma Ship closes in on XL5 and the Arcon Commander activates a gamma ray which mesmerises the crew, dragging them out of XL5 and across space to the Electran craft…

Written by Anthony Marriott

Directed by John Kelly

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 20th October 1963 – 4.00pm (ATV London and Ulster)
  • Monday 9th December 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)
  • Saturday 11th January 1964 – 5.15pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Saturday 18th January 1964 – 5.15pm (Anglia)
  • Thursday 23rd April 1964 – 5.25pm (Scottish)
  • Wednesday 13th May 1964 – 5.25pm (Granada)
  • Sunday 7th June 1964 – 5.40pm (Grampian)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Ancon Commander David Graham
  • Ultra Arcon John Bluthal
  • Kelly John Bluthal
20 Prisoner On The Lost Planet

When Matt tests a new ultra long-range neutron receiver, he picks up a transmission from uncharted space which Steve recognises as an old space distress call. Travelling beyond Sector 25, the XL5 crew brave a flight through a belt of meteorites to reach the uncharted planet that is the source of the signal. Steve, Venus and Matt take Fireball Jr to the surface and Steve explores a cave in the side of a volcano, where he discovers a beautiful woman living in luxurious accommodation. She introduces herself as Aphros, exiled former Queen of the Space Amazons, but when Steve refuses to take her back to Earth, she drugs him and threatens to destroy Fireball Jr. with the volcano’s molten lava!

Written by Anthony Marriott

Directed by Bill Harris

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 3rd March 1963 – 4.50pm (ATV London, Channel, Westward and Ulster)
  • Sunday 24th March 1963 – 4.35pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Thursday 28th March 1963 – 5.25pm (Scottish)
  • Friday 5th April 1963 – 5.28pm (Grampian)
  • Monday 29th April 1963 – 5.25pm (Granada and Wales West and North)
  • Monday 29th July 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Aphros Sylvia Anderson
21 Flight To Danger

Lieutenant 90 is training to qualify for his astronaut’s wings and after he successfully lands XL5 in one piece, Steve recommends that he should proceed straight to the next stage, piloting XL1 to blast off from the launch rail. With Robert as co-pilot and Matt as navigator, 90 pilots the ship into space to Zero’s satisfaction, so he prepares to undertake a solo orbit of the Moon in a space capsule as the final stage of his training. Launched in a Jl7 rocket, 90 completes his lunar orbit but the capsule’s atomic reactor breaks free and, as he returns to Earth, the Lieutenant discovers that the capsule is on fire!

Written by Alan Fennell

Directed by David Elliott

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 24th February 1963 – 4.50pm (ATV London, Westward, Channel and Ulster)
  • Sunday 17th March 1963 – 4.40pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Thursday 21st March 1963 – 5.25pm (Scottish)
  • Friday 29th March 1963 – 5.28pm (Grampian)
  • Monday 22nd April 1963 – 5.25pm (Granada and Wales West and North)
  • Monday 22nd July 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Technician Paul Maxwell
22 Space Vacation

Kanerik, ruler of Kemble, plans to engineer the resettlement of his people on the nearby planet Olympus by poisoning the Olympian ruler’s son Ergon with life elixir while visiting the planet for peace talks. Ergon’s father Jankel worries that Olympus will become contaminated by aliens and plans to sabotage the peace talks by assassinating Kanerik during Ergon’s birthday celebrations. The XL5 crew become embroiled in the conflict when they arrive on Olympus for a vacation and are invited to Ergon’s birthday feast by Jankel. After Ergon falls ill from drinking the poisoned elixir, Venus is taken prisoner by Kanerik to prevent her from treating the young Olympian and Jankel threatens Matt’s life unless Steve rescues Venus in time for her to administer a cure!

Written by Dennis Spooner

Directed by Alan Pattillo

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 17th February 1963 – 4.50pm (ATV London, Channel, Westward and Ulster)
  • Sunday 10th March 1963 – 4.50pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Thursday 14th March 1963 – 5.25pm (Scottish)
  • Friday 22nd March 1963 – 5.28pm (Grampian)
  • Sunday 7th April 1963 – 4.10pm (Southern)
  • Monday 15th April 1963 – 5.25pm (Granada and Wales West and North)
  • Monday 15th July 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Kanerik David Graham
  • Jankel John Bluthal
  • Ergon David Graham
23 Mystery Of The TA2

Matt picks up a weak signal on the astrascope and when Steve diverts course to investigate, the XL5 crew discover a piece of wreckage from the TA2, an early Space Patrol vessel that disappeared with its pilot, Colonel Harry Denton, 48 years ago. Matt locates the rest of the TA2 wreckage and on board they team that one of the ship’s atomic motors exploded, causing a fire which destroyed the ship. Examining the ship’s charts, Matt realities that Denton planned to try and reach Arctan after he ejected from the ship, so Steve sets a course for the planet to see if they can find him. The trio search the icy surface on jetmobiles, but suddenly Venus falls into a crevasse that opens up beneath her!

Written by Dennis Spooner

Directed by John Kelly

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 31st March 1963 – 4.40pm (ATV London, Westward and Ulster)
  • Sunday 7th April 1963 – 4.50pm (Anglia)
  • Saturday 20th April 1963 – 5.15pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Thursday 25th April 1963 – 5.25pm (Scottish)
  • Friday 3rd May 1963 – 5.28pm (Grampian)
  • Monday 27th May 1963 – 5.25pm (Granada and Wales West and North)
  • Monday 26th August 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Harry Denton John Bluthal
  • Jinco David Graham
  • 2nd Iceman John Bluthal
24 Robert To The Rescue

Matt has built himself a powerful telescope to take up astronomy and he soon spots a new planet that is not shown on the space charts. Naming the planet Matic, Matt reports it to Zero but when Lieutenant 90 checks the position on the radar scanner, there is no sign of it. Despite Zero’s scepticism, Matic exists and the next morning it moves into a position which eclipses the Sun. Flying to the planet to investigate, the XL5 crew are surprised to discover that it is entirely artificial and constructed from metal panels. Suddenly Fireball Jr. is pulled inside the planet by an unknown force and when they leave the ship to explore, Steve, Venus and Matt are captured by the planet’s Domehead occupants who intend to wipe their memories and keep them as slaves for the rest of their lives!

Written by Dennis Spooner

Directed by Bill Harris

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 17th March 1963 – 4.55pm (ATV London, Channel. Westward and Ulster)
  • Saturday 6th April 1963 – 5.15pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Thursday 11th April 1963 – 5.25pm (Scottish)
  • Friday 19th April 1963 – 5.28pm (Grampian)
  • Monday 13th May 1963 – 5.25pm (Granada and Wales West and North)
  • Monday 12th August 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)
  • Saturday 25th January 1964 – 5.15pm (Anglia)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Magar David Graham
  • Proton John Bluthal
25 The Forbidden Planet

At the Interplanetary Astronomers Committee’s Space Observatory 1, Matt and Dr. Stamp present an Earth TeleVision broadcast showing the first pictures from a new Ultrascope space probe. The pictures reveal the secrets of Nutopia, reputed to be the most beautiful planet in the universe. But on the planet, two guardians, Privator and Perfectos, are angered by this intrusion. They cut off the transmission to Earth with a protector ray and then journey to the observatory using a travel transmitter to kidnap Matt and Stamp, so when Steve and Venus arrive in XL5, the observatory is deserted!

Written by Anthony Marriott

Directed by David Elliott

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 10th March 1963 – 4.50pm (ATV London, Channel, Westward and Ulster)
  • Saturday 30th March 1963 – 5.15pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Thursday 4th April 1963 – 5.25pm (Scottish)
  • Friday 12th April 1963 – 5.28pm (Grampian)
  • Monday 6th May 1963 – 5.25pm (Granada and Wales West and North)
  • Monday 5th August 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Privator John Bluthal
  • Perfectos David Graham
  • Stamp Paul Maxwell
  • Announcer John Bluthal
26 The Granatoid Tanks

At a Mineral Research Laboratory on Planet 73, Dr. Baker and Dr. Simpson have just completed six months’ work testing the planet’s glass soil in preparation for colonisation when they discover that they are in the path of six tanks controlled by Granatoid robots, a hostile intelligence searching for a home and intent on the destruction of all obstacles. The robots can only be repelled by the rare mineral plyton, but Earth’s stocks of plyton have run out. Steve and Matt are buying an Electro Orchestra instrument for Venus’s birthday at Ma Doughty’s music shop when they are alerted to the Granatoid threat. Convinced that she can help against the Granatoids, old Ma Doughty stows away inside the Electro Orchestra’s crate when the instrument is delivered to XL5…

Written by Alan Fennell

Directed by Alan Pattillo

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 21st April 1963 – 4.40pm (ATV London and Ulster)
  • Sunday 28th April 1963 – 4.50pm (Anglia)
  • Saturday 11th May 1963 – 5.15pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Thursday 16th May 1963 – 5.25pm (Scottish)
  • Friday 24th May 1963 – 5.28pm (Grampian)
  • Monday 17th June 1963 – 5.25pm (Granada and Wales West and North)
  • Monday 16th September 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Ma Doughty Sylvia Anderson
  • Baker David Graham
  • Simpson John Bluthal
  • Granatoid 1 Gerry Anderson
27 Dangerous Cargo

The XL5 crew conduct a survey of Pharos, the derelict planet, where the strata is so riddled with old Ciluvium mine workings that the surface is collapsing. Returning to Earth, they report that Pharos will have to be destroyed before it falls apart and Zero decides to use Vesivium Nine explosives to completely disintegrate it. Zoony has been expelled from the Space City tower after causing chaos in the Control Room, so Venus begs Steve to let them take him with them to Pharos. Steve agrees on the condition that the Lazoon remains locked in the ship’s Space Jail. On Pharos, they place the Vesivium Nine in one of the mine shafts and set the detonator, but a pair of Subterrains block the entrance to the shaft, trapping Steve, Venus and Matt inside with the bomb!

Written by Dennis Spooner

Directed by John Kelly

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 24th March 1963 – 4.50pm (ATV London, Channel, Westward and Ulster)
  • Saturday 13th April 1963 – 515pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Thursday 18th April 1963 – 5.25pm (Scottish)
  • Friday 26th April 1963 – 5.28pm (Grampian)
  • Monday 20th May 1963 – 5.25pm (Granada and Wales West and North)
  • Monday 19th August 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Subterrain I David Graham
  • Subterrain 2 John Bluthal
28 1875

After weeks of seclusion in his workshop, Matt finally completes work on a time machine. He tests the machine by sending Robert back to 1875 where the robot surprises the deputy sheriff of a one-horse town. After Robert returns to the 21st century, Matt leaves the workshop key with Lieutenant 90, giving strict instructions that no one is to go in there until his demonstration the next day. But while Matt is sleeping, curiosity impels Steve, Venus and Zero to take the key and explore the workshop. Believing the apparatus to be an artificial gravity rig, the trio step into the time travel booth and when Zoony starts playing with the controls, they are accidentally transported to 1875!

Written by Anthony Marriott

Directed by Bill Harris

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 14th April 1963 – 4.40pm (ATV London and Ulster)
  • Sunday 21st April 1963 – 4.50pm (Anglia)
  • Saturday 4th May 1963 – 5.15pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Thursday 9th May 1963 – 5.25pm (Scottish)
  • Friday 17th May 1963 – 5.28pm (Grampian)
  • Monday 10th June 1963 – 5.25pm (Granada and Wales West and North)
  • Monday 9th September 1973 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)

Repeat Broadcasts (ITV):

ATV Midlands / Central

  • Wednesday 2nd December 1964 –  5.25pm
  • Monday 31st January 1966 – 5.25pm
  • Wednesday 17th February 1971 – 4.55pm
  • Wednesday 22nd July 1985 – 9.25am

Grampian

  • Tuesday 29th December 1964 – 4.35pm

Granada

  • Wednesday 4th November 1964 – 5.25pm
  • Sunday 16th November 1969 – 1.55pm

Scottish

  • Thursday 13th August 1964 – 5.25pm

Tyne Tees

  • Friday 25th March 1966 – 5.25pm

Ulster

  • Sunday 19th April 1964 – 3.55pm

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Deputy Sheriff Dodgem John Bluthal
  • Doc David Graham
  • Mahoney David Graham
29 The Robot Freighter Mystery

An explosion in the Master Robot Console of Robot Supply Freighter 7 enables unscrupulous salvage operators Slim and Joe Briggs to load the cargo aboard their ship SCS Valiant and claim the salvage price from the WSP. This is the third such freighter that the Briggs brothers have ‘salvaged’ in recent weeks and Zero is certain that they have arranged to sabotage the ships somehow, but he has no proof and cannot arrest them. He orders Jock to make a thorough check of Freighter 8 before it leaves Space City the next morning but during the night, Jock’s assistant Edmundo sneaks into the freighter’s Master Control Cabin and plants an incendiary device inside the Master Robot Console…

Written by Alan Fennell

Directed by David Elliott

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 28th April 1963 – 4.40pm (ATV London and Ulster)
  • Saturday 18th May 1963 – 5.15pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Thursday 23rd May 1963 – 5.25pm (Scottish)
  • Friday 31st May 1963 – 5.28pm (Grampian)
  • Monday 24th June 1963 – 5.25pm (Granada and Wales West and North)
  • Monday 23rd September 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Slim Briggs David Graham
  • Joe Briggs Paul Maxwell
  • Edmundo John Bluthal
  • Emergency Call Tape David Graham
30 Drama At Space City

Steve and Venus take a vacation with Steve’s Uncle Hans in Switzerland, leaving Zoony in the care of Zero and his family, but when Eleanor goes to visit her sick mother, Zero has to look after Zoony and Jonathan on his own. The pair cause havoc in the Control Room and Zero is at the end of his tether when Jonathan asks if he can have a ride in a spaceship. Disappointed by his father’s angry refusal, Jonathan sneaks aboard XL5 with Zoony during the night to find that Matt has left Robert at the controls while he is sleeping with the help of sedative pills. Unfortunately, Jonathan has taught Zoony to say “Full power” and the Lazoon accidentally orders Robert to launch the ship into space!

Written by Anthony Marriott

Directed by Alan Pattillo

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 7th April 1963 – 4.40pm (ATV London and Ulster)
  • Sunday 14th April 1963 – 4.50pm (Anglia)
  • Saturday 27th April 1963 – 5.1pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Thursday 2nd May 1963 – 5.25pm (Scottish)
  • Friday 10th May 1963 – 5.28pm (Grampian)
  • Monday 3rd June 1963 – 5.25pm (Granada and Wales West and North)
  • Monday 2nd September 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Uncle Hans John Bluthal
  • Space Control Paul Maxwell
31 Whistle For Danger

The XL5 crew are dispatched to Floran, the jungle planet, to determine what is destroying the plant life there. Steve, Matt and Venus collect samples and Venus discovers traces of Planetoid 3, a virulent plant disease. After decontamination back on Earth, Matt suggests to Zero that they could detonate an Elvium bomb in Floran’s atmosphere as the fallout would kill the disease but leave any human life unaffected. Returning to Floran, the XL5 crew detonate the Elvium warhead and then go down to the surface to observe the effects. Steve, Venus and Matt are welcomed by a pair of Florans who take them to their castle and lay on a feast in their honour, but then the trio discover that their food has been drugged: in the belief diet the Elvium bomb was a prelude to an invasion attempt, the Florans plan to execute the WSP officers!

Written by Dennis Spooner

Directed by John Kelly

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 5th May 1963 – 4.40pm (ATV London)
  • Saturday 25th May 1963 – 5.15pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Thursday 30th May 1963 – 5.25pm (Scottish)
  • Friday 7th June 1963 – 5.28pm (Grampian)
  • Monday 1st July 1963 – 5.25pm (Granada and Wales West and North)
  • Monday 30th September 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Floran 1 John Bluthal
  • Floran 2 David Graham
  • Tannoy John Bluthal
32 Faster Than Light

XL5 is en route to Space Station 9 when Steve loses control of the ship, Matt dons a radiation suit to check the nutomic reactor and reports that there is a chain reaction in the main motor which will cause the ship to accelerate continuously until it eventually cuts out. Racing out of control, XL5 flies into unexplored space at faster than light speed and as the ship breaks the light barrier, the crew pass out. When they recover consciousness, they discover that the ship has been holed by meteorites and most of their air has been lost. Matt calculates that the air supply will only last one more hour and to make matters worse, Zoony has eaten all the oxygen pills…

Written by Dennis Spooner

Directed by Bill Harris

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 2nd June 1963 – 4.40pm (ATV London and Ulster)
  • Sunday 9th June 1963 – 4.50pm (Anglia)
  • Saturday 22nd June 1963 – 5.15pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Thursday 27th June 1963 – 5.25pm (Scottish)
  • Friday 5th July 1963 – 5.28pm (Grampian)
  • Monday 29th July 1963 – 5.25pm (Granada and Wales West and North)
  • Monday 28th October 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Major Duncan John Bluthal
33 The Day The Earth Froze

XL27 makes an emergency landing at Space City on remote control and when Steve, Matt and Zero board the ship, they find that the crew are all unconscious. Steve suspects that a ground-to-space Coma Cannon has been used against the ship and a message in the pilot’s hand points to planet Zavia, an uninhabited ice planet in Sector 29, as the source of the attack. The XL5 crew travel to Zavia while back on Earth, Space City experiences an unseasonal heavy snowfall. On Zavia, Steve, Venus and Matt discover tunnels cut into the ice leading to an underground base constructed by a pair of Jedums, Cardre and Rader, who plan vengeance against Earth by deflecting the sun’s rays to freeze the planet!

Written by Alan Fennell

Directed by David Elliott

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 9th June 1963 – 4.40pm (ATV London and Ulster)
  • Sunday 16th June 1963 – 4.50pm (Anglia)
  • Thursday 4th July – 5.25pm (Scottish)
  • Friday 12th July 1963 – 5.28pm (Grampian)
  • Monday 5th August 1963 – 5.25pm (Granada and Wales West and North)
  • Monday 4th November 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)
  • Saturday 25th January 1964 – 5.15pm (Tyne Tees)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Cardre David Graham
  • Rader John Bluthal
  • Emergency Tannoy Paul Maxwell
34 Invasion Earth

WSP communications are being disrupted by a strange space cloud and when XLI8 is dispatched to disperse it, the ship inexplicably explodes as it enters the cloud. Meanwhile, the XL5 crew are on a medical mission, inoculating the members of Colonel Hudson’s Space Exploration Team against rystamesia, a virulent space epidemic. As they return to Earth, Zoony falls ill and Venus realities that she has forgotten to inoculate him. Alerted by Zero, they watch on the astrascope as XL24 approaches the space cloud and explodes, but when they play back the recording in slow motion, Steve notices that the ship was destroyed by a missile fired from inside the cloud. Intercepting an alien transmission, they discover that an invasion fleet is hidden within the cloud and the WSP’s weapons are powerless to stop them from conquering the Earth!

Written by Dennis Spooner

Directed by Alan Pattillo

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 26th May 1963 – 4.40pm (ATV London and Ulster)
  • Sunday 2nd June 1963 – 4.50pm (Anglia)
  • Saturday 15th June 1963 – 5.15pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Thursday 20th June 1963 – 5.25pm (Scottish)
  • Friday 28th June 1963 – 5.28pm (Grampian)
  • Monday 22nd July 1963 – 5.25pm (Granada and Wales West and North)
  • Monday 21st October 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Colonel Hudson David Graham
  • Alien Leader David Graham
  • Alien Lieutenant David Graham
  • XL18 Pilot/XL24 Pilot Paul Maxwell
35 Ghosts Of Space

XL5 transports geologist James Frazer to planet Electon where he will spend the next 80

days conducting a survey. Expecting a warm welcome from the friendly Electons, Frazer finds the nearest town completely deserted, as if everyone left in a hurry. He discovers a lump of glowing electric rock being used as a light source in the local hotel and the next morning, he locates a plentiful source of the rock. Imagining that it will make him rich, he sets about digging up the rocks to take back to Earth. When the XL5 crew return 12 weeks later, Venus realities that Frazer is suffering from space melancholia when the man threatens to destroy Fireball Jr unless Steve agrees to transport the rocks to Earth. Then, during the night, objects in the hotel start moving around on their own…

Written by Alan Fennell

Directed by John Kelly

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 6th October 1963  – 4.00pm(ATV London and Ulster)
  • Monday 25th November 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)
  • Saturday 28th December 1963 – 5.15pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Saturday 4th January 1964 – 5.15pm (Anglia)
  • Thursday 12th March 1964 – 5.25pm (Scottish)
  • Wednesday 29th April 1964 – 5.25pm (Granada)
  • Sunday 24th May 1964 – 5.40pm (Grampian)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • James Frazer John Bluthal
  • Halla John Bluthal
  • Senta David Graham
36 Trial By Robot

Four planets have reported that their top robots have vanished and Matt suspects robot expert Professor Al Himber, who visited each planet on his recent lecture tour. Himber is due to lecture at Space City so Matt fits a warning device to Robert in case Himber tries to steal him too, After the lecture, Himber visits Matt’s workshop and fixes a control system on Robert, but he discovers the warning device and deactivates it. However, Matt has also added a homing device which Himber does not discover and this enables the XL5 crew to track Robert when he takes off in XL1 under Himber’s control. Trailing XL] to Planet 82, Steve, Venus and Matt follow Robert when he leaves the ship, but they come under fire from a robot tank and are then captured by Himber’s robots…

Written by Alan Fennell

Directed by Bill Harris

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 12th May 1963 – 4.40pm (ATV London and Ulster)
  • Saturday 1st June 1963 – 5.15pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Thursday 6th June 1963 – 5.25pm (Scottish)
  • Friday 14th June 1963 – 5.28pm (Grampian)
  • Monday 8th July 1963 – 5.25pm (Granada and Wales West and North)
  • Monday 7th October 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • AI Himber David Graham
  • Judge Robot Gerry Anderson
  • Prosecutor Robot Gerry Anderson
  • Jury Robot 1 Gerry Anderson
  • Jury Robot 2 Gerry Anderson
  • July Robot 3 Gerry Anderson
37 A Day In The Life Of A Space General

Lieutenant 90 is studying so hard for his Bachelor of Space degree that he has not been getting enough sleep and keeps dozing off while on duty. Zero gives him a dressing down before sending him home to get some rest, but just before he turns in, 90 wishes that he could outrank Zero for just one day. He dreams that he has been promoted to Space General in recognition of his work on a new radar scanner, which Jock has spent all night installing in the Control Room. As Jock has missed his flight to Olympus for his vacation, General 90 orders Steve to fly him there in XL5. Then the scanner registers what appear to be unidentified ships in Sector 23 and, assuming them to be hostile invaders, 90 orders Zero to send a task force to intercept them and wipe them out!

Written by Alan Fennell

Directed by David Elliott

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 19th May 1963 – 4.40pm (ATV London and Ulster)
  • Saturday 8th June 1963 – 5.15pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Thursday 13th June 1963 – 5.25pm (Scottish)
  • Friday 21st June 1963 – 5.28pm (Grampian)
  • Monday 15th July 1963 – 5.25pm (Wales West and North and Granada)
  • Monday 14th October 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Freighter A14 David Graham
38 Space City Special

WSP head General Rossiter is flying to Space City to present Steve with the Astronaut of the Year award. He invites Venus to join him for die journey aboard a new SL6 supersonic airliner as she returns from receiving a diploma in space psychology. At Space City, ETV presenter Johnny Jackson is preparing to cover the event and offers to donate $100,000 to charity if the XL5 crew and ground staff put on a song and dance show after the presentation. As they wait for their flight, Venus becomes concerned about the mental state of SL6 pilot Major Todd, but it is only after the airliner takes off that she realities he has been brainwashed and intends to crash the plane when it reaches 80,000 feet!

Written by Dennis Spooner

Directed by Alan Pattillo

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 23rd June 1963 – 4.40pm (ATV London and Ulster)
  • Sunday 30th June 1963 – 4.20pm (Anglia)
  • Thursday 11th July 1963 – 5.25pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Thursday 18th July 1963 – 5.25pm (Scottish)
  • Friday 26th July 1963 – 5.28pm (Grampian)
  • Monday 19th August 1963 – 5.25pm (Granada and Wales West and North)
  • Monday 18th November 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • General Rossiter John Bluthal
  • Major Todd David Graham
  • Johnny Jackson John Bluthal
  • Subterrain Leader David Graham
  • Subterrain 1 John Bluthal
  • Subterrain 2 David Graham
39 The Fire Fighters

Blazing fireballs originating from a strange space cloud are crashing to Earth, the latest setting fire to a forest in Canada and the Hall of Justice in Brazil. The XL5 crew are sent to analyse the gas cloud which scientists believe is igniting as it comes into contact with oxygen, but the gas sets fire to XL5’s tail section. After putting out the blaze, the crew return to Space City where Steve proposes using an old satellite, Skyball 1, to collect  the gas cloud and detonate it in space before it can enter Earth’s atmosphere. Matt starts work on the necessary modifications, but then a fireball is spotted heading directly for Space City and Venus’s beach house!

Written by Alan Fennell

Directed by John Kelly

First UK Airdates:

  • Sunday 16th June 1963 – 4.40pm (ATV London and Ulster)
  • Sunday 23rd June 1963 – 4.50pm (Anglia)
  • Thursday 4th July 1963 – 5.25pm (Tyne Tees)
  • Thursday 11th July 1963 – 5.25pm (Scottish)
  • Friday 19th July 1963 – 5.28pm (Grampian)
  • Monday 12th August 1963 – 5.25pm (Granada and Wales West and North )
  • Monday 11th November 1963 – 7.00pm (ATV Midlands)

Additional Voice Cast:

  • Space Station 9 David Graham
Cast List
Colonel Steve Zodiac Paul Maxwell
Venus Sylvia Anderson
Professor Matt Matic David Graham
Commander Zero John Bluthal
Lt. Ninety David Graham
Robert Gerry Anderson
Zoonie David Graham