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
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Season 11962
7.52K3916h 41m
Ep
Title
Rating
Yours
Votes
Runtime
▶
1
Planet 46
7.3
91
26 min
▶
2
The Doomed Planet
7.3
69
25 min
▶
3
Space Immigrants
7.2
64
25 min
▶
4
Plant Man from Space
7.4
57
24 min
▶
5
Spy in Space
7.7
56
25 min
▶
6
The Sun Temple
7.3
56
26 min
▶
7
XL5 to H20
7.4
53
25 min
▶
8
Space Pirates
7.1
48
25 min
▶
9
Flying Zodiac
6.8
48
26 min
▶
10
Space Pen
7.1
48
26 min
▶
11
Space Monster
7.0
50
25 min
▶
12
The Last of the Zanadus
7.3
52
25 min
▶
13
Planet of Platonia
7.4
52
25 min
▶
14
The Triads
7.5
42
26 min
▶
15
Wings of Danger
7.7
45
26 min
▶
16
Convict in Space
7.5
44
30 min
▶
17
Space Vacation
7.4
40
26 min
▶
18
Flight to Danger
7.5
41
26 min
▶
19
Prisoner on the Lost Planet
7.6
42
25 min
▶
20
The Forbidden Planet
7.7
43
26 min
▶
21
Robert to the Rescue
7.9
43
25 min
▶
22
Dangerous Cargo
7.8
39
26 min
▶
23
Mystery of the TA2
7.6
44
25 min
▶
24
Drama at Space City
6.9
38
25 min
▶
25
1875
7.1
40
26 min
▶
26
The Granatoid Tanks
7.6
40
26 min
▶
27
The Robot Freighter Mystery
8.1
36
26 min
▶
28
Whistle for Danger
7.3
34
26 min
▶
29
Trial by Robot
8.3
35
26 min
▶
30
A Day in the Life of a Space General
7.0
37
25 min
▶
31
Invasion Earth
7.9
33
25 min
▶
32
Faster Than Light
7.8
34
26 min
▶
33
The Day the Earth Froze
8.2
34
26 min
▶
34
The Fire Fighters
7.9
30
26 min
▶
35
Space City Special
8.1
34
25 min
▶
36
Ghosts of Space
7.8
33
26 min
▶
37
Hypnotic Sphere
7.8
39
26 min
▶
38
Sabotage
7.9
37
26 min
▶
39
Space Magnet
7.0
40
26 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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