Fireball XL5 poster

Fireball XL5

★ 7.2 833 votes 1962–1963 1 seasons · 39 episodes Ended Associated Television
Starring
David GrahamSylvia AndersonPaul MaxwellJohn BluthalGerry Anderson
Written by
Sylvia AndersonGerry Anderson
Starring
David GrahamSylvia AndersonPaul MaxwellJohn BluthalGerry Anderson
Written by
Sylvia AndersonGerry Anderson
Ratings per Episode
246810
Votes per Episode
0255075100
E1E2E3E4E5E6E7E8E9E10E11E12E13E14E15E16E17E18E19E20E21E22E23E24E25E26E27E28E29E30E31E32E33E34E35E36E37E38E39
S17.37.37.27.47.77.27.47.06.87.07.07.37.37.57.77.47.37.57.67.77.97.87.56.87.17.68.07.28.27.07.87.88.17.88.07.77.87.86.9

About

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.

All Seasons

Season 11962
7.42K3916h 41m
EpTitleRatingVotesRuntime
1Planet 467.38726 min
2The Doomed Planet7.36625 min
3Space Immigrants7.26125 min
4Plant Man from Space7.45424 min
5Spy in Space7.75425 min
6The Sun Temple7.25326 min
7XL5 to H207.45125 min
8Space Pirates7.04625 min
9Flying Zodiac6.84626 min
10Space Pen7.04626 min
11Space Monster7.04825 min
12The Last of the Zanadus7.35025 min
13Planet of Platonia7.35025 min
14The Triads7.54026 min
15Wings of Danger7.74326 min
16Convict in Space7.44030 min
17Space Vacation7.33826 min
18Flight to Danger7.53826 min
19Prisoner on the Lost Planet7.63925 min
20The Forbidden Planet7.74126 min
21Robert to the Rescue7.94125 min
22Dangerous Cargo7.83726 min
23Mystery of the TA27.54325 min
24Drama at Space City6.83625 min
2518757.13926 min
26The Granatoid Tanks7.63826 min
27The Robot Freighter Mystery8.03326 min
28Whistle for Danger7.23126 min
29Trial by Robot8.23426 min
30A Day in the Life of a Space General7.03625 min
31Invasion Earth7.83225 min
32Faster Than Light7.83226 min
33The Day the Earth Froze8.13326 min
34The Fire Fighters7.82926 min
35Space City Special8.03325 min
36Ghosts of Space7.73226 min
37Hypnotic Sphere7.83826 min
38Sabotage7.83426 min
39Space Magnet6.93826 min

Full Cast & Crew

Cast

David Graham Lieutenant Ninety, Professor Matthew Matic, Zoonie the Lazoon
Sylvia Anderson Doctor Venus, Griselda the Space Spy, Jonathan Zero
Paul Maxwell Colonel Steve Zodiac, Emergency Tannoy, XL9 Pilot
John Bluthal Commander Wilbur Zero, Jock Campbell, Captain Ken Johnson
Gerry Anderson Robert the Robot, Granatoid 1, Guard Robot

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