Embedded Files
British children's TV series written by Bob Block and produced by Thames Television for ITV. It originally aired on between 1973 and 1974, over two series, totalling 14 episodes. Vic Hughes produced and directed both series.
Robert Sommerby (John Clive) is the inventor of the robots, and he lives with Aunt Millie (Doris Rogers).
Other main characters were played by Nigel Pegram (Eric), Leon Lissek (Marken), and Brian Coburn (Katie), and Richard Davies (Gimble, who quits after series 1). In series 2, Robert builds his first female robot, Desiree (April Olrich) who appears in five episodes.
Notable guest actors were Jenny Hanley (Angie; three episodes only, and her absence from the second series is explained by her being on holiday in Australia), and Christopher Biggins and Sylvester McCoy as Robot Entertainers.
The unusual theme tune is called "Canned Can", composed by Edgar Vetter & William Farran. It was programmed and played back from an analogue sequencer.
Episodes
Episodes
Dates below are only for broadcasts by Thames Television, although first series was shown at the same time in other regions. After being repeated one between 1975 and 1976, the master tapes were believed to be lost or wiped for re-use as they were not in the Thames TV archives after they ceased being a regional broadcaster in 1992. However all the tapes turned up in excellent condition circa 2010 and the entire two series was released onto DVD.
Series 1 (1973)
Series 1 (1973)
"Follow That Robot"
November 12, 1973
July 25, 1975
"Love at First Light"
November 19, 1973
August 1, 1975
Featuring Jenny Hanley
"A Spanner in the Works"
November 26, 1973
August 8, 1975
Brian Coburn did not appear in this episode
"Dial C for Chaos"
December 3, 1973
August 15, 1975
Featuring Jenny Hanley, Christopher Biggins, Sylvester McCoy
"A Long, Cold Sommerby"
December 10, 1973
August 22, 1975
"Kill or Cure"
December 17, 1973
August 29, 1975
"Double Trouble"
December 24, 1973
September 5, 1975
Featuring Jenny Hanley
Series 2 (1974)
Series 2 (1974)
"One of Our Robots Is Missing"
November 11, 1974
July 16, 1976
"A Full Head of Steam"
November 18, 1974
July 23, 1976
"I Spy with My Little Ear"
November 25, 1974
July 30, 1976
Featuring April Olrich
"Courting Disaster"
December 2, 1974
August 6, 1976
Featuring April Olrich
"Gastronomics Anonymous"
December 9, 1974
August 13, 1976
Featuring April Olrich
"Rampaging Robots"
December 16, 1974
August 20, 1976
Featuring April Olrich
"Santa Claus-Trophobia"
December 23, 1974
December 19, 1975
Featuring April Olrich
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