My First Planet: The Landing Has Landed

Episode 1 of 4

Next Wednesday, 11:30 on BBC Radio 4
Synopsis

Day 1 on the colony and they've lost the food, the air, the Commander and the Mood Music. Meanwhile, Chief Physician Lillian makes a terrible discovery about Project Adam...

A sitcom set on a shiny new planet where we ask the question - if humankind were to colonize space, is it destined to succumb to self-interest, prejudice and infighting? (By the way, the answer's "yes". Sorry.)

Welcome to the colony. We're aware that having been in deep cryosleep for 73 years, you may be in need of some supplementary information.

Unfortunately, Burrows the leader of the colony has died on the voyage, so his Number 2, Brian (Nicholas Lyndhurst) is now in charge. He's a nice enough chap, but no alpha male, and his desire to sort things out with a nice friendly meeting infuriates the colony's Chief Physician Lillian (Vicki Pepperdine - "Getting On", who'd really rather everyone was walking round in tight colour-coded tunics and saluting each other. She's also in charge of Project Adam, the plan to conceive and give birth to the first colony-born baby. Unfortunately, the two people hand-picked for this purpose - Carol and Richard - were rather fibbing about being a couple, just to get on the trip.

Add in an entirely unscrupulous Chief Scientist, Mason and also Archer, an idiot maintenance man who believes he's an "empath" rather than a plumber, and you're all set to answer the question - if humankind were to colonize space, is it destined to succumb to self-interest, prejudice and infighting? (By the way, the answer's "yes". Sorry.)

Cast:
Brian ...... Nicholas Lyndhurst
Lillian ...... Vicki Pepperdine
Mason ........ Tom Goodman-Hill
Archer ........ Phil Whelans
Carol ........ Cariad Lloyd
Richard ....... John Dorney

Written by Phil Whelans

Produced & directed by David Tyler
A Pozzitive production for BBC Radio 4.

Duration
30 minutes

Sounds a lot like another BBC series The Spaceship by Paul Barnhill & Nick Warhurst, staring James Fleet.

But I'll give it a whirl.

[Corporal Nobbs had been disqualified from the human race for shoving. Sir Terry Pratchett]

I haven't heard that one, gbgian, but I'm givin' this one a whirl too.

The second series of Spaceship was on R4X in the 'Seventh Dimension' slot (can we still call it that?) in the first week of February, this year.

. Ivor



The original and real cat with the swishy tail.
Accept no imitations.

I think they still call it the 7th Dimension don't they?

Wasn't sure what to think of the first episode. It was all over the place. Given that this only has 4 episodes it better settle down quick.

Comedy scifi is a tricky thing isn't it? The balance is difficult to get and maintain. I just got Hyperdrive and after listening to the My First Planet, I am sort of afraid to watch Hyperdrive...