BBC - h2g2 - Space Patrol (UK)

Rarely seen and once thought lost, 'Space Patrol' is one of the forgotten classics of children's telefantasy. Made in 1962 by novelist Roberta Leigh and one-time Gerry Anderson associate Arthur Provis, 'Space Patrol' was a puppet series concerning the adventures of gyroscopic craft Galasphere 347, commanded by Captain Larry Dart and his crew, the Martian Husky and Venusian Slim, as they kept the peace in the solar system.

39 episodes were transmitted between 1963 and 1968 but a reshuffle in ITV franchises and the advent of colour meant 'Space Patrol' disappeared from sight, bar some edited Super 8mm versions, until 1997 when 16mm prints of the entire series were found in a lock-up belonging to Roberta Leigh. A new generation of fans, along with those who saw it originally, were now able to enjoy this quirky series.

Eager that 'Space Patrol' should be educational as well as entertaining, Roberta Leigh enlisted the advice of astronomer Colin Ronan to make sure the science in her fiction was as accurate as any television SF could be. So instead of unfeasibly short trips, the crew of Galasphere 347 entered a 'freezer unit' for journeys to Uranus or Neptune that could take months, and Contamination Control ensured germs were not spread from planet to planet.

Balancing this attention to accuracy, Roberta Leigh allowed her imagination to fly with the characters and aliens. Aiding Colonel Raeburn and his efficient Venusian secretary Marla were Irish genius Professor Haggarty and his daughter Cassie, and the Martian Gabblerdictum parrot. Probably the series' most fondly remembered creation, Gabbler is taught to speak by Haggarty and provided a comedy foil for the other characters with its constant... well, gabbling! Aliens ranged from the advanced yet effete Neptunians, to the amphibious reptilian Saturnians, to those from the stars, such as the living light-emitting Luminas from Sirius.

A full colour strip graced the colour centrespread of 'TV Comic' for a whole year starting in the autumn of 1964, also written by Roberta Leigh and drawn by top artist Bill Mevin, allowing the crew to further exotic adventures in deep space.

While not as polished or exciting as 'Fireball XL5' or 'Stingray', 'Space Patrol' is more thoughtful and introspective - almost a primer to 'Star Trek', which followed a few years later, with its optimistic view of the future.

A more detailed overview of the series in all aspects can be found at:

http://homepages.tesco.net/~space.patrol/SpacePatrol/Home.htm

Yobba Rays On! Ready To Lift!