A man emerges from a caravan seemingly in a barren wasteland. He seems surprised to see us but explains he's helping aliens research Earth, and we can come with him if we want. Cue titles...
This is the story of a largely forgotten Saturday morning programme that mixed fictional elements set on an alien planet with the standard Saturday morning TV fare. At the age of 8, Parallel 9 completely captured my imagination and was the first TV show I'd been properly obsessed with, though it was clear even at that age that it had perhaps not panned out the way they'd expected and it has had something of a mixed reputation in the years since. Writing my original tribute to the first series not only revealed far more people were fond of it than I'd thought, but also brought me into contact with the cast and a prompted hugely unexpected reunion to mark its 30th anniversary. This in turn gave the opportunity to tell for the first time the behind-the-scenes story of what actually happened.
I'm nothing if not a completist, so let's continue the story. Now aged 9, in April 1993 I was very surprised to hear that Parallel 9 was in fact returning. Given the way the 1992 run ended ended, what on earth (so to speak) would the show consist of, and would it be any good? This is my guide to the second series of Parallel 9, and once again I'm hugely grateful to a number of those who worked on it - including both main presenters - for contributing. Did the new look do the business for me - and more importantly, the wider audience? Read on...
Series 2 (1993)
The headline of the new look is that Parallel 9 is no longer a prison planet. Instead it is being used by Zarb as a research centre to investigate Earth life, discover knowledge and interact with humans. Whilst the planet Zarb remains in charge the "Time Barons" are no longer mentioned, nor is the idea of time going backwards. Despite the pace being quickened and the tone lightened, the core concept - "aliens learning about Earth" - is identical to series 1, but shorn of the slightly dark idea of it being done by criminals breaking free from a repressive regime.
This huge change was not an accident, as presenter Richard Norton recalls. "The first series was incredibly different. It became more of a magazine show, it was a different show. I think that was what they had to do to get it recommissioned. They had 2 more seasons in the pipeline in that contract, but it was on the proviso that they provided something that was different from the first one."
As a result the second series of Parallel 9 is such a huge contrast to the first it is perhaps easier to make a list of what stayed the same: the name, the logo and the character of the Tope. Everything else - titles, theme tune, cast, set and format - was completely overhauled. A key change this year was the addition of an "Earthbase" from which a human presenter would anchor the show, communicate with the planet and send guests for their research. The intention here was presumably to find a more identifiable point for young viewers to jump on than the previous year's "Earth girl whisked to a prison planet in her sleep" angle.
The Earthbase was a caravan seemingly in a barren wasteland, where Richard Norton would be based during the live shows. "I had a great relationship with the crew that were based around the caravan. The design of that caravan I had input with, that was great fun with the art department. I said wouldn’t it be great if we had one of those American 50s Airstream-style [caravans], with that kind of retro sci-fi feel, and had that surf vibe inside and all that stuff. They ran with it, and said “we can’t afford an Airstream, but we can paint this one grey…”. I think in the end they did a really good job with it, that was really good fun."
With the help of some rudimentary special effects and a lot of imagination, the caravan was the portal to Parallel 9. "The guests would actually go in through the plastic strip curtain with a smoke machine in it, jump out the back of the caravan, run across the car park and run into the studio! It was good fun." The surface of the planet would once again take residence in Stage J at Pinewood Studios all Summer, but there were rules put in place (initially at least) about who was allowed to go there - or come down to Earth: "They were very clear that the aliens could never come back through that door because they thought that might be too scary for kids. The fact that we could go to their planet by invitation was fine but there was never anything from that world that could come to ours. And I couldn’t go to theirs. I was pushing for that - I said I want to make the trip. I think that’d be really cool if we could do that. They started talking about that when Lucinda came into it, and I never got to do it."
The new planet set followed a similar, if much brighter concept to the previous year. A number of themed areas sat around the Tope, but it seemed Zarb had been frugal when converting from penal planet to research facility as some of it looked rather familiar. The "Starbridge" area was virtually identical to how it looked in series 1, and other reused pieces of 1992 set included a bridge that featured prominently in the opening titles (which now accessed the upper level of the new control centre) and the suspended helicopter.
The Tope was also clearly the same prop, though now surrounded by a crystalline pool instead of water. There was also initially a new rather uncomfortable-looking plastic seat attached to it where guests would appear when particulated up to the planet from the Earthbase, though like series 1's "occasional table" this would be removed fairly swiftly.
The new areas included the control centre, a garden and a number of internal rooms shielded from the main part of the set to for items to be presented from. One major contrast to series 1 was there was no bespoke performance area for bands and singers to appear in, and live music appears to have been very rare during this run.
The bridges, such a striking element of the original design, were again a big feature of this one - though slightly less impressively now they were not circling the entire set connected to one other. The set was also coloured in much brighter and garish colours. This appeared to be a reaction to the "cool" tones of the original but undoubtedly made it look far cheaper and more like a TV studio. Returning voice of the Tope Stephen Hope-Wynne summarises the programme became "more colourful, bright lime and American cartoon Puff-n-Stuff land and less dark space-age".
The loss of the "cinematic" style of series 1 was inevitable, with the key casualties being the end of letterboxing and there being no camera crane this year. As well as no graceful shots of the set anymore this did mean that everything was captured by wobbly hand-held cameras instead, many of which ended up in shot, meaning some of the scale was lost. There were also many more shots of the "ceiling" of the planet than before with the new set slightly less believeable as an alien world.
The new theme tune, composed by Paul Joyce, reflected the change of style and couldn't have been more different than Ed Welch's series 1 composition. The series 2 theme is however absolutely of its time. It sits perfectly in amongst the Euro-rave-pop sound that was popular in early 1993 and is something of an ear worm. This recording from the 1994 series is in stereo, so pop some headphones in to give your ears a real workout...
Parallel 9...
When time is on your side
You've got to get to Parallel 9...
Deep in outer space, we're gonna take you out of this world
To Parallel 9!
It's not as deep and meaningful as "they're gonna take your time away" but given the changes to the show, that's the point really. The theme was composed by Paul Joyce, who was commissioned by new Executive Producer Peter Murphy who he'd known from his time as controller of children's at HTV. Paul recalls: "I met with the director, Michael Kerrigan at Pinewood and he talked me through the vision for show. I knew how long the song needed to be and I went away and created a demo. They liked it immediately and the finished master required very little amendment as I recall."
The unique sound of the theme was inspired by the vision for the new series. "It was a sci-fi setting, and I adore this genre so it was right up my street to create something that you wanted to listen to again and again (hopefully!) and try and unpick the various sounds." And as for the voice singing those lyrics...."You may be interested to know that they decided to keep my voice on the finished song. I only intended it to form part of the demo. This has happened a few times in my career, where the demo vocals have proved more popular than subsequent performers."
Although a huge contrast to Ed Welch's series 1 theme, Paul had yet to hear it. "I think I was so busy at the time that I never listened to the theme for the first series! I have now of course...it’s a different approach to my theme." Unlike Welch's creation the Joyce theme is a continual prescence throughout the programme, not only heard at the start and finish but in a short burst every time a guest particulates to Parallel 9 (confusingly credited as "PARTIC TO ZARB" on some paperwork) and a super-extended 12-inch club-mix version during the Malachite Challenge segment. Paul also created virtually all of the incidental music and stings used on series 2 and 3 of the programme.
Visuals provided by Pizzaz Pictures (now known as Studio AKA) depicted an entertaining, vibrant and pacey cartoon journey from the Earthbase cavaran through space to Parallel 9. They concluded with the same logo as series 1, now depicted in dark red. "I created the song and the title imagery was created around it" recalls Paul Joyce. "They had a demo really early on and the sequence of sounds and ideas didn’t change that much." It's hard to think of a greater contrast with the crime, court and sentence sequence that opened the first run.
The only member of the cast to continue from series 1 was Stephen Hope-Wynne as the voice of the Tope, who recalls the transition. "The first series grew organically yet fast. An endurance exercise, it would exhaust everyone as most were unsure whether this strange phenomenon would be permitted to have another series, ever. Jill Roach, the boss, would not let on. Months later, having moved onto other jobs, I was asked if I would be interested in being recalled to P9. Mysterious as usual, my arrival at Pinewood was warmly welcomed yet not many people I knew were there. Eventually, I was introduced to some actors who I did not know."
Joining Mercator was enthusiastic and dilligent second-in-command Zee, played by Frances Dodge who until 1991 had headed up the presentation team of Ghost Train, Parallel 9's close Saturday morning cousin on t'other side.
Imperious and suspicious visitor Dr Kovan was portrayed by Karl Collins. Initially his prescence provided much of the dramatic tension, though in time he would settle in, becoming much less stuffy and as much a part of the crew as the others.
The final member of the team was something you suspect was the last thing envisaged when the series was originally pitched - a bright pink puppet dinosaur, voiced by David Claridge of Roland Rat fame. It wasn't clear from the plot how or why Brian the Dinosaur ended up on Parallel 9 (and it's stated in the first show that his presence is agaist Zarbian rules), but he came with a curious backstory that was regurgitated at every opportunity which mainly involved being from Rotherham, liking heavy metal and saying the catchphrase "Cup o' tea?". Attention to detail on the Rotherham angle included references to genuine chippy The Happy Fryer. Brian also continually and relentlessly pestered most of the female visitors to the planet for a "snog" in an element of the programme that hasn't aged well, and he had a variety of nicknames for the others including "Kojak" and "slaphead" for Dr Kovan and "bog brush head" for Mercator.
Whether by accident or design, the addition of Brian was well-timed for dinosaur fever hitting the UK in the summer of 1993 with the release of the film Jurassic Park. Claridge was named in the Radio Times billings but was kept anonymous on the show itself, with Brian listed as "Courtesy of Triassic Mgt Rotherham". Claridge would also contribute a second puppet member of the cast to the programme midway through the series.
Stephen Hope-Wynne recalls the big changes this lineup brought. "Series 2 was a different beast. David Claridge brought an arsenal of ideas including a puppet dinosaur and another gleamingly talented range of actors, designers and costume ideas." Richard Norton wanted to establish more of a double act with Claridge but came up against the rules for the new format. "I really enjoyed working with him even though it was over the camera, but I wanted them to be in the same room. I went on The Big Breakfast a couple of times and worked with Zig and Zag. When they’re good puppeteers you buy into it, and you’re not looking at the operator as they’re so good at it, you want to just engage, and he had that skill. I really wanted them to bring Brian down to the caravan, and they said they can’t, it’s crossing the worlds. But I wanted Brian to be my co-presenter. Hiding a dinosaur in a caravan, I think that would have been a good one."
When recalling the impending revamp of the show, series 1 cast member Kevin Short suggested to me that Roach & Partners would need to "change the producers and directors, or change the cast". In the end they changed both. As well as the new on-air team, Michael Kerrigan and Claire Winyard became the new "Series Producers/Directors" - the combined roles perhaps installed to avoid the mismatch between the two positions that occurred at the start of the 1992 run. Series 2 thus went to air with an almost entirely different crew in front of and behind the cameras, with only a handful of production roles continuing for a second year (including Senior Floor Manager Julie Sykes and Line Producer Sally Debonnaire). Despite this, as with series 1, there would once again be changes during the run, including one very prominent one...
Prelaunch
The traditional "guest appearance by presenter of the new Saturday morning series starting the following week" hadn't taken place the previous year because, of course, there was a heavy duty storyline to keep to at that point which didn't involve one of the cast making a trip to TC7. This time around Richard Norton was able to pop in to the final edition of Going Live! and be a judge in a live edition of Run The Risk in Hammersmith Park. Later in the programme back in the studio Phillip and Sarah appear to have been instructed to promote the return of Parallel 9 before instead saying they will very much be fast asleep this time next week.
The first glimpse of the new look programme was seen a couple of hours later in a trailer immediately after the final emotional pants-swing, and due to the high profile nature of the farewell to the much-loved Going Live! this 25 seconds of footage is possibly the most-viewed of all the three years of Parallel 9.
The footage appears to be taken from a dry run, mirroring the off-air pilot produced for series 1 nine days prior to its launch, suggesting these clips may have been just a couple of days old at this point.
The series 2 "pilot" appears to have been a dry run of show 1 with numerous similar setups to that which would actually transmit a week later including Brian wearing a blonde wig and the trapese group Exstatic. There are some visible differences from the transmitted programme, however. The "Earthbase" caravan interior has yet to be fully decorated and looks quite mundane compared to the design that appeared on screen a week later.
The title sequence also doesn't appear to have been finished at this point, with the silver series 1 logo used on the endboard. There is however one other major difference...
That's not Mercator.
It perhaps takes a couple of views to register but the dark-haired actor playing the new Mercator clearly isn't Christopher Wild. At first glance it can perhaps be assumed his hair was dyed blonde for the show proper, but on closer inspection it does appear to be an entirely different person. Unlike the rest of the cast, he is only in two shots in the trailer - one as a long shot, and the other from behind, which suggests they weren't keen for us to see him either.
So who is the mystery man? Radio Times to the rescue. Whilst the programme listing for episode 1 (as seen in the episode guide below) doesn't list any of the cast, the banner photo at the top of the page does.
Now that on the right is Karl Collins as Dr Kovan, and we can assume cockup rather than conspiracy is behind the caption claiming he is Mercator. But this error does reveal that Pete Lee-Wilson was expected to be playing the lead when the magazine went to press around the same time that the pilot was recorded, and a quick Google reveals that yes, that is the guy in the trailer. "He was actually really good" recalls Richard Norton. "I think it was contractual, something to do with his work commitments, he may have got a job somewhere else, and they had to bring someone else in. I think it was as simple as that. Chris Wild came in [as Mercator], bless him, he had to watch the pilot and jump straight in on week 1. I remember having a lot of conversations with him. I remember him talking it through in costume in the rehearsal and I was like “mate, everyone’s got so much to remember”."
Show 1 - tx 24/04/93, 0900-1100
Another cosmic edition of the series that takes you out of this world, mixing dramatic adventure on a fantasy planet. This week's guests include singer Louie Louie and the new star of the West End musical
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Darren Day. Brian the Dinosaur causes comic chaos while Zee and Kovan help Mercator sort out events at Mission Control.
Executive producer Peter Murphy
A Roach and Partners production for BBCtv
EARTH-KNOWLEDGE: if you want to send a message to Mercator, or deliver your knowledge in person, write to P9 Earthbase, BBCtv. PO Box 9000, London W 12 8ZZ.
Show 3 - tx 08/05/93, 0900-1055
Another edition of the series that mixes dramatic adventure on a fantasy planet with star guests, fun, cartoons, competitions and music. Today, there's magic from Paul Zenon of Tricks'n'Tracks (Thursdays at 4.30pm), a visit from the Thunderbirds puppets and music with new videos from Janet Jackson and Girlfriend.
Producer Michael Kerrigan
Executive producer Peter Murphy
A Roach and Partners production for BBCtv
EARTH-KNOWLEDGE: if you want to send a message to Mercator, or deliver your knowledge in person, write to P9 Earthbase, BBCtv, PO Box 9000. London W12 8ZZ.
The Saturday morning show having a trail often live from the studio at the end of Friday's Children's BBC was a tradition spanning the best part of twenty years, but had been eschewed by Parallel 9's first series presumably to remain faithful to the format. From series 2, this was no longer a concern. Following a rather strangled Eurovision-based apology from Toby Anstis is show 3's promo:
Look out for Brian clutching his secret box and mention of Lucinda Cowden's first appearance, best known as Melanie from Neighbours. Cowden turned in a terrific performance pleasingly showing some real anger at her harrassment by Brian, and it clearly did not go unnoticed by Roach & Partners. I'm undecided if this trail was actually live but some of the back-and-forth seems too well-timed for it not to be. Definitely pre-recorded was the trail in the traditional live linkup around 8.30am the following morning because it was used again the week after, so this was potentially devised as a way of avoiding disrupting pre-show rehearsals. Brian does the honours again, presumably because he looked the same every week. From my cassette of clips from that morning:
Another cosmic edition of the series that takes you out of this world, mixing dramatic adventure on a fantasy planet with star guests, fun, cartoons, competitions and music. Today: Mercator and crew are convinced that the Flintstones are an accurate picture of life on earth, and Brian the Dinosaur thinks he is running the planet.
A Roach and Partners production for BBCtv
EARTH-KNOWLEDGE: if you want to send a message to Mercator. or deliver your knowledge in person, write to P9 Earthbase, BBCtv, PO Box 9000, London W 12 8ZZ.
A recording I have of the closing theme on cassette reveals that the Magic Roundabout characters visited this week with the narrator butting at various points throughout the show much to everyone's frustration.
Show 5 - tx 22/05/03, 0900-1055
Another edition of the series that takes you out of this world, mixing adventure on a fantasy planet with star guests, cartoons, competitions and music. Today: what is the secret that Kovan finds in the pool? Richard thinks Brian the Dinosaur is off his planet, and the aliens are watching Bugs Bunny and The Flintstones.
Executive producer Peter Murphy
A Roach and Partners production for BBCtv
EARTH-KNOWLEDGE: if you want to send a message to Mercator, or deliver your knowledge in person, write to P9 Earthbase, BBCtv. PO Box 9000, London W 12 8ZZ.
The first time the entire cast gets a credit in Radio Times. Richard Norton recalls working with them: "All the actors were great fun. I got on well with everyone. I spent most of the week in with the researchers trying to plan all the stories and the scripts. I spent at least the mornings during the week with them. I had a lot of help with a guy called John Bullivant who was a researcher at the time, and he helped me with some of the script writing."
Another edition of the series that takes you out of this world, with star guests, cartoons, competitions and music. Today: guest Julia Sawalha talks about young film-makers; top prizes in an extra special competition; cartoon fun as the aliens dig into The Flintstones; guests include an invasion of Richard's earthbase by monster trucks.
Executive producer Peter Murphy
A Roach and Partners production for BBCtv
EARTH-KNOWLEDGE: if you want to send a message to Mercator, or deliver your knowledge in person, write to P9 Earthbase, BBCtv, PO Box 9000. London W 12 8ZZ.
Richard Norton recalls this episode as one of his favourites. "There were a couple of episodes I can’t find on my old VHSes and I’d really like to see. There was one where I entered on a monster truck, which comes over the sand dunes, but we kind of wheelied into the sand dunes and I jumped out and started presenting the show and rang into the caravan. The whole thing was around these stunt cars who were doing a show at Wembley."
Patrick Moore gets no mention in the billing but appeared on this show no doubt having a whale of a time playing along with the format as he often did on children's TV. My audio recording reveals he played along on the xylophone to the closing theme.
Show 7 - tx 05/06/93, 0900-1052
In today's edition of the series that takes you out of this world, Tim Whitnall arrives to do some research for his part as an alien in ITV's Mike and Angelo. Top club comic Mickey Hutton is also on hand with tips on how to be funny and gives Kovan advice on lightening up his character. Meanwhile, between his usual bouts of mischief, agony dinosaur Brian answers more pets' letters in Pets' Problem Corner and helps Peter Simon from BBCtv's Star Pets in his attempt to recruit talented animals. The music is provided by Lisa Stansfield and the WWF, who perform in their latest videos. Plus a report on roller-blading, Britain's latest craze, and more cartoon capers from The Flintstones and Bugs Bunny.
A Roach and Partners production for BBCtv
EARTH-KNOWLEDGE: if you want to send a message to Parallel 9, write to P9 Earthbase, BBCtv, PO Box 9000. London W12 8ZZ.
Note the change to the contact message from this week removing most of the blurb used since series 1 that no longer really matched the format.
Today's edition of the cosmic series asks: what kind of wildlife exists in the Zarbian world?
Richard Norton sends an expert to the planet to find out. Brian the Dinosaur is in Pets' Problem
Corner, while Zee puts a star guest through Cosmic Charisma. Plus cartoon fun from Bugs Bunny and The Flintstones.
Executive producer Peter Murphy
A Roach and Partners production for BBCtv
Show 9 - tx 19/06/93, 0900-1052
In today's edition of the cosmic series, there's interplanetary basketball and Richard Norton awaits some special guests from Australia in the Earthbase. Meanwhile on the planet, Brian the Dinosaur embarks on a career as an eco-detective, Kovan unravels new mysteries from the pool and Mercator and Zee get an urgent message from the Zarbian High Command. Plus music and cartoon action.
With David Claridge, Karl Collins, Frances Dodge, Stephen Hope-Wynne and Christopher Wild.
Producers Lome Magory, Claire Winyard
A Roach and Partners production for BBCtv
Show 10 - tx 26/06/93, 0900-1055
In today's edition of the cosmic series, it's a very special day for Brian the Dinosaur as everyone goes big on dinosaurs. From earthbase to planet: there are model dinosaurs, movie dinosaurs, museum dinosaurs, and the arrival of a little pink dinosaur. Lucinda Cowden invites the guest stars to go on an intergalactic dinosaur hunt, with comic results involving Mercator and the crew in an awfully big adventure.
With David Claridge, Karl Collins, Frances Dodge, Stephen Hope-Wynne and Christopher Wild.
Producers Lome Magory, Claire Winyard
A Roach and Partners production for BBCtv
Show 11 - tx 03/07/93, 0900-1052
In today's edition of the cosmic series, pop group East 17 and singer Dannii Minogue plan a party on Parallel 9. They are joined by Brian the Dinosaur, Zee, Mercator, and Kovan and co in the intergalactic danceathon of the century. Plus cartoon fun with Bugs Bunny and The Flintstones.
Series producer Billy Macqueen
A Roach and Partners production for BBCtv
In today's edition of the cosmic series: the baby dinosaur loves exploring P9 but unfortunately gets stuck on the Tope and transferred to Earth. Zee realises the baby dino has gone missing and traces his footprints down to Earth. Will she rescue him in time? Down at the P9 Earthbase, Lucinda tries to send up all the usual Earth info: Bugs Bunny, Flintstones, pop videos and any other research material she can find.
Series producer Billy Macqueen
A Roach and Partners production for BBCtv
Show 13 - tx 17/07/93, 0900-1055
In today's edition of the cosmic series: Kovan goes to Earth to research a top-secret project while Lucinda particulates herself to Parallel 9. Brian still can't believe that his baby brother hates all heavy-metal music. Mercator and Zee are worried by Zarb HQ's reaction to the latest research documents.
Could they close P9 down?
Series producer Billy Macqueen
EARTH-KNOWLEDGE: to send a message to Parallel 9. write to P9 Earthbase. BBCtv. PO Box 9000. London W 12 8ZZ.
I've not idea whether the billed two-way travel actually happened but if it did, it shows further considerable breaking of the format rules. Where are the Time Barons when you need them?
Show 14 - tx 24/07/93, 0900-1052
In today's edition of the cosmic series, the Tope goes haywire and the whole planet begins to go to pieces. Every system starts to break down, including transportation - which explains why two innocent strangers mysteriously materialise on the planet! Who is responsible for the sabotage - and why are the new arrivals so keen to stay?
Series producer Billy Macqueen
A Roach and Partners production for BBCtv
Show 15 - tx 31/07/93, 0900-1055
Cosmic series. Zee is celebrating her 200th birthday, which involves a strange physical transformation. The rest of the crew are busy planning birthday surprises and squabbling over presents.
Meanwhile, Brian the Dinosaur decides it's time to take a trip to Earth. Who will win the competition to have Brian and baby Derek as their guests?
Series producer Billy Macqueen A Roach production for BBCtv
EARTH-KNOWLEDGE: tosend a message to Parallel 9. write to P9 Earthbase. BBCtv. PO Box 9000, London W 12 8ZZ.
The crew decides there's more to life than data, statistics and research, in this week's edition of the cosmic series. Instead, they immerse themselves in the world of fine arts. Mercator becomes a painter, Zee learns ballet dancing and Kovan becomes a performance poet.
Series producer Billy Macqueen
EARTH-KNOWLEDGE: to send a message to Parallel 9, write to P9 Earthbase. BBCtv. PO Box 9000. London W 12 8ZZ.
Show 17 - tx 14/08/93, 0900-1047
How will Mercator cope when his parents come to visit? Will his position as Commander survive a barrage of baby photos and questions about when he's going to settle down? Baby dinosaur Derek wants everyone to meet his special friend Jim Genie - the crew just think he's another imaginary friend.
Series producer Billy Macqueen
A Roach and Partners production for BBCtv
Mercator and his crew make preparations for the Zarbian royal visit. Unfortunately, all does not go to plan. Has Mercator blown his chances of a knighthood?
Series director Claire Winyard
Series producer Billy Macqueen
A Roach and Partners production for BBCtv EARTH-KNOWLEDGE: to send a message to Parallel 9. write to P9 Earthbase, BBCtv, PO Box 9000. London W 12 8ZZ.
And the Zarbian Queen is indeed mentioned in the Friday 20th August promo for the show. Hang on - wouldn't that be Mercator 1.0's Mum?! This also shows Christopher Wild has had a fairly drastic haircut at some point over the summer. Back in the Broom Cupboard, Philippa Forrester loses out on the job that was so obviously supposed to be hers. Sorry, I've still not got over that miscarriage of justice.
Show 19 - tx 28/08/93, 0900-1055
Kovan invents a machine that makes dreams come true. Will Zee's wish to meet intergalactic plumbers X and Y be fulfilled? Could Brian make it back down to Earth? Can Mercator wish the Watcher away? And will Kovan succeed in inventing a pinball game to be played over the telephone?
Series producer Billy Macqueen
A Roach and Partners production for BBCtv
Parallel 9 Pinball was the show's belated take on the Going Live! computer game. Think Nip The Squid, Feed The Dog and the rest, and was as far as I know the first time the programme had put callers on air. It'd be well-received enough to be carried over to series 3, though it appears far less visually convincing than a similar pinball game I was playing at the time on my Amiga 1200!
Show 20 - tx 04/09/93, 0900-1012
All the crew members have to enter the annual intergalactic song competition. Mercator, accompanied by guitar, sings a love song; Zee becomes a cowgirl; Kovan croons; and Brian is predictably metallic. Will any of them win?
With David Claridge, Karl Collins, Lucinda Cowden, Frances Dodge, Stephen Hope-Wynne and Christopher Wild.
Series producer Billy Macqueen
A Roach and Partners production for BBCtv
The annual short show due to The Cricket spoiling everyone's Saturday. Once again with impeccable timing, ITV's flagship Saturday morning show What's Up Doc returned for a second series today. The only other thing I know about this show is that there was no Friday promo as part of subterfuge in NC1 to instead screen an old clip of the departing Andi Peters when he looked slightly different.
Show 21 - tx 11/09/93, 0900-1055
It's the Festival of Sport and Gwenthrax returns as a Zarbian sports instructor to put Linford Christie , Colin Jackson and Darcey Bussell through their paces with the rest of the crew. And who will be the lucky pinball contestant?
Series producer Billy Macqueen
A Roach and Partners production for BBCtv
Show 22 - tx 18/09/93, 0900-1055
Last in the cosmic series. An alien beauty contest forms the backdrop to the final showdown between Mercator and Xorgon. Who will win?
Series producer Billy Macqueen
A Roach and Partners production for BBCtv
"On looking back I realise this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be a guest among great and brilliant TV professionals at the top of their game. I am deeply grateful to the cast and the myriad of researchers, designers, make-up (Lisa Cavalli-Green), sound, light and arts departments, directors (Claire Winyard, Michael Kerrigan, Graham Williams, Simon Staffurth) who fabricated a stunning and memorable BBC entertainment product. It was jolly hard work yet an absolute privilege to be within and everyone there, at any time, regardless of which series, was brilliant at their work. A hugely exciting time." As well as Stephen's departure, Chistopher Wild and Frances Dodge would not return as Mercator and Zee the following year. Finally Billy MacQueen would not return as Producer in 1994 having taken charge of another troubled series midway through its run a few months earlier, but more on that next time....