Fireball XL5

Fireball XL5 is a science-fiction television programme; it had a run of 39 episodes during 1962 and 1963. It was the second of Gerry Anderson's shows to be given the Supermarionation label and also his final black and white show; it is also notable as the only show to feature the voice talents of Anderson himself (as Robert). Set in the 21st century, the show follows the adventures of protagonist Steve Zodiac and the crew of the space ship XL5 as they patrol Sector 25 of the galaxy on behalf of the World Space Patrol.

Fireball XL5 featured strong science fiction plot lines using plot devices such as time travel, teleportation, hypnosis, and alien possesion. This was juxtaposed with the poetic licence taken when dealing with real scientific concepts which saw characters able to live and speak in a vacuum after taking an oxygen pill; this was presumably to do with the difficulty and cost associated with changing the puppet's costumes, articulated by Gerry Anderson in various DVD commentaries.

Theme Music

The ending theme to this classic series, "Fireball," was released as an HMV single in 1963. Sung by Australian Don Spencer, Fireball reached no.32 on the UK top 50 in April 1963. It was arranged and conducted by Barry Gray with accompaniment directed by Charles Blackwell.

Characters

The main characters consists of:

• World Space Patrol Astronaut, Colonel Steve Zodiac
• Doctor of Space Medicine, Venus
• Space Navigator and Engineer, Professor Matthew Matic
• Robert the Robot
• Zoonie the Lazoon
• Space Commander Wilbur Zero
• Lieutenant 90

Voice Cast

• Paul Maxwell
• Sylvia Anderson
• David Graham
• John Bluthal
• Gerry Anderson

Episodes

(Production Order)

1. Planet 46
2. Hypnotic Sphere
3. Planet Of Platonia
4. Space Magnet
5. The Doomed Planet
6. Plant Man From Space
7. Sun Temple
8. Space Immigrants
9. Space Monster
10. Flying Zodiac
11. A Spy In Space
12. XL5 To H2O
13. Space Pirates
14. Last Of The Zanadus
15. Space Pen
16. Convict In Space
17. Wings Of Danger
18. The Triads
19. Sabotage
20. Prisoner On The Lost Planet
21. Flight To Danger
22. Space Vacation
23. Mystery Of The TA2
24. Robert To The Rescue
25. The Forbidden Planet
26. The Granatoid Tanks
27. Dangerous Cargo
28. 1875
29. The Robot Freighter Mystery
30. Drama At Space City
31. Whistle For Danger
32. Faster Than Light
33. The Day The Earth Froze
34. Invasion Earth
35. Ghosts Of Space
36. Trial By Robot
37. A Day In The Life Of a Space General
38. Space City Special
39. The Fire Fighters

(Brodcast Order)

1. Planet 46
2. The Doomed Planet
3. Space Immigrants
4. Plant Man From Space
5. A Spy In Space
6. Sun Temple
7. XL5 To H2O
8. Space Pirates
9. Flying Zodiac
10. Space Pen
11. Space Monster
12. Last Of The Zanadus
13. Planet Of Platonia
14. The Triads
15. Wings Of Danger
16. Space Vacation
17. Space Magnet
18. Convict In Space
19. Flight To Danger
20. Prisoner On The Lost Planet
21. The Forbidden Planet
22. Robert To The Rescue
23. Dangerous Cargo
24. Mystery Of The TA2
25. Drama At Space City
26. 1875
27. The Granatoid Tanks
28. Whistle For Danger
29. The Robot Freighter Mystery
30. Trial By Robot
31. A Day In The Life Of a Space General
32. Invasion Earth
33. Faster Than Light
34. The Day The Earth Froze
35. The Fire Fighters
36. Space City Special
37. Ghosts Of Space
38. Hypnotic Sphere
39. Sabotage

References

References or Tributes

Supermarionation:
About Supermarionation:	What is it? | Who makes it? | The marionettes | the legacy
The Series:	Four Feather Falls |Supercar | Fireball XL5 | Stingray | Thunderbirds | Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons | Joe 90 | The Secret Service
The Films:	Thunderbirds Are Go | Thunderbird 6
Other Uses:	Calling Elvis | The Investigator
Imitators and tributes:	Paul starr | Team America World Police | Interster | X-Bomber (Star Fleet) | Superthunderstingcar | Thunderbirds F.A.B. | Misc. Parodies and references