''999'' (initially known as ''999: Dramatic Stories of Real Life Rescues'' in some listings) is a British

docudrama Docudrama (or documentary drama) is a genre of television and film, which features dramatized re-enactments of actual events. It is described as a hybrid of documentary and drama and "a fact-based representation of real event". Docudramas typic ...

television series presented by

Michael Buerk Michael Duncan Buerk (born 18 February 1946) is a British journalist and newsreader. He presented BBC News from 1973 to 2002 and has been the host of BBC Radio 4's ''The Moral Maze'' since 1990. He was also the presenter of BBC One's docudrama ...

, that premiered on 25 June 1992 on

BBC One BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's flagship network and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includes BBC News television bulletins, p ...

and ran until 17 September 2003. The series got its name from the

emergency telephone number Most public switched telephone networks have a single emergency telephone number (sometimes known as the universal emergency telephone number or the emergency services number) that allows a caller to contact local emergency services for assista ...

used in the United Kingdom and is the British adaptation of the American series ''

Rescue 911 ''Rescue 911'' is an American informational docudrama television series that premiered on CBS on April 18, 1989, and ended on August 27, 1996. The series was hosted by William Shatner and featured reenactments (and occasionally real footage) of e ...

'', which premiered in April 1989 and ended in August 1996. A number of specials and spin-off shows were also aired, including five series of ''999 Lifesavers'' (1994–98) hosted by Buerk and Juliet Morris (later replaced by Donna Bernard), and ''999 International'' in 1997.

History

In the first series, each episode included two reconstructions of real emergencies, using actors and occasionally Buerk himself, as well as some of the real people involved in the emergency. By the second series, episodes of ''999'' included more reconstructions. While recreating an accident for an episode in 1993, veteran stuntman

Tip Tipping Tip Tipping (13 February 1958 – 5 February 1993) was an English film and television stuntman and actor. Biography Prior to his career as a stuntman, Tipping served in the Royal Marines and 21st SAS Regiment. He appeared in television serie ...

was killed in a parachuting accident. In September 2002, it was announced that the series had been cancelled.

Transmissions

Original series

Note: Series 2 was a revised repeat, whilst Series 4 and 8 were compilation series. Compilation episodes aired between series on 29 March 1996, 28 August, 2 September and 9 December 1998

''999 Lifesavers''

Note: Series 4 was a compilation series.

''999 International''

Specials

Merchandise

Tie-in publication

* ''999: Dramatic Stories of Real-Life Rescues'' by Michael Buerk, published by

BBC Books BBC Books (also formerly known as BBC Publishing) is an imprint majority-owned and managed by Penguin Random House through its Ebury Publishing division. The minority shareholder is BBC Studios, the commercial subsidiary of the British Broadcasti ...

in 1994. . :Features 15 gripping stories as featured on the show, along with ''999 Safety Advice'': simple, easy-to-understand instructions on how to deal with common emergencies. * ''999 Young Lifesavers'' by Michael Buerk, published by

in 1996. . :Tying in with the children's television series, "999" and "999 Lifesavers", this book contains instructions on how to react in emergencies. The topics covered include coping with sudden illness, what to do if someone is struck by lightning, survival out of doors, electrical accidents and road accidents. There is also advice on how to avoid accidents in the first place, focusing on, for instance, dangerous plants and animals, and sensible behaviour at the seaside.

Video releases

*''999: Lifesaver Video'' (1996) *''999: Family Safety Video'' (1998)

Notes

References

External links

* 1992 British television series debuts BBC television docudramas 2003 British television series endings {{UK-nonfiction-tv-prog-stub