A cast of prosthetic foam rubber puppets were the stars of this ITV science series, produced by TVS and aimed at eight to 12-year-olds.
The show centred on a secret laboratory created in a disused Underground station (“Panic Station”) beneath the streets of London. Episodes featured a variety of experiments incorporating biology, geology, astronomy and other sciences, presented in an easily comprehensible form.
The characters included Professor Shackleton (voiced by Kevin Bradshaw), the Right Honourable Piers Blister (voiced by Richard Coombs) – the bumbling ‘Minister for Science and Things’ – and a caretaker called Mr Ferret.
Only the professor’s assistants, Lester (Michael Buffong), Lavinia Jayne (Daphne Waring) and Terri (Liz Campion), were played by human actors.
There was also a lab rat who was a professor in his own right (unlike the usual experimental lab rat), a fun-loving piranha fish in a glass case, two flies called Betty and Mavis, and a frog.
Other (ordinarily inanimate) objects also moved and were given a voice, including a set of false teeth in a glass, a bust of Blister’s grandfather and a radio cassette player which Lester used to study his science course.
The second series introduced Lady Blister (voiced by Francis Wright) – the formidable mother of Piers and an excellent scientist in her own right.
The puppets – which looked very similar to the Spitting Image puppets – were the creation of Chris Maughan.
Professor Shackleton
Kevin Bradshaw The Rt. Hon. Piers Blister/Betty
Richard Coombs Ferret/Lady Blister/Professor Rat/Mavis
Francis Wright Lester
Michael Buffong Lavinia Jayne
Daphne Waring Terri
Liz Campion
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The show centred on a secret laboratory created in a disused Underground station (“Panic Station”) beneath the streets of London. Episodes featured a variety of experiments incorporating biology, geology, astronomy and other sciences, presented in an easily comprehensible form.
Other (ordinarily inanimate) objects also moved and were given a voice, including a set of false teeth in a glass, a bust of Blister’s grandfather and a radio cassette player which Lester used to study his science course.
