The Lost Planet (1954)
"The Space Ship in which 'The Lost Planet' is approached is powered by an atomic motor firing charged droplets of water from a bank of six enormous jets. The crew is led by Doctor Lachlan McKinnon, as Scottish as his name, intrepid, fearless, and a brilliant scientist. His assistant is Professor Lars Bergman, from Sweden, and his chief engineer, Spike Stranahan, from America. Janet Campbell, young, pretty, and studying science at Glasgow University, is his secretary, and his cook is Madge Smith, a Cockney, determined to take her new hat along and look smart when she arrives. Then there is Jeremy Grant, aged sixteen and Dr McKinnon's nephew. He comes from Australia, and the journey across the sea to Scotland seems a pretty big adventure to him until he gets to Inverard House and finds out what is happening there.
During this serial you will see what happens when a Space Ship runs across the path of a shower of meteorites - the 'vermin of the skies ' - and watch Dr McKinnon and Jeremy fighting to save the ship from destruction when the atomic motor becomes unsafe. You will journey through the silences of the void and roam across the fantastic landscapes of Hesikor, the lost planet."
[Kevin Sheldon, writing about The Lost Planet, Radio Times, January 8, 1954]
| Production company/ies | Broadcast station(s) | Broadcast date(s) |
|---|---|---|
| BBC | BBC Television Service | January 16 - March 27, 1954 |
Production credits
| Producer(s) | Director(s) | Writer(s) | Other notable credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Sheldon | Bill Hitchcock | Angus MacVicar | Settings: John Cooper Special effects: Reginald Jeffryes |
Acting credits
- "Jeremy Grant": Peter Kerr
- "Janet Campbell": Mary Law
- "Dr Lachlan McKinnon": John Stuart
- "Prof Lars Bergman": Geoffrey Lumsden
- "Spike Stranahan": John Springett
- "Madge Smith": Joan Allen
- "Hermanoff": Van Boolen (Eps 5 & 6)
- "Andrieff": Wolfe Morris (Ep 6)
Episodes
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Synopsis
Dr Lachman McKinnon is a brilliant scientist who pools his skills and capital with that of the Swedish Professor Lars Bergman to build a space ship that is powered by an atomic motor firing charged droplets of water from a bank of six enormous jets. They intend to reach the lost planet of Hesikos where they hope to mine Iridonium, a rare metal that, when mixed with lead, can produce gold. They are aided by their American chief engineer, Spike Stranahan. McKinnon is served by young science student Janet Campbell, and his cook is Madge Smith. Australian teenager Jeremy Grant has accepted an invitation from is uncle, Dr McKinnon, to join him in Scotland at Inverard House in Argyll.
| Stranahan's assistant, Kurt Oppenheim, is discovered to be a spy working for European scientist Hermanoff, who is planning a similar mission. Jeremy persuades his uncle to allow him to join the crew in place of Oppenheim. The space ship begins its journey to the lost planet. Jeremy and Janet have been trained to read and record the various instruments. They cross the path of a shower of meteorites known as the 'vermin of the skies' and Dr McKinnon helps Jeremy save the ship from destruction when the atomic motor becomes unsafe. They arrive safely on Hesikos and see the strange landscape for the first time. When Hermanoff eventually arrives with his assistant Andrieff, they find he is no longer harsh and unfriendly and offers to bring them all back to Earth. McKinnon secretly remains behind, believing that Herminoff's ship will be overloaded, hoping that a relief expedition can be organised while he tries to survive the icy winter of Hesikos. |  TWO OF THE TRAVELLERSJanet Campbell and Jeremy Grant (played by Mary Law and Peter Kerr) together with the other members of the space ship, have a hectic struggle when the ship runs into a shower of meteorites - the 'vermin of the skies.' |
Notes
| The Lost Planet is a British television serial based on the 1953 novel by Angus MacVicar, which itself was based on his own radio serial broadcast in 1952. In 1953, a sequel radio serial, Return To The Lost Planet, was broadcast, and novelised in 1954. The story follows a group of scientists and adventurers who travel to a mysterious planet called Hesikos. The planet, which has near-Earth gravity and a breathable atmosphere, presents numerous challenges and discoveries for the crew. Six episodes were broadcast live, fortnightly, on the BBC Television Service as part of the Sugar And Spice strand of Children's Television. It is believed that the series is now lost, with no known surviving copies. MacVicar wrote a series of six novels, of which five were serialised, but only the first two were televised; the second being Return To The Lost Planet (1955). This series should not be confused with the 1953 American film serial of the same name. |  Angus MacVicar |
