Hyperdrive (TV series)
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| Hyperdrive | |
|---|---|
 The main cast of Hyperdrive |
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| Format | Sci-Fi sitcom |
| Run time | 30 minutes |
| Creator(s) | Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley |
| Starring | Nick Frost, Kevin Eldon, Miranda Hart |
| Channel | BBC 2 |
| Air dates | January 11, 2006 – 15 February 2006 |
| No. of episodes | Six |
Hyperdrive was a British television science fiction sitcom produced by the BBC created under the working title of "Full Power." Set in 2151, it follows the crew of HMS Camden Lock as they stumble through their heroic mission to protect British interests in a changing galaxy.
The series is written by Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley; the first episode was broadcast on BBC 2 on January 11, 2006. The series was directed by John Henderson. A second season of six episodes has been filmed and will be broadcast on BBC 2 around April 2007 featuring the regular cast.
Contents |
[edit] Main characters
- Space Commander Michael "Mike" Henderson (Played by Nick Frost): Henderson's "Space Force File" on the official website claims that "Henderson rose through the ranks in exactly the way we say people can in the recruitment ads, yet endeavour to prevent in practice. Henderson shows initiative; always a dangerous sign." His education was received at Dagenham Secondary Modern and New Portsmouth Cadet Camp. His favoured Monopoly token is the hat. Henderson is an idealistic explorer, eager to meet new races, and feels he is undervalued given his low-priority assignments. He regularly sends video messages to his nephew, telling of his exploits.
- First Officer York (Played by Kevin Eldon): York is a brilliant scientist and tactician, second in command of the Camden Lock. He is also a borderline psychopath, obsessed with and taking immense joy in violence, needing only the slightest provocation to attack someone. He believes in a hardline doctrine and feels Commander Henderson is too lenient regarding the crew and application of regulations. He does not trust Technical Officer Jeffers.
- Diplomatic Officer Teal (Played by Miranda Hart): Teal has a large and obvious crush on Commander Henderson, who has not responded to her advances. Teals skills as a diplomat could be questioned, as during the episode Hello, Queppu, her drunken outburst results in the Queppu imprisoning the three senior officers of the Camden Lock.
- Navigator Vine (Played by Stephen Evans): Vine's greatest apparent achievement to date is purchasing a planet in an auction. The planet was quickly renamed Vineworld with such locations as Vine City 1 and Vine Ridge. Vine is a quiet member of the crew, uncomfortable with standing up to the outgoing personality of Jeffers or the authoritarianism of York.
- Technical Officer Jeffers (Played by Dan Antopolski): Jeffers is an easy going and lax member of the bridge crew who has been placed in command of the Camden Lock on at least two occasions by Commander Henderson. He dislikes York and makes written notes on all the senior officer's mistakes. Jeffers has a liking for alien music, in particular he enjoyed listening to the Lallakiss war anthem, "Kill the Humans" whilst on duty.
- Sandstrom (Played by Petra Massey): Sandstrom is an enhanced human, needed to ensure the Camden Lock keeps functioning. She agreed to have her body and mind modified in exchange for the Space Force paying off her student loan, assuming the offer would not be made if the procedure was not safe. Her personality was then overwritten and she functions much like an android.
[edit] Episode list
- A Gift from the Glish - The crew negotiate with a number of civilizations in an attempt to sell space in the Peterborough enterprise zone, but a creature maliciously placed by an alien visitor causes problems.
- Hello, Queppu - Commander Henderson makes first contact with a primitive alien race, the 'Queppu'. He then makes the mistake of becoming romantically involved with one of them, whilst Diplomatic Officer Teal displays her talents by offending their hosts. Meanwhile, this ship is left in the hands of Jeffers, who is busy planning a space race whilst the senior officers are away.
- Weekend Off - Navigator Vine bids for a planet on an internet auction site and wins. Meanwhile Teal works to ensure that only Henderson and her are present at the Officer's ball that evening, as the crew celebrates Gary Neville day, the footballer having invented artificial gravity during half time at the FA Cup.
- Asteroid - After being ordered to play second fiddle to American diplomats who are to negotiate a peace between two warring races, Commander Henderson attempts to rectify the situation personally by threatening to destroy the asteroid they are fighting over. His bluff is called and the destruction of the asteroid ensures peace between the two races. The new allies then declare war on Britain.
- Clare - Whilst searching for drug smugglers in a joint operation with the Danish, the crew come across Clare Winchester (played by Sally Phillips), a record-breaking British space-sailor, perhaps loosely based on Ellen McArthur. Commander Henderson boards the ship hoping to meet the icon, but is disturbed to find the solitude of her journey has driven Winchester to breaking point, and she has found solace only by conversing with a yellow ceramic mug, "Mr Cup."
- Assessment - During a round of psychological tests, the Camden Lock is fired upon and the crew is subsequently subjected to a "Category J" inspection; one which has never been passed before. Henderson takes refuge in his quarters leaving the ship under the militaristic command of York who bans alcohol and shoots crewmembers for slacking off. Meanwhile, Vine receives a telepathic message from advanced aliens who claim they have selected him to join their community.
[edit] References
- ↑ BBC Press Office Comedy looks to the future as Hyperdrive will return to BBC TWO
[edit] Notes/Trivia
- The design for the Camden Lock was based loosely upon the BT Tower in London.
- A pilot for the series was filmed in December 2003.The first title for the show was Lepus and then changed to Full Power shortly before filming began. The pilot featured Sanjeev Bhaskar as Space Commander Henderson and Mark Gatiss as First Officer York. Miranda Hart (Teal), Stephen Evans (Vine), and Dan Antapolski (Jeffers) also featured. Full Power was directed by Armando Iannucci.
- The registration of the Camden Lock is XH558 - the same serial number as the RAF's last flying Avro Vulcan bomber.
- Amongst other British references, the shuttlebay doors on the Camden are shown with the Union Jack embossed on them.
- The first series of Hyperdrive takes place in the year 2151, the same year as the first season of Star Trek: Enterprise.
- Nick Frost's character shares his first name with the character, Mike Watt, whom Frost played in the surreal comedy, Spaced.
- Nick Frost and Miranda Hart first performed together in 2004 on the Radio 4 panel game 'The 99p Challenge' which can be downloaded at http://99p.protoncharging.com/
- Equipment amongst the central rotating communication area of the Camden Lock bears the name CVC - Vorderman Communications a nod to Carol Vorderman
- The laser guns wielded by the crew off the Camden Lock bear a striking resemblance to crutches. There is some debate amongst fans as to whether this is because they are dual purpose to save weight on ship and to aid injured soldiers, or if it is intentional so as to refer to low-budget sci-fi shows which would often use mundane objects as props for futuristic weapons.
- Waen Shepherd (who plays Captain Helix) and Andy Riley (one of the writers) were both stage dancers for The Pod, a comedy techno act fronted by Julian Barratt of The Mighty Boosh and animator and video director Tim Hope.
- The set of binoculars used by York when the crew first arrived on the planet in "Hello, Queppu" is clearly a set of Wild Planet "Spy Night Scope" binoculars.
- Hyperdrive was shot entirely on Kodak Super 16mm film much to the insistence of director John Henderson after an initial 'test shoot' with digibeta video tape proved to be unsatisfactory.
