Astronauts (TV series)

Did You Know?

• The dog Bimbo had previously appeared in The Goodies.
• On 11 August 1982, CBS aired a pilot for an American adaptation called The Astronauts, but no series developed.

Episodes

The first episode, broadcast on 26 October 1981, introduces US Air Force Colonel Lloyd Beadle presenting the British space travellers to the press, who react strongly to the news that one crew member is a woman; Beadle also reveals Bimbo, a mongrel dog. In the second episode (2 November 1981), the crew aboard the orbiting space station attempts to adjust while discovering each other's habits, finding sleep difficult and privacy nonexistent. The third episode (9 November 1981) shows Gentian handling Life Science Projects and David managing Earth Observation, Astronomy, Crystallography and Communications, leaving Malcolm with dusting duties he performs poorly until a crisis allows the Mission Commander to act. The fourth episode (16 November 1981) sees earthly problems intrude, with Gentian Foster believing Ackroyd is unkind because he does not fancy her and Mattocks patronising because he does. In the fifth episode (23 November 1981), after five weeks of constant surveillance, tensions between the crew and Ground Control lead the astronauts to retaliate when Beadle disappears for lunch. The sixth episode (30 November 1981) finds the media losing interest in the fifty-day milestone, so Beadle promises to generate attention, while Ackroyd focuses on a lab experiment involving yeast, fruit flies and blackcurrant juice. The seventh episode (7 December 1981) depicts depression from boring food and routine, then a wiring fault causes a blackout; with Mattocks and Ackroyd incapacitated, Foster relies on Bimbo to save her. The episode "One in Four Goes" (19 July 1983) has Gentian talking to machinery while Ackroyd converses with himself, and Mattocks discusses his concerns with Bimbo. In "Why Are We Here?" (26 July 1983), Ackroyd calls the mission a publicity stunt, Mattocks is caught sending scrambled messages, and Gentian and Ackroyd demand to know what is happening, but it remains top secret.