''M.I. High'' is a British

action Action may refer to: * Action (philosophy), something which is done by a person * Action principles the heart of fundamental physics * Action (narrative), a literary mode * Action fiction, a type of genre fiction * Action game, a genre of video gam ...

television series produced by

Kudos Kudos may refer to: * ''Kudos'' (computer game), a life simulation game produced by Positech Games * Kudos (production company), a UK-based film and television production company * Kudos, a fictional currency used by the Dwellers in '' The Alge ...

for

CBBC CBBC is a British free-to-air Public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom, public broadcast children's television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is also the brand used for all BBC content for children aged 6 to 12. Its sister c ...

and created by Keith Brumpton. The series focused on a team of undercover teenage spies working for the fictional British secret intelligence agency MI9 who had to balance their school life with their jobs as secret agents. The line-up of spies was altered between the show's seven series. The series premiered on 8 January 2007 and originally ended on 21 March 2011 after five series, before being revived for a further two series that were broadcast between 7 January 2013 and 31 March 2014.

Premise

The series follows the adventures of secondary school pupils who work as undercover spies. The spies are led by an MI9 agent (first by Lenny Bicknall, later by Frank London) whose cover job is a school caretaker. The team must constantly save the world from domination by a variety of villains, whilst hiding their spy identities from their teachers and peers, and completing their school work. The identity of the overarching villains the Grand Master (Series 1–5) and the Mastermind (Series 6–7) remains a mystery within the show.

Cast

Main

M.I. High agents

*Lenny Bicknall (

Danny John-Jules Daniel John-Jules (born 16 September 1960) is a British actor, singer and dancer. He is best known for playing Cat (Red Dwarf), Cat in the sci-fi comedy series ''Red Dwarf'', Barrington in the comic children's series ''Maid Marian and Her Merry M ...

), the team's MI9 handler working undercover as the school's caretaker (Series 1–2). *Frank London (

Jonny Freeman Jonny Freeman is an English actor and comedian. He is best known for his role as Frank London in the children's CBBC TV series, ''M.I. High'' and as Reiss Colwell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. He has also starred in '' Dalziel & Pascoe'', ' ...

), who replaces Lenny as the team's MI9 handler working undercover as the school's caretaker (Series 3–7).

Supporting

Saint Hope's/Saint Heart's School Staff

*Kenneth Flatley (Chris Stanton), the Headmaster of Saint Hope's (Series 1–5) and of Saint Heart's (Series 6–7). He is unaware of the spying activities along with much else that happens in the school. *Hermione King (Chanelle Owen), the Deputy Headmistress of Saint Hope's (Series 3–5) and of Saint Heart's (Series 7), who often undermines Mr. Flatley resulting in him seemingly being afraid of her.

Antagonists

*The Grand Master (voiced by

Kerry Shale Kerry Shale (born 4 June 1952) is a Canadian actor based in London, England. His BBC Radio 4 comedy-drama ''The Kubrick Test'' was broadcast in 2020. He is the co-host of ''Is It Rolling, Bob? Talking Dylan'', a podcast about Bob Dylan ...

(Series 1), played and voiced by

Julian Bleach Julian Bleach (born 29 December 1963) is an English actor, singer and playwright, who is known as co-creator and " MC" of '' Shockheaded Peter'', a musical entertainment based on the works of Heinrich Hoffmann, which won the 2002 Olivier Award ...

(Series 2–6)), the head of the Super Kriminal Underworld League (SKUL). Owns a white rabbit which he refers to as General Flopsy. *The Mastermind (voiced by Brian Cox (Series 6), Gavin Mitchell (Series 7)), the dictatorial head of KORPS, whose consciousness was digitally uploaded to cheat death. *The Crime Minister (

Pollyanna McIntosh Pollyanna McIntosh (born 15 March 1979) is a Scottish actress and director known for her roles in films ''Exam (2009 film), Exam'' (2009), ''The Woman (2011 film), The Woman'' (2011), ''Let Us Prey (film), Let Us Prey'' (2014), the first season ...

), The Mastermind's second-in-command. She is generally seen in command of KORPS due to the Mastermind's condition.

Episodes

Awards and nominations

Merchandise

Books

Books have been released including three novels, a survival handbook and a 2012 annual. *''M. I. High: A New Generation'' (31 January 2008, 978-0-14-132361-9,

Puffin Books Puffin Books is a longstanding children's imprint of the British publishers Penguin Books. Since the 1960s, it has been among the largest publishers of children's books in the UK and much of the English-speaking world. The imprint now belongs to ...

) *''M. I. High: Secrets & Spies'' (31 January 2008, 978-0-14-132362-6, Puffin Books) *''MI High: Spy Survival Handbook'' (31 January 2008, 978-0-14-132363-3, Puffin Books) *''M.I. High Annual 2012'' (1 August 2011, 978-1-4052-5972-9,

Egmont Books Ltd The Egmont Group (officially Egmont International Holding A/S; known as Gutenberghus Group until 1992) is a Danish media corporation founded and rooted in Copenhagen, Denmark. The business area of Egmont has traditionally been magazine publishi ...

) A further novel, ''M.I. High: The Midas Machine'', was cancelled.

Comic

DVD release

The first series of ''M.I. High'' was scheduled to be released on DVD in two five-episode installments by the

Contender Entertainment Group Lionsgate Canada is a Canadian entertainment company and a subsidiary of Lionsgate Studios. Based in Toronto, the company is primarily involved in the acquisition and production of films and television series. The company began on June 1, 1973 ...

, under license from the

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

. The first of which was released on 21 January 2008 and the second which would complete the first season was to follow on 31 March 2008 but was cancelled indefinitely with no reason given, and the rest of the show has not seen a DVD release yet. The first DVD includes a documentary about the series (which is made up of various short clips shown during the series on CBBC Extra).

References

External links

* * {{IMDb title, id=0943690, title=M.I. High BBC children's television shows BBC high definition shows 2000s British children's television series 2010s British children's television series 2007 British television series debuts 2014 British television series endings British action television series British crime television series British television series revived after cancellation Television series about teenagers Television series by Endemol British English-language television shows Television shows set in London British spy television series