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Fireball XL5 is a British 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 aired for a single 1962—63 series, produced by husband and wife team Gerry and Sylvia Anderson through their company APF, in association with ATV for ITC Entertainment, and first transmitted on ATV on Sunday 28 October 1962. 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 since the title seemed rather flat without the numeral.
Original Release
10/28/1962
US Release
10/05/1963
Cast
| Name | Character |
|---|
| David Graham | Professor Matthew Matic / Lieutenant Ninety / Zoonie the Lazoon / Senta / Zoony the Lazoo / Subterrain 2 / Zodan / Warrior Countdown / The Chlorophon / Super Solar / Subterrain 1 / Space Station 9 / Slim Briggs / Emergency Call Tape / Professor Al Himber / Perfectos / Minodor / Major Todd / Subterrain Leader / Magar / Kudos / Jinco / Graff / Doc / Sergeant Mahoney / Colonel Hudson / Alien Leader / Alien Lieutenant / Captain Catt / Boris the Space Spy / Caramachi / Al Stomper / 2nd Floran (Mead) / Volvo / Professor Mattew 'Matt' Matic / Doctor Baker / Arcon Commander / Grothan Deblis / Cardre / Freighter A14 / Kanerik / Ergon / Reld / Subterrain #1 / Canaveral Station / Jodrell Bank / Tanker Pilot Joe |
| Sylvia Anderson | Doctor Venus / Griselda the Space Spy / Eleanor Zero / Jonathan Zero / Dcotor Venus / Alarm Service / Aphros |
| Paul Maxwell | Colonel Steve Zodiac / XL9 Pilot / Emergency Tannoy / Doctor Stamp / Dr. Howard Rootes / General Shan / Joe Briggs / Mrs Doughty / Okinawa Station / Research Control / Space Control / Tannoy / Technician / XL18 Pilot / XL24 Pilot |
| John Bluthal | Commander Wilbur Zero / Commander Wilbir Zero / Deputy Sheriff Dodgem / 1st Floran / Al / Bizan / Captain Ken Johnson / Captain Ross / Colonel Harry Denton / Second Iceman / Doctor Simpson / IPN Newsreader / Jankel / Jerek / Jock Campbell / Caravan Leader / Edmundo / General Rossiter / Johnny Jackson / Subterrain 1 / Patch / Subterrain 2 / Kazak / Ken Ross / Major Duncan / Major Jim Ireland / Minotran / Captain Ken Ross / Privator / Announcer / Proton / Rader / Saucer Man / Snaff / Subterrain Leader / Subterrain #2 / Suventan Brain / Ultra Arcon / Kelly / Uncle Hans / James Frazer / Halla |
| Gerry Anderson | Robert the Robot / Judge Robot / Prosecutor Robot / Jury Robot 1 / Jury Robot 2 / Jury Robot 3 / Guard Robot / Granatoid 1 |
| # | Title | Air Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Planet 46 | Sunday, 28 October 1962 |
| 2 | The Doomed Planet | Sunday, 04 November 1962 |
| 3 | Space Immigrants | Sunday, 11 November 1962 |
| 4 | Plant Man from Space | Sunday, 18 November 1962 |
| 5 | Spy in Space | Sunday, 25 November 1962 |
| 6 | The Sun Temple | Sunday, 02 December 1962 |
| 7 | XL5 to H20 | Sunday, 09 December 1962 |
| 8 | Space Pirates | Sunday, 16 December 1962 |
| 9 | Flying Zodiac | Sunday, 23 December 1962 |
| 10 | Space Pen | Sunday, 30 December 1962 |
| 11 | Space Monster | Sunday, 06 January 1963 |
| 12 | The Last of the Zanadus | Sunday, 13 January 1963 |
| 13 | Planet of Platonia | Sunday, 20 January 1963 |
| 14 | The Triads | Sunday, 27 January 1963 |
| 15 | Wings of Danger | Sunday, 03 February 1963 |
| 16 | Convict in Space | Sunday, 10 February 1963 |
| 17 | Space Vacation | Sunday, 17 February 1963 |
| 18 | Flight to Danger | Sunday, 24 February 1963 |
| 19 | Prisoner on the Lost Planet | Sunday, 03 March 1963 |
| 20 | The Forbidden Planet | Sunday, 10 March 1963 |
| 21 | Robert to the Rescue | Sunday, 17 March 1963 |
| 22 | Dangerous Cargo | Sunday, 24 March 1963 |
| 23 | Mystery of the TA2 | Sunday, 31 March 1963 |
| 24 | Drama at Space City | Sunday, 07 April 1963 |
| 25 | 1875 | Sunday, 14 April 1963 |
| 26 | The Granatoid Tanks | Sunday, 21 April 1963 |
| 27 | The Robot Freighter Mystery | Sunday, 28 April 1963 |
| 28 | Whistle for Danger | Sunday, 05 May 1963 |
| 29 | Trial by Robot | Sunday, 12 May 1963 |
| 30 | A Day in the Life of a Space General | Sunday, 19 May 1963 |
| 31 | Invasion Earth | Sunday, 26 May 1963 |
| 32 | Faster Than Light | Sunday, 02 June 1963 |
| 33 | The Day the Earth Froze | Sunday, 09 June 1963 |
| 34 | The Fire Fighters | Sunday, 16 June 1963 |
| 35 | Space City Special | Sunday, 23 June 1963 |
| 36 | Ghosts of Space | Sunday, 30 June 1963 |
| 37 | Hypnotic Sphere | Sunday, 07 July 1963 |
| 38 | Sabotage | Sunday, 14 July 1963 |
| 39 | Space Magnet | Sunday, 21 July 1963 |
Directors
John Kelly, Alan Pattillo, Bill Harris, David Elliott, Gerry Anderson
Writers
Arthur Provis, Alan Fennell, Anthony Marriott, Dennis Spooner, Gerry Anderson, Sylvia Anderson
Creators
Sylvia Anderson, Gerry Anderson
Cast
| Name | Character |
|---|
| David Graham | Professor Matthew Matic / Lieutenant Ninety / Zoonie the Lazoon / Senta / Zoony the Lazoo / Subterrain 2 / Zodan / Warrior Countdown / The Chlorophon / Super Solar / Subterrain 1 / Space Station 9 / Slim Briggs / Emergency Call Tape / Professor Al Himber / Perfectos / Minodor / Major Todd / Subterrain Leader / Magar / Kudos / Jinco / Graff / Doc / Sergeant Mahoney / Colonel Hudson / Alien Leader / Alien Lieutenant / Captain Catt / Boris the Space Spy / Caramachi / Al Stomper / 2nd Floran (Mead) / Volvo / Professor Mattew 'Matt' Matic / Doctor Baker / Arcon Commander / Grothan Deblis / Cardre / Freighter A14 / Kanerik / Ergon / Reld / Subterrain #1 / Canaveral Station / Jodrell Bank / Tanker Pilot Joe |
| Sylvia Anderson | Doctor Venus / Griselda the Space Spy / Eleanor Zero / Jonathan Zero / Dcotor Venus / Alarm Service / Aphros |
| Paul Maxwell | Colonel Steve Zodiac / XL9 Pilot / Emergency Tannoy / Doctor Stamp / Dr. Howard Rootes / General Shan / Joe Briggs / Mrs Doughty / Okinawa Station / Research Control / Space Control / Tannoy / Technician / XL18 Pilot / XL24 Pilot |
| John Bluthal | Commander Wilbur Zero / Commander Wilbir Zero / Deputy Sheriff Dodgem / 1st Floran / Al / Bizan / Captain Ken Johnson / Captain Ross / Colonel Harry Denton / Second Iceman / Doctor Simpson / IPN Newsreader / Jankel / Jerek / Jock Campbell / Caravan Leader / Edmundo / General Rossiter / Johnny Jackson / Subterrain 1 / Patch / Subterrain 2 / Kazak / Ken Ross / Major Duncan / Major Jim Ireland / Minotran / Captain Ken Ross / Privator / Announcer / Proton / Rader / Saucer Man / Snaff / Subterrain Leader / Subterrain #2 / Suventan Brain / Ultra Arcon / Kelly / Uncle Hans / James Frazer / Halla |
| Gerry Anderson | Robert the Robot / Judge Robot / Prosecutor Robot / Jury Robot 1 / Jury Robot 2 / Jury Robot 3 / Guard Robot / Granatoid 1 |
Producers
| Name | Role |
|---|
| Arthur Provis | Producer |
| Reg Hill | Producer |
| Gerry Anderson | Producer |
Editors
