Series synopsis
Fireball XL5 is a British action & adventure animation sci-fi & fantasy television series that premiered on Associated Television on October 28, 1962. It ended on October 27, 1963. It was created by Sylvia Anderson, Gerry Anderson. It stars Gerry Anderson and David Graham.
Fireball XL5 is a science fiction-themed children's television show following the missions of spaceship Fireball XL5, commanded by Colonel Steve Zodiac of the World Space Patrol. The show was produced in 1962 by husband and wife team Gerry and Sylvia Anderson through their company APF, in association with ATV for ITC Entertainment. While developing his new show, Anderson thought a brand of motor oil—Castrol XL—had an interesting sound. A phonetic change created the name "Fireball XL", with the " ...
Premise
Fireball XL5 is a science fiction-themed children's television show following the missions of spaceship Fireball XL5, commanded by Colonel Steve Zodiac of the World Space Patrol. The show was produced in 1962 by husband and wife team Gerry and Sylvia Anderson through their company APF, in association with ATV for ITC Entertainment. While developing his new show, Anderson thought a brand of motor oil—Castrol XL—had an interesting sound. A phonetic change created the name "Fireball XL", with the "-5" added as the title seemed a bit flat without the numeral.
The show featured the Andersons' Supermarionation, a form of puppetry first introduced in Four Feather Falls and Supercar and used again in their subsequent productions such as Stingray and Captain Scarlet. Thirty-nine black and white half-hour episodes of Fireball XL5 were made on 35mm film: all future Anderson series were produced in colour.
Several Anderson series have been shown in syndication in the US, but Fireball XL5 is the only Anderson series to have run on a US network. NBC ran the series in its Saturday morning children's block from 1963 through to September 1965.
A similar programme often confused with Fireball XL5 is Space Patrol, produced by Gerry Anderson's ex business partner and co-founder of AP Films, Arthur Provis due to a number of similarities and settings.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Gerry Anderson as Robert the Robot (voice) (uncredited)
- David Graham as Lieutenant Ninety (voice)
Guest cast
- Paul Maxwell as Colonel Steve Zodiac (voice)
- Sylvia Anderson as Doctor Venus (voice)
- John Bluthal as Commander Wilbur Zero (voice)
Episodes
This series spans 2 seasons with 40 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 1 | January 1, 2002 | January 1, 2002 |
| Season 1 | 39 | October 28, 1962 | October 27, 1963 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Noble Art of Fireball XL5 Documentary on the series Fireball XL5. |
January 1, 2002 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Planet 46 After intercepting a missile on course for earth, Steve Zodiac and the crew of the XL5 travel to Planet 46 and discover the Subterrains who launch another missile at the earth with Venus trapped inside. |
October 28, 1962 |
| 2 |
The Doomed Planet The Fireball XL5 narrowly misses a planet that bas broken out of it's orbit and realize the planet is on a collision course for the planet Membrono. After concluding the planets are uninhabited, Steve realizes he saw a flying saucer and after the ship lands at Venus' house, the XL5 is lured back to save the planet Membrono from destruction. |
November 4, 1962 |
| 3 |
Space Immigrants Venus and Prof. Matic are about to set off in the Mayflower 3 to colonise the nearby planet, New Earth. But the Advance Scout has been kidnapped by two evil midgets who plan to hold the new immigrants captive. |
November 11, 1962 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | Associated Television |
|---|---|
| First aired | October 28, 1962 |
| Last aired | October 27, 1963 |
| Runtime | 25 minutes |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Sunday |