999 (UK TV series)
| 999 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Docudrama |
| Created by | Peter Salmon |
| Presented by |
Michael Buerk Juliet Morris Donna Bernard |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series |
12 3 (Compilation) 5 (Lifesavers) 1 (International) |
| No. of episodes |
103 14 (Compilation) 41 (Lifesavers) 6 (International) 20 (Specials) |
| Production | |
| Running time | 50 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC One |
| Original release | 25 June 1992 – 17 September 2003 |
999 was a British docudrama television series presented by Michael Buerk, that premiered on 25 June 1992 on BBC One and ran until 17 September 2003. The series got its name from the emergency telephone number used in the United Kingdom. The series was a British adaption of the American TV series Rescue 911 which premiered in 1989.
A number of specials and spin-off shows were also aired, including five series of 999 Lifesavers (1994–98) hosted by Buerk and Juliet Morris (later Donna Bernard), and 999 International in 1997.
History
In the first series, each episode included two reconstructions of real emergencies, using actors and occasionally Buerk himself, as well as some of the real people involved in the emergency.[1] By the second series, episodes of 999 included more reconstructions.[2] While recreating an accident for an episode in 1993, veteran stuntman Tip Tipping was killed in a parachuting accident.[3] In 2002, it was announced that the series had been cancelled.[4]
Transmissions
Original series
| Series | Start date | End date | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25 June 1992 | 6 August 1992 | 7 |
| 2 | 12 February 1993 | 20 April 1993 | 4 |
| 3 | 27 April 1993 | 8 June 1993 | 7 |
| 4 | 15 June 1993 | 6 July 1993 | 4 |
| 5 | 8 April 1994 | 10 June 1994 | 10 |
| 6 | 7 April 1995 | 16 June 1995 | 10 |
| 7 | 12 April 1996 | 14 June 1996 | 10 |
| 8 | 21 June 1996 | 5 July 1996 | 3 |
| 9 | 8 May 1997 | 12 June 1997 | 6 |
| 10 | 7 April 1998 | 16 June 1998 | 10 |
| 11 | 27 April 1999 | 17 November 1999 | 10 |
| 12 | 5 April 2000 | 27 September 2000 | 5 |
| 13 | 29 May 2001 | 10 September 2001 | 14 |
| 14 | 28 October 2002 | 27 January 2003 | 7 |
| 15 | 15 April 2003 | 17 September 2003 | 4 |
Note: Series 4 and 8 were compilation series. Series 2 was a revised repeat.
Unknown series:
- 6 January 1995
- 13 January 1995
- 29 March 1996
- 28 August 1998 (Compilation)
- 2 September 1998 (Compilation)
- 9 December 1998 (Compilation)
- 13 December 1998 (Lifesavers)
999 Lifesavers
| Series | Start date | End date | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 September 1994 | 13 October 1994 | 6 |
| 2 | 15 September 1995 | 17 November 1995 | 10 |
| 3 | 3 September 1996 | 17 December 1996 | 10 |
| 4 | 25 February 1997 | 1 April 1997 | 4 |
| 5 | 17 October 1997 | 6 January 1998 | 10 |
Note: Series 4 was a compilation series.
999 International
| Series | Start date | End date | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31 July 1997 | 11 September 1997 | 6 |
Specials
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 30 May 1994 | Young Lifesavers |
| 6 December 1994 | No Excuses |
| 28 April 1995 | The Point of No Return |
| 12 January 1996 | Operation Coathanger |
| 19 January 1996 | Sea of Fire |
| 26 January 1996 | The Lonely Walk |
| 8, 20 February 1996 | 999 International Rescue (part 1) |
| 27 February 1996 | 999 International Rescue (part 2) |
| 3 May 1996 | Speed Kills |
| 6 May 1997 | Missing in Action |
| 14 October 1997 | The Great Storm |
| 17 March 1998(*) | Escape from Paradise |
| 27 March 1998 | Heart Special |
| 21 August 1998 | Diana's Legacy |
| 28 August 1998 | Dodi's Legacy - Can A Muslim Save Lives? |
| 8 September 1998 | 999 Lifesavers Baby Special |
| 25 November 1998 | Storm Alert |
| 5 January 1999 | The New Year Storms |
| 5 April 1999 | The Easter Floods |
| 17 August 1999 | 999 Fire Rescues |
| 2 September 1999 | 999 Animal Rescue |
(*) Postponed from 18 September 1997
Tie-in publication
- 999: Dramatic Stories of Real-Life Rescues by Michael Buerk, published by BBC Books in 1994. ISBN 0-563-37049-1.
- Features 15 gripping stories as featured on the show, along with 999 Safety Advice: simple, easy-to-understand instructions on how to deal with common emergencies.
See also
- Real Rescues (2007–2013)
References
- ↑ Dugdale, John (29 July 1992). "Media: Not the 'Nine O'Clock News': Michael Buerk fronts a BBC programme that has been criticised as gory. John Dugdale on the dangers of mixing fact with fiction". The Independent. London. Retrieved 27 October 2009.
- ↑ Rees, Jasper (9 April 1994). "Review - Dial nine for no-nonsense entertainment". The Independent. London. Retrieved 27 October 2009.
- ↑ "Stuntman killed in parachute jump". The Independent. London. 6 February 1993.
- ↑ Cozens, Claire (4 September 2002). "999 faces last rites". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 27 October 2009.
External links