''Parallel 9'' is a British

children's television series Children's television series (or children's television shows) are Television show, television programs designed specifically for Child, children. They are typically characterised by easy-going content devoid of sensitive or adult themes and are ...

that aired on

BBC1 BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's oldest and Flagship (broadcasting), flagship channel, and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includ ...

from 25 April 1992 to 17 September 1994. Airing on Saturday mornings, ''Parallel 9'' was the first BBC Saturday morning children's series to be produced by an independent production company – in this case Roach & Partners – rather than the BBC's in-house children's production unit. The show was filmed at Pinewood Studios and is notable for the large number of changes in cast and situation that it undertook during its run, despite retaining the same branding throughout.

History

Series 1

The show focused on Mercator, an old alien 'Time Baron' with very long eyebrows (played by Roddy Maude-Roxby) who had been banished to Parallel 9 after summoning an earth girl named Calendular as a result of his thirst for knowledge – a criminal offence on his home planet 'Zarb'. As part of his punishment, he was allowed to awake for only 2 hours a week; from 9am to 11am on 'the day the Earthlings call Saturday', and had the ability to ' beam up' guests from

Earth Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to Planetary habitability, harbor life. This is enabled by Earth being an ocean world, the only one in the Solar System sustaining liquid surface water. Almost all ...

to Parallel 9, to take part in interviews and features with Calendular, who had decided to take up permanent residence in Parallel 9. Among the other characters that made regular appearances in the first series were three other criminals who had been banished from their home planet: Steyl, Skyn and Thynkso. The latter three spent their time plotting ways to escape Parallel 9. Celebrity guests included

Kylie Minogue Kylie Ann Minogue (; born 28 May 1968) is an Australian singer, songwriter, and actress. Frequently referred to as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Princess of Pop", she has achieved recognition in both the music industry and fas ...

Dannii Minogue Dannii Minogue (; born 20 October 1971) is an Australian singer, television personality, and actress. As a child, she became known for her appearances on the television talent show ''Young Talent Time'' (1982–1988). She went on to play the r ...

, Right Said Fred, Shakespeare's Sister, Frank Bruno,

Jason Donovan Jason Sean Donovan (born 1 June 1968) is an Australian actor and singer. He initially achieved fame in the Australian soap ''Neighbours'', playing Scott Robinson, before beginning a career in music in 1988. In the UK he has sold over 3 millio ...

and Sylvia Anderson.

Series 2

The new series was more vibrant than its predecessor, with jauntier opening titles, a brighter set and a new lead character; though this character retained the name Mercator, the character changed to a younger, more manic man with spiky hair, played by Christopher Wild. New characters including Zee, Dr. Kovan and Brian the Dinosaur, a puppet created by David Claridge (creator of

Roland Rat Roland Rat is a British television puppet character. He was created, operated and voiced by David Claridge, who had previously designed and operated Mooncat, a puppet in the Children's ITV television programme ''Get Up and Go!''. Character sum ...

) were introduced, replacing the supporting characters from the previous run. The only connections between this series and the previous run were the name ''P9'', that of Mercator, and the Tope, the clear cubicle which formed a central part of the programme's set, played by Stephen Hope Wynne (who played numerous other characters in all the seasons), and which in this series switched from being a dimensional prison to become the space station's power source. During this series, a 'base station' (static caravan) was used to provide a 'link' by which guests could be 'transported' from Earth to P9: the Earth-based presenter was Lucinda Cowden, whose role was to introduce items and guests from the "Earth base", and send guests through a curtain in the caravan for "transportation" to the P9 station.

Series 3

Mercator was recast again, and was this time a buttoned-down commander type, played by Richard Waites of ITV's '' ZZZap!'' and '' No. 73''; Zee also left, and was replaced by Flynn, played by

Kate Lonergan Helen Catherine "Kate" Lonergan (born 4 January 1962) is an English former actress, best known for playing the role of Maid Marian in the 1989–94 BBC1 children's television series '' Maid Marian and her Merry Men''. Prior to being cast a ...

(formerly of '' Maid Marian and Her Merry Men''). Dr. Kovan and Brian remained and were joined by a younger second dinosaur named Derek also operated by Claridge, and the setting continued to be a space station; the 'base station on Earth' concept also continued, with Paul Hendy joining to present with Lucinda Cowden.

Transmissions

References

External links

*
''Parallel 9''
on Paul Morris' SatKids
Summer Replacements
at Saturday Mornings {{British Saturday morning television 1992 British television series debuts 1994 British television series endings 1990s British children's television series 1990s British science fiction television series BBC children's television shows British children's television series British science fiction television shows British television shows featuring puppetry British English-language television shows Television series produced at Pinewood Studios