''Watch This Space'' is an Australian children's science fiction television series which ran on the

Australian Broadcasting Corporation The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is the national broadcaster of Australia. It is principally funded by direct grants from the Australian Government and is administered by a government-appointed board. The ABC is a publicly-own ...

from 7 April to 13 June 1982. The show starred Paul Chubb, in his first leading role on a television series, as a red-skinned alien named Rufus who arrives on Earth and attempts to break into show business. The alien is helped by a local man, played by co-star

Ron Blanchard Ronald Blanchard (born 1945) is an Australian stage, television and film actor. He is best known as a character actor, and for his starring roles in five popular children's television series '' Breakfast-a-Go-Go'', ''The Lost Islands'', '' Alex ...

, who attempts to help him fit in including helping disguise his spaceship as a normal home and later moved in with him as a roommate. Being largely unaware of Earth culture, the alien would regularly become involved in comical social situations. This was most often at his human friend's expense who, while receiving weekly visitors, continually tries to explain away his odd behaviour and the existence of his talking shipboard computer. Other actors who appeared on the series included local bands, performers and

celebrity Celebrity is a condition of fame and broad public recognition of a person or group as a result of the attention given to them by mass media. An individual may attain a celebrity status from having great wealth, their participation in sports ...

guest stars such as Steve Bisley,

Liddy Clark Elizabeth Anne Clark (born 6 November 1953 in Adelaide, South Australia), is an Australian former politician with the Labor Party in the Queensland Legislature who held the seat for Clayfield and also an actress of television and film, director ...

Jon English Jonathan James English (26 March 1949 – 9 March 2016) was an English-born Australian singer, songwriter, musician and actor. He emigrated from England to Australia with his parents in 1961. He was an early vocalist and rhythm guitarist for S ...

Rebecca Gilling Rebecca Gilling (born 3 November 1953 in Castlecrag, Sydney, Australia) is an Australian former model and actress, now environmentalist. Gilling is the daughter of World War II Navy personnel Douglas Gilling and prominent feminist campaigner ...

, Tracy Mann and

Kris McQuade Kris McQuade (born 1952) is an Australian actress who has had many film, television and theatre roles. Career Her film credits include ''The Love Letters from Teralba Road'', '' Kostas'', '' Fighting Back'', '' Lonely Hearts'', ''Goodbye Paradi ...

. Apart from Paul Chubb, actors used their own names for the characters they played.

References

* * * Australian Broadcasting Corporation original programming Australian children's television series Australian science fiction television series 1982 Australian television series debuts 1982 Australian television series endings {{Australia-tv-prog-stub