''Hyperdrive'' is a
British television science fiction
Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel uni ...
sitcom
A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use ...
broadcast by
BBC Two in 2006 and 2007.
Set in 2151 and 2152, 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
Kevin Robert Cecil (born 1969 in London) is a British screenwriter.
Writing alongside Andy Riley (with whom he has been friends since attending Aylesbury Grammar School), he has won two BAFTA awards, the first for writing the Comic Relief one-o ...
and
Andy Riley
Andy Riley (born 1970) is a British author, cartoonist, and Emmy-winning screenwriter for TV and film.
Riley has written and drawn many best-selling cartoon books, including '' The Book of Bunny Suicides'' (2003) and its sequels, and ''Great L ...
, directed by
John Henderson and produced by Alex Walsh-Taylor.
The
working title
A working title, which may be abbreviated and styled in trade publications after a putative title as (wt), also called a production title or a tentative title, is the temporary title of a product or project used during its development, usually ...
was ''Full Power''. The first episode was broadcast on
BBC Two on 11 January 2006. A second series began on 12 July 2007 on
BBC Two. The series is available on
CW Seed
CW may stand for:
Science and technology
* centiwatt (cW), one hundredth of a watt
* Cω, a programming language
* CW complex, a type of topological space
* Carrier wave, in radio communications
* CodeWarrior, an integrated development environ ...
,
iTunes and
Amazon Prime Video in the US.
Cast and characters
*
Nick Frost
Nicholas Jonathan Frost (born 28 March 1972) is a British actor, author, comedian, painter, producer and screenwriter. He has appeared in the ''Three Flavours Cornetto'' trilogy of films, consisting of ''Shaun of the Dead'' (2004), ''Hot Fuzz ...
plays the character of Space Commander Michael "Mike" "Lucky Jack" "Hendo" Henderson. According to the official website of the series, Henderson's "Space Force File" describes Henderson's career arc this way: "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." It also says Henderson's education was received at
Dagenham Secondary Modern
A secondary modern school is a type of secondary school that existed throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland from 1944 until the 1970s under the Tripartite System. Schools of this type continue in Northern Ireland, where they are usuall ...
and New
Portsmouth
Portsmouth ( ) is a port and city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. The city of Portsmouth has been a unitary authority since 1 April 1997 and is administered by Portsmouth City Council.
Portsmouth is the most dens ...
Cadet Camp. The website further describes Henderson as an
idealistic
In philosophy, the term idealism identifies and describes metaphysical
Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that studies the fundamental nature of reality, the first principles of being, identity and change, space and time, causality ...
explorer, eager to meet new races, and feels he is undervalued given his low-priority assignments. Frost's character also has a recurring theme, his favourite show, ''Captain Helix''. He is very protective of his Commander's chair, which he refers to as "
Spinning Jenny
The spinning jenny is a multi- spindle spinning frame, and was one of the key developments in the industrialization of textile manufacturing during the early Industrial Revolution. It was invented in 1764 or 1765 by James Hargreaves in Sta ...
."
*
Kevin Eldon
Kevin Eldon (born 2 October 1959) is an English actor and comedian. He featured in British comedy television shows of the 1990s including ''Fist of Fun'', '' This Morning with Richard Not Judy'', '' Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge' ...
as First Officer Eduardo Pauline York – a brilliant scientist and tactician, second in command of the ''Camden Lock''. He is also a borderline
sociopath
Psychopathy, sometimes considered synonymous with sociopathy, is characterized by persistent antisocial behavior, impaired empathy and remorse, and bold, disinhibited, and egotistical traits. Different conceptions of psychopathy have been u ...
, obsessed with and taking immense joy in violence, needing only the slightest provocation to attack someone. He believes in a hardline
doctrine
Doctrine (from la, doctrina, meaning "teaching, instruction") is a codification of beliefs or a body of teachings or instructions, taught principles or positions, as the essence of teachings in a given branch of knowledge or in a belief syste ...
and feels Commander Henderson is too lenient regarding the crew and application of regulations. He does not trust Technical Officer Jeffers, and has the ability to hold his breath for seven and a half hours to avoid the effects of sedative gas. He also shows great affection towards Sandstrom, appearing to be in love with her at certain points in the show, even becoming jealous when Vine is kissing Sandstrom in his "Pub-conscious". Like his friend Henderson, York also watches ''Captain Helix''. At times, he can be quite poetic when describing acts of violence.
*
Miranda Hart
Miranda Katherine Hart Dyke (born 14 December 1972) is an English actress and writer. Following drama training at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts, Hart began writing material for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and making appearances in va ...
as Diplomatic Officer Chloe Alice Teal. Teal has an obvious crush on Commander Henderson, who has not responded to her advances. Teal's 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.'' She failed her final exam to become an officer, and is only present on the ''Camden Lock'' as her father is an ambassador. In series two it is revealed that Teal is a devout agnostic, a belief which has apparently become a more formal religion in the future. She is also the
yoga
Yoga (; sa, योग, lit=yoke' or 'union ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India and aim to control (yoke) and still the mind, recognizing a detached witness-consci ...
instructor on the ship.
*
Stephen Evans as Navigator Dave Vine. 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
Authoritarianism is a political system characterized by the rejection of political plurality, the use of strong central power to preserve the political ''status quo'', and reductions in the rule of law, separation of powers, and democratic voti ...
of York. He is a collector of 1990s "antiques", believing it to be a simpler time; this is reflected by his "pub-conscious", which is the only dream he has, a pub in 1995, where it is revealed that he, like York, is attracted to Sandstrom.
*
Dan Antopolski
Dan Antopolski (born 22 August 1972) is a British comic, actor and writer. He has appeared in various television programs and radio shows, and is best known to younger audiences for hosting the UK game show ''The Dare Devil''. In 1998 Antopol ...
as Technical Officer Karl Jeffers, 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.
*
Petra Massey
Petra Massey (born, 1966 in England) is a British actress, and a physical theatre performer in stage, film and television. Petra is best known for playing the "enhanced human" Sandstrom in the BBC2 sci-fi comedy series '' Hyperdrive'' from 2006 ...
as Sandstrom – an "enhanced human", a cyborg interface 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
A student loan is a type of loan designed to help students pay for post-secondary education and the associated fees, such as tuition, books and supplies, and living expenses. It may differ from other types of loans in the fact that the interest r ...
, 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, although chocolate seems to have an adverse emotional effect on her, leading to
hypersexuality
Hypersexuality is extremely frequent or suddenly increased libido. It is controversial whether it should be included as a clinical diagnosis used by mental healthcare professionals. Nymphomania and satyriasis were terms previously used for the c ...
. She seems to have a lot of affection for York, and is much more obvious about her feelings for him than he is about his for her. She gets very jealous whenever another Enhanced comes on board. She appears to interact with the ship via deliberate dance-like movements, and rubbing or stroking the luminescent tubes that surround her usual working space.
*
Maggie Service as a variety of Computer Voices. These serve primarily as throwaway lines and interstitials, and include user interfaces (''To access the toilet, enter the second, fourth and eighty-third numbers in your security code'') and shipwide announcements (''Attention all crew: Today is Take Your Clone to Work Day. If you don't have a clone, go and see the Clone Officer on Level 7''). In series two, other computer voices are played by Ewan Bailey.
*
Waen Shepherd
Waen Origen Shepherd (born 23 October 1971) is an English composer, actor and comedian. He is best known for his role in The inbetweeners as Mr Kennedy . He is Originally from Yorkshire, England, he now lives in London.
Career
Following his d ...
as Gareth Stannis, the actor who plays the title part in the television drama ''Captain Helix'', watched obsessively by Captain Henderson in the privacy of his cabin as a source of emotional comfort. Captain Helix – who resembles a somewhat
camp
Camp may refer to:
Outdoor accommodation and recreation
* Campsite or campground, a recreational outdoor sleeping and eating site
* a temporary settlement for nomads
* Camp, a term used in New England, Northern Ontario and New Brunswick to descri ...
er version of
Doctor Who – may also not be quite what he seems.
HMS ''Camden Lock''
![BT Tower 2004](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/BT_Tower_2004.jpg)
The design for HMS ''Camden Lock'' was based loosely upon the
BT Tower
The BT Communication Tower is a grade II listed communications tower located in Fitzrovia, London, owned by BT Group. Originally named the Museum Radio Tower (after the adjacent Museum telephone exchange), it became better known by its unoff ...
in London. It is a '
Wendover
Wendover is a market town and civil parish at the foot of the Chiltern Hills in Buckinghamshire, England. It is situated at the point where the main road across the Chilterns between London and Aylesbury intersects with the once important road a ...
' class ship and measures long by wide. The ship's registration is XH558 – the same serial number as the last flying
Avro Vulcan
The Avro Vulcan (later Hawker Siddeley Vulcan from July 1963) is a jet-powered, tailless, delta-wing, high-altitude, strategic bomber, which was operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) from 1956 until 1984. Aircraft manufacturer A.V. Roe an ...
bomber. Shuttlebay doors on the ''Camden'' are shown with the
Union Jack
The Union Jack, or Union Flag, is the ''de facto'' national flag of the United Kingdom. Although no law has been passed making the Union Flag the official national flag of the United Kingdom, it has effectively become such through precedent. ...
embossed on them, which is part of the comic jingoism of the series.
Camden Lock is the name of a
lock
Lock(s) may refer to:
Common meanings
*Lock and key, a mechanical device used to secure items of importance
*Lock (water navigation), a device for boats to transit between different levels of water, as in a canal
Arts and entertainment
* ''Lock ...
on a
canal
Canals or artificial waterways are waterways or engineered channels built for drainage management (e.g. flood control and irrigation) or for conveyancing water transport vehicles (e.g. water taxi). They carry free, calm surface flo ...
in the real
Camden in
London
London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
.
The ''Camden Lock'' is powered by "P-Rods", with the P standing for ''Perfectly safe'', although it is rumoured to stand for ''Plutonium''. Her maximum speed is 170 Vs—any higher and the reactors overheat. Her maximum crush depth is
The ''Camden Lock'' is armed with missiles and pulse weapons of some form. The laser guns wielded by her crew bear a striking resemblance to crutches.
The Green Javelins (a "space-o-batics"
precision flying team that appear in Series 2, Episode 1) also use 'Wendover' class ships. (The
Red Arrows are the
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) an ...
's aerobatic team.)
Alien races
The Glish
The Glish are repulsive-looking, slimy creatures who like to communicate by drooling and licking. Commander Henderson causes a diplomatic conflict by not allowing the Glish ambassadors to rub their genitals on his face.
The Queppu
A
Medieval
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...
-ish race living on a mostly desert planet. They have a pseudo-feudal society with monarchical (if not totalitarian) government. Typical dress includes jester-like bright red latex suits. The despotic and insane Supreme Ruler, played by
Geoffrey McGivern
Geoffrey M. McGivern is a British actor in film, radio, stage and television, as well as a comedian.
Career
He played Ford Prefect in the radio series (1978–80) and subsequent LP releases of ''The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'' by Dougla ...
, desires that everyone ''marvel'' at his civilization, for example, he possesses a "Doom Ray", with which he threatens Henderson, Teal, and York and at which he expects them to marvel. The "Doom Ray" apparently takes three days to disintegrate a single person and a week to recharge. Princess Lavya, played by
Montserrat Lombard
Montserrat Lombard (born 1 August 1982) is an English actress best known for playing WPC (later DC) Sharon 'Shaz' Granger in the BBC drama series '' Ashes to Ashes''.
Early life
Lombard was born in London and is of Spanish and Italian desce ...
, bears a remarkable resemblance to
Lucrezia Borgia. As revealed in "Artifact", they gained a space-faring capability after half of the population was sold as food to an insectoid species to 'grind up in their mandibles to feed to their larval young.' The Supreme Ruler described this as a good trade.
The Lallakkis
A pseudo-Medieval race. They dress in somber brown leather, appear unkempt, have the mental capability of 10-year-olds, and are eager to play chicken and use violence at slightest irritation. Every war the race participates in, a battle song is written. One of their battle songs is "Kill the Humans", which includes a death threat for Commander Henderson in the lyrics. The race is possibly caricatures of the British
Chav
"Chav" (), also "charver", "scally" and "roadman" in parts of England, is a British term, usually used in a pejorative way. The term is used to describe an anti-social lower-class youth dressed in sportswear.
*
*
*
* "Chavette" is a related te ...
subculture, or the
Ali G stereotype of youth.
The Bulaagh
A highly advanced race, but very haughty, looking down on everyone else. Not as trigger-happy as the Lallakkis, but nevertheless ally themselves against Britain with the Lallakkis after Commander Henderson caused the destruction of an asteroid that was the subject of a dispute between the two races. They seem able to communicate with each other, telepathically, by touching a gem-like marking on their long chins.
The Red Shiny Robots of Vortis
A
parody
A parody, also known as a spoof, a satire, a send-up, a take-off, a lampoon, a play on (something), or a caricature, is a creative work designed to imitate, comment on, and/or mock its subject by means of satiric or ironic imitation. Often its sub ...
of the ''
Star Trek: The Next Generation''
Borg
The Borg are an alien group that appear as recurring antagonists in the ''Star Trek'' fictional universe. The Borg are cybernetic organisms (cyborgs) linked in a hive mind called "the Collective". The Borg co-opt the technology and knowledge ...
. A race eager to absorb information and knowledge of various races, exterminating them in the process. They appear to be clad in red latex and they extract the minds of the lifeforms into the "data-sphere" which leaves the bodies dead, although it has the weakness of disruption if those who are having their minds "harvested" think of falsehoods (allusion to the Starfleet attempt to plant an optical illusion computational
worm
Worms are many different distantly related bilateral animals that typically have a long cylindrical tube-like body, no limbs, and no eyes (though not always).
Worms vary in size from microscopic to over in length for marine polychaete wo ...
in the Borg collective in the
I, Borg
"I, Borg" is the 23rd episode of the fifth season of the American science fiction television series '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'', the 123rd overall. It was originally aired on May 10, 1992, in broadcast syndication. The episode was writte ...
episode).
There is also a model of Red Shiny Robot of Vortis used for infiltration, designed to look like attractive women, though based on the episode, it's debatable whether they truly understand the concept of attractive.
The Engulfers
Extradimensional beings of pure energy, they consume atoms and excrete black holes. They are able to swallow spaceships whole.
The Scrane
Interstellar pirates who are interested in stealing the most lethal weapon the Space Fleet has at its disposal.
Episode list
The original pilot episode was first named ''"Lepus"'' and later ''"Full Power"'', It starred
Sanjeev Bhaskar
Sanjeev Bhaskar (born 31 October 1963) is a British actor, comedian and television presenter. He is best known for his work in the BBC Two sketch comedy series '' Goodness Gracious Me'' and as the star of the sitcom ''The Kumars at No. 42''. H ...
as Henderson and
Mark Gatiss
Mark Gatiss (; born 17 October 1966) is an English actor, comedian, screenwriter, director, producer and novelist. His work includes writing for and acting in the television series ''Doctor Who'', ''Sherlock (TV series), Sherlock'', and ''Dracu ...
as York, the rest of the cast was the same as in the series. It was directed by
Armando Iannucci
Armando Giovanni Iannucci (; born 28 November 1963) is a Scottish satirist, writer, director, producer, performer, and panellist. Born in Glasgow to Italian parents, Iannucci studied at the University of Glasgow followed by the University of ...
and was never broadcast.
Series 1 (2006)
Series 2 (2007)
References
External links
*
*
*
*
Hyperdrive – Radio times
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hyperdrive (Tv Series)
2006 British television series debuts
2007 British television series endings
2000s British sitcoms
BBC television sitcoms
2000s British comic science fiction television series
Space adventure television series
Television series about extraterrestrial life