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{{retitle|''K9'' (TV series)}}
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{{Infobox Merchandise
|name        = ''K9''
|image        = K9 TV series logo.jpg
|aka          =
|designer    =
|publisher    = Park Entertainment
|publisher2  = Stewart & Wall Entertainment
|type        = TV series
|price        =
|release date = [[31 October (releases)|31 October]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]] - [[5 July (releases)|5 July]] [[2010 (releases)|2010]]
|trailer      = K9 - THE SERIES trailer (2009)
}}
'''''K9''''' was a spin-off television series featuring the [[robot]]ic [[dog]] [[K9]]. It was produced in [[Australia]] by [[Park Entertainment]] and [[Stewart & Wall Entertainment]] under the auspices of [[Metal Mutt Productions]], a business identity of [[Bob Baker]] which holds primary copyright to the series. ''K9'' premiered worldwide between 2009 and 2010. In the wake of the first series, there were indications that a second series was being planned.<ref name="in development">[http://stewart-wall-entertainment.com/in-development/childrensTelevisionDetail.php?K9-Series-II-1 Stewart & Wall Entertainment - In Development - K9 Series II] <small>accessed 13th October 2010</small></ref>


:''For the character of the same name, see [[K9]].''
In June 2012 series producer [[Paul Tams]] stated that he and [[Bob Baker]] were "working on the updates for series two and also entering a new production partnership." with another twenty-six episodes planned. They also claimed to have adjusted the K9 CGI model based on the positive and negative comments from fans. Test footage had apparently already been filmed, with further announcements regarding production supposedly due later in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.doctorwhonews.net/2012/06/dwn1306104508-k9-series-update.html|title=K9 Series update|author=Chuck Foster|date of source=Wednesday, June 13, 2012 |website name=Doctor Who News|accessdate=16 June 2012}}</ref> The new design of K9 was to be unveiled at a convention in 2013. However, this never came to fruition and only vague reassurances about the progress of the second season came from Baker and Tams in 2014.
[[Image:K9_tvseries_logo.jpg|250px|right]]
== Overview ==
'''When the world needs saving, the right person for the job is a dog... A ROBOT DOG!'''


'''''K9''''' is a spin-off television series featuring the robotic dog [[K9]], that has been produced in Australia by Jetix Europe, Park Entertainment and Stewart Wall Entertainment.
''[[The Essential Book of K9]]'' was then released in 2015, including a trilogy of short stories about the further adventures of [[K9 Mark 2]], set long after the end of this television series and distancing him completely from it. The comic story ''[[Short Circuit (comic story)|Short Circuit]]'' finally revealed the new design of K9. This design carried over into the 2020 anthology ''[[Megabytes (anthology)|Megabytes]]''.


''School Reunion'' led to near-immediate plans to launch the ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures|Sarah Jane Adventures]]'' spin-off. However, the rights to K9 were obtained by other parties, for the purposes of creating a separate spinoff. According to news reports in mid-2007, the ''K-9'' series will "feature a blend of live-action and CGI: K9 himself would be a CGI creation, but the show would otherwise be recorded in front of cameras." <ref name="Outpost News"> [http://www.gallifreyone.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?id=EEVFkypVVZaMnlviUi&tmpl=newsrss Lyon, Shaun (2006-07-18). More on K9 Series. Outpost Gallifrey News Page. Retrieved on 24-06-07] </ref>
== History ==
''[[School Reunion (TV story)|School Reunion]]'' led to near-immediate plans to launch the ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures|Sarah Jane Adventures]]'' spin-off. The rights to K9 were obtained by other parties for a separate spinoff. According to news reports in mid-2007, the ''K9'' series would "feature a blend of live-action and CGI: K9 himself will be a CGI creation, but the show will otherwise be recorded in front of cameras."<ref name="Outpost News">[http://www.gallifreyone.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?id=EEVFkypVVZaMnlviUi&tmpl=newsrss Lyon, Shaun (2006-07-18). More on K9 Series. Outpost Gallifrey News Page. Retrieved on 24-06-2007].</ref>
In June 2008 it was announced production would begin on the series in July 2008, with all or some of the episodes written by the co-creator of K9, [[Bob Baker]]. Other announced writers included Shane Krause and Shayne Armstrong. The series would be produced by Simon Barnes, Richard Stewart and Penny Wall. Due to licensing issues, the robot dog was extensively redesigned. At first, the series was not expected to have any obvious connection to the [[canon|''Doctor Who'' universe]].<ref>[http://www.gallifreyone.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?id=EkEFZukVllHGvPYmUv&tmpl=newsrss&style=feedstyle K9 Series Production Latest], Outpost Gallifrey, 17 June 2008.</ref>, but a 2009 update to the Park Entertainment website revealed that the series would explicitly star [[K9 Mark I]] and he would initially appear to be the same design seen on ''Doctor Who''.<ref>[http://www.parkentertainment.com/television%20series.htm Park Entertainment expanded synopsis of the premise.]</ref> These licensing issues also prevented [[K9 Mark IV]] from initially making more than cameo appearances in ''The Sarah Jane Adventures''. K9 later became a regular for [[Series 3 (SJA)|series 3]] of SJA.


In June 2008 it was announced that production would begin on the series in July 2008, with all or some of the episodes being written by the co-creator of K9; [[Bob Baker]]. Other announced writers include Shane Krause and Shayne Armstrong. The series will be produced by Simon Barnes, Richard Stewart and Penny Wall. Due to licencing issues, the robot dog has been extensively redesigned. At first, the series was not expected to have any obvious connection to the [[canon|Doctor Who universe]].<ref>[http://www.gallifreyone.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?id=EkEFZukVllHGvPYmUv&tmpl=newsrss&style=feedstyle K9 Series Production Latest], Outpost Gallifrey, 17 June 2008</ref>, but a [[2009]] update to the Park Entertainment website revealed that the series would explicitly star [[K9 Mark I]], and that he would initially appear to be of the same design seen on ''Doctor Who''.<ref>[http://www.parkentertainment.com/television%20series.htm Park Entertainment expanded synopsis of the premise.]</ref> It will be the first ''Doctor Who''-related series to not be produced or co-produced by the BBC. Aside from the [[Doctor Who (1996)|1996 telefilm]], it will be the first time a ''Doctor Who''-related production will not be based in [[Great Britain]].
''K9'' was the first ''Doctor Who''-related television series to not be produced or co-produced by the BBC. It marked only the second time, after the [[Doctor Who (TV story)|1996 ''Doctor Who'' TV Movie]], that an official ''Doctor Who''-related production was not based in [[Great Britain]].


These licensing issues also prevented [[K9 Mark IV]] from making more than cameo appearances in ''The Sarah Jane Adventures''. But since the [[Series 3 (The Sarah Jane Adventures)|Series 3]] episode ''[[The Mad Woman in the Attic]]'', K9 has appeared as a regular in most episodes.
The first season of the series consisted of twenty-six episodes of thirty minutes each, which gave it a similar run time to an average series of ''Doctor Who''. It was the first time a ''Doctor Who''-related season had so many episodes since [[Season 19 (Doctor Who 1963)|Season 19]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''.


The first season of the series consists of 26 episodes of 30 minutes apiece, which gives it a similar runtime to an average series of ''Doctor Who'', and it's the first time a ''Doctor Who''-related season has had so many episodes since the mid-1980s.
The first episode of the series premiered in the UK on the cable network [[Disney XD]] as a special on [[31 October (releases)|31 October]] 2009. The series began airing as a weekly offering on a Scandinavian network in January 2010. It commenced broadcast in the UK on 3rd April 2010, the same day it premiered on the [[Ten Network]] in Australia.<ref>{{Cite web| work = Gallifrey news base| title = K9 Australian launch date| date = 2010-3| url = http://gallifreynewsbase.blogspot.com/2010/03/k9-australian-launch-date.html| publisher = Google}}.</ref> This was also the same day that [[Series 5 (Doctor Who 2005)|Series 5]] of the parent program debuted in the UK. Nevertheless, the later December 2010 broadcast on [[Five]] was claimed to be the "premiere" UK broadcast.<ref>[http://digitaljournal.com/article/301556 Peck, Matthew Wace. "K9 to Five: latest Doctor Who spin-off launches in UK". 16 December 2010.]</ref>
Disney XD soon adopted a twice-weekly broadcast schedule for ''K9'', airing episodes on Saturday and Sunday, but soon stopped airing the show.


The first episode of the series aired for the first time in the UK on the cable network Disney XD as a special on 31st October 2009. The series began airing as a weekly offering on a Scandinavian network in January 2010. The series commenced broadcast in the UK on 3rd April 2010, the same day it premiered on the Ten network in Australia.[http://gallifreynewsbase.blogspot.com/2010/03/k9-australian-launch-date.html] This was also the same day that [[Series 5 (Doctor Who)|Series 5]] of the parent program debuted in the UK.
== Cast ==
* [[K9 Mark 2|K9]] - [[John Leeson]]<ref>[http://gallifreynewsbase.blogspot.com/2009/07/news-from-dwm.html ''Doctor Who Magazine'' issue 411] reports that John Leeson returns to voice K9 for all 26 episodes.</ref>
* [[Starkey]] - [[Keegan Joyce]]
* [[Jorjie Turner]] - [[Philippa Coulthard]]
* [[Darius Pike]] - [[Daniel Webber]]
* Professor [[Alistair Gryffen]] - [[Robert Moloney]]
* Inspector [[June Turner]] - [[Robyn Moore]]


Currently, Disney XD has adopted a twice-weekly broadcast schedule for ''K9'', airing episodes on Saturday and Sunday.
=== Recurring ===
* [[Lomax]] - [[Peter Kent]]
* Inspector [[Drake (Liberation)|Drake]] - [[Connor Van Vuuren]]
* Inspector [[Thorne]] - [[Jared Robinsen]]


The canonicity of the series as it relates to the "[[Whoniverse]]" is unclear, but due to it being produced separately from the other ''Doctor Who'' series (such as ''[[Torchwood]]'' and ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]''), it is unlikely that the shows will ever directly reference each other. The backstory does not appear to contradict the canon of the other Whoniverse TV series, but does contradict the [[Big Finish Productions]]' [[Gallifrey (audio series)|Gallifrey]] series, which showed K9 Mark I destroyed. Although [[Leela]] refused to rebuild K9 it is possible that the [[Time Lord]]s rebuilt K9 without her knowledge, possibly to help fight in the [[Last Great Time War]] because K9's [[Regeneration circuit]] has writing on it very similar to [[Gallifreyan (language)]]. Also, [[K9 Mark III]] didn't have a regeneration circuit when he was destroyed which implies that it was fitted in by the Time Lords as opposed to [[The Doctor]].
== Television stories ==
 
=== Series 1 - 2009-2010 ===
==Cast==
===Primary cast===
*[[K9 Mark 2|K9]] - [[John Leeson]] <ref>[http://gallifreynewsbase.blogspot.com/2009/07/news-from-dwm.html Doctor Who Magazine issue 411 reports that John Leeson returns to voice K9 for all 26 episodes]</ref>
*[[Starkey]] - [[Keegan Joyce]]
*[[Jorjie Turner]] - [[Philippa Coulthard]]
*[[Darius Pike]] - [[Daniel Webber]]
*[[Gryffen|Professor Alistair Gryffen]] - [[Robert Moloney]]
*Inspector [[June Turner]] - [[Robyn Moore]]
 
===Secondary cast===
*[[Lomax (K9)]] - [[Peter Kent]]
*Inspector [[Drake]] - [[Connor Van Vurren]]
*Inspector [[Thorne]] - [[Jared Robinsen]]
 
==[[List of K9 (TV series) television stories|Television Stories]]==
 
===[[Series 1 (K9)|Series 1]] - [[2010]]===
''see [[Series 1 (K9)|Main article]]''
''see [[Series 1 (K9)|Main article]]''


===[[Series 2 (K9)|Series 2]] - in development===
== Connections with ''Doctor Who'' ==
''see [[Series 2 (K9)|Main article]]''
* As noted above, K9 has a long history with the parent series, being one of the most recognisable icons of the show. K9 Marks [[K9 Mark I|I]] and [[K9 Mark II|II]] travelled with the [[Fourth Doctor]] from 1977 to 1980. [[K9 Mark III|The next K9]] appeared in ''[[A Girl's Best Friend (TV story)|A Girl's Best Friend]]'', the pilot episode for an aborted 1980s spin-off, ''[[K9 and Company]]''. He made reunion appearances in ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'' and ''[[School Reunion (TV story)|School Reunion]]''. [[K9 Mark IV]] made cameo appearances in several episodes of ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]'' and ''[[Journey's End (TV story)|Journey's End]]'' and later had a larger role in [[Series 3 (SJA)|Series 3]] of ''The Sarah Jane Adventures''. Specifically, the K9 in this series is the [[K9 Mark 2|regenerated K9 Mark I]], having a radically different design change as the BBC owns the design to K9.
* In ''[[Regeneration (TV story)|Regeneration]]'', Professor Gryffen triggers a piece of music stored in K9's memory. The three notes that are played are the first three notes of the [[Doctor Who theme|''Doctor Who'' theme]].
* In ''[[Regeneration (TV story)|Regeneration]]'', [[Regeneration unit|the component]] of K9 that triggers his regeneration has symbols resembling [[Old High Gallifreyan]], the language of the [[Time Lord]]s with whom K9 Mark I has been. The writing includes "[[∂³Σx²]]", which was used to identify the Doctor in ''[[The Trial of Doctor Who (short story)|The Trial of Doctor Who]]'' from the [[1972 (releases)|1972]] behind-the-scenes book ''[[The Making of Doctor Who]]''.
* In ''[[Liberation (TV story)|Liberation]]'', Jorjie considers the possibility using the space-time manipulator to have time-travel adventures, the main theme of ''[[Doctor Who]]''.
* In ''[[Liberation (TV story)|Liberation]]'', creatures resembling [[Zephon (species)|Zephon]] and [[Axos|Axons]] are seen in [[Dauntless Prison]]. Bob Baker co-created the Axons for [[TV]]: ''[[The Claws of Axos (TV story)|The Claws of Axos]]''.
* In ''[[Liberation (TV story)|Liberation]]'', one of the prison corridor doors in Dauntless Prison is labelled [[D84]].
* In ''[[Jaws of Orthrus (TV story)|Jaws of Orthrus]]'', Proffessor Gryffen uses the phrase "reverse the polarity", a phrase often associated with the [[Third Doctor]]. In ''[[Black Hunger (TV story)|Black Hunger]]'', K9 also used the phrase.
* In ''[[Curse of Anubis (TV story)|Curse of Anubis]]'', a gallery of races the Anubians have invaded show a [[Sea Devil]], a [[Mandrel]] and an [[Alpha Centauran]]. Bob Baker created the Mandrels for ''[[Nightmare of Eden (TV story)|Nightmare of Eden]]''.
* In ''[[The Cambridge Spy (TV story)|The Cambridge Spy]]'', Jorjie is sent to 23 November 1963, the same day the first episode of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' was both broadcast and, [[A Long Night (short story)|according one source]], set. ([[TV]]: ''[[An Unearthly Child (TV story)|An Unearthly Child]]'') The date is not given in dialogue, but is visible on the newspaper prop.
* The [[Dauntless Prison]], originating from this series, is represented by a card in {{cs|Worlds Apart (video game)}}.


==Connections with Doctor Who==
=== Crossover monsters from ''Doctor Who'' ===
*As noted above, K9 has a long history with the parent series, being one of the most recognisable icons of the show. K9 Marks [[K9 Mark I|1]] and [[K9 Mark II|2]] travelled with the [[Fourth Doctor]] from 1977 to 1980. [[K9 Mark III|The next K9]] appeared in ''[[A Girl's Best Friend]]'', the pilot episode for a aborted 1980s spin-off, ''[[K9 and Company]]''. He made reunion appearances in [[DW]]: ''[[The Five Doctors]]'' and [[DW]]: ''[[School Reunion]]''. [[K9 Mark IV]] made cameo appearances in several episodes of [[The Sarah Jane Adventures]] and [[DW]]: ''[[Journey's End]]'' and later had a more larger role in [[Series 3 (The Sarah Jane Adventures)|Series 3]]. Specificly, the K9 in this series is the [[K9 Mark 2|regenerated K9 Mark I]] having a radically different design change as the BBC own the design to K9.
* [[Axon]] ([[TV]]: ''[[The Claws of Axos (TV story)|The Claws of Axos]]'')
*In ''[[Regeneration (TV story)|Regeneration]]'' Professor Gryffen triggers a piece of music stored in K9's memory, the 3 notes that are played are the first three notes of the ''Doctor Who'' theme song.
* [[Mandrel]] (drawing) ([[TV]]: ''[[Nightmare of Eden (TV story)|Nightmare of Eden]]'')
*In ''[[Regeneration (TV story)|Regeneration]]'' the component of K9 that triggers his regeneration has symbols resembling Old High Gallifreyan, the language of the ''[[Time Lords]]'' with whom K9 Mark I has been.
* [[Alpha Centauran]] (drawing) ([[TV]]: ''[[The Curse of Peladon (TV story)|The Curse of Peladon]]'', ''[[The Monster of Peladon (TV story)|The Monster of Peladon]]'')
*In ''[[Liberation]]'' Jorjie considers the possibility using the Space-Time Manipulator to have Time-Travel adventures, The main feature of [[Doctor Who]].
* [[Sea Devil]] (drawing) ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sea Devils (TV story)|The Sea Devils]]'')
*In ''[[Liberation]]'' creatures resembling [[Zephon]] and an [[Axon]] are seen in [[Dauntless Prison]].
* [[Zephon (species)|Zephon]] ([[TV]]: ''[[The Daleks' Master Plan (TV story)|The Daleks' Master Plan]]'')
*In ''[[Liberation]]'' one of the prison corridor doors in Dauntless Prison is labelled [[D84]].
*In ''[[The Bounty Hunter]]'', in a News Report it is stated a man named only "Mr Smith" has won the lottery and it asks anyone who he is. "Mr Smith" could possibly be [[The Doctor]] as he often goes by the alias of "John Smith" or it could be a reference to the character [[Mr Smith]] from the spin off series [[The Sarah Jane Adventures]].
*In ''[[Jaws of Orthrus]]'' Proffessor Gryffen uses the phrase "Reverse the Polarity", a phrase often associated with the [[Third Doctor]].
*In ''[[The Curse of Anubis]]'' a gallery of races the Anubians have invaded show a [[Sea Devil]], a [[Mandrel]] and a [[Alpha Centauran]].
*In ''[[The Cambridge Spy]]'' Jorjie is sent to [[November]], [[1963]] &ndash; the same month the first episode of [[Doctor Who]] was both broadcast and set. ([[DW]]: ''[[An Unearthly Child]]'')
*Darius Pike's name may be a reference to K9's original owner's name, [[Marius]].
*Some of the devastating events described in [[The Waters of Mars]] may have happened either before or during the first series.


===Crossover monsters===
== Broadcasts ==
====[[Doctor Who]]====
=== Series 1 ===
=====From Doctor Who=====
* ''K9'' was broadcast in [[Australia]] on [[Network Ten]] and began screening on [[4 April (releases)|4 April]] 2010.
*[[Axon]] ''([[The Claws of Axos]])''
* ''K9'' was on [[Disney XD]] in the UK.
*[[Mandrel]] (drawing) ''([[Nightmare of Eden]])''
* In April 2010 it was announced that ''K9'' would begin broadcasts on the UK terrestrial network [[Five]] after broadcasts on Disney XD concluded, <ref>[http://gallifreynewsbase.blogspot.com/2010/04/k9-comes-to-five.html The Doctor Who News Page - K9 comes to Five] <small>accessed 11th May 2010</small></ref> The series debuted on Five on [[18 December (releases)|18 December]] 2010. Although it had originally been announced that the first season would be split in half, the series ran interrupted on a daily schedule for its first twenty-one episodes, concluding on [[9 January (releases)|9 January]] 2011; after a month's hiatus, two more episodes aired on [[5 February (releases)|5]] and [[6 February (releases)|6 February]] 2011. It then went on hiatus until resuming on [[24 April (releases)|24 April]] 2011, airing episodes 24 and 25 on a weekly schedule. However as of mid-August 2011, no broadcast has been indicated on Five for the 26th and final episode of Season 1.<ref>[http://www.channel5.com/shows/k9/episodes Five episode guide to K9, accessed 18th August 2011]</ref>
*[[Alpha Centauran]] (drawing) ''([[The Curse of Peladon]],[[The Monster of Peladon]])''
* ''K9'' is broadcast in Bulgaria and Romania on [[Disney Channel]], dubbed in both languages.
*[[Sea Devil]] (drawing) ''([[The Sea Devils]])''
* The K9 Official Facebook Page announced that the series would be broadcast on Cartoon Network in [[New Zealand]].
* The K9 Official Facebook Page also announced that ''K9'' was due to be broadcast on Disney XD in America, although broadcast dates are currently unknown. <ref>[http://www.facebook.com/pages/K9-OFFICIAL-PAGE/254828826587 Official ''K9'' Facebook page]</ref>
* The K9 Official Facebook Page also announced that ''K9'' would be broadcast in Canada on [[BBC Kids]], starting in September 2012.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150939167031588&set=a.256371181587.136301.254828826587&type=1 Announcement on Official ''K9'' Facebook page</ref>
* ''K9'' has thus far been broadcast on Network Ten in Australia, Disney XD in the UK & Ireland; Scandinavia, Poland, Italy and the Netherlands and Disney Channel CEE in Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary, Five in the UK, circulated to the US through Disney XD. It has also been broadcast on pay TV stations through Australia, New Zealand and Asia via Cartoon Network.
* ''K9'' was aired in the United States on the SyFy channel on December 25, 2012. 26 episodes were aired in a marathon.


==Broadcasts==
== External links ==
*''K9'' is broadcast in [[Australia]] on [[Network 10]] and began screening on the [[4th April]] [[2010]].
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20220310073258/http://k9official.com/ Official website] via the [https://web.archive.org/ Wayback Machine]
*''K9'' on [[Disney XD]] in the UK.
{{facebook|K9-OFFICIAL-PAGE-254828826587}}
*''K9'' has been announced that it will begin to be broadcast on the UK's [[Wikipedia:Five|Five]], originally announced for the British autumn.<ref>[http://gallifreynewsbase.blogspot.com/2010/04/k9-comes-to-five.html The Doctor Who News Page - K9 comes to Five] <small>accessed 11th May 2010</small></ref> However, the K9 Official Facebook Page latter announced that K9 is due to be broadcast on Five at Christmas. <ref>[http://www.facebook.com/pages/K9-OFFICIAL-PAGE/254828826587 Official ''K9'' facebook page]</ref>
*''K9'' is broadcast in Bulgaria and Romania on [[Disney Channel]] and it's dubbed on both languages.
*The K9 Official Facebook Page has announced that the series will be broadcast on Cartoon Network in [[New Zealand]].
*The K9 Official Facebook Page has also announced that K9 is due to be broadcast on Disney XD in America, although broadcast dates are currently unknown. <ref>[http://www.facebook.com/pages/K9-OFFICIAL-PAGE/254828826587 Official ''K9'' facebook page]</ref>


==See also==
== Footnotes ==
*[[Doctor Who]]
{{reflist|2}}
*[[Torchwood]]
*[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]
*[[K9 and Company]]


==External links==
{{Spin-offs}}
* [http://www.k9official.com/ K9's Official Site]
[[es:K9 (serie)]]
* [http://www.facebook.com/pages/K9-OFFICIAL-PAGE/254828826587 Official ''K9'' facebook page]
[[ro:K-9 (TV)]]
[[ru:К-9 (сериал)]]


==Footnotes==
[[Category:K9 (TV series)| ]]
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Television overviews]]
[[Category:Doctor Who spin-offs]]
[[Category:K9]]
[[Category:K9 TV series]]

Latest revision as of 15:56, 29 November 2024

RealWorld.png

K9 was a spin-off television series featuring the robotic dog K9. It was produced in Australia by Park Entertainment and Stewart & Wall Entertainment under the auspices of Metal Mutt Productions, a business identity of Bob Baker which holds primary copyright to the series. K9 premiered worldwide between 2009 and 2010. In the wake of the first series, there were indications that a second series was being planned.[1]

In June 2012 series producer Paul Tams stated that he and Bob Baker were "working on the updates for series two and also entering a new production partnership." with another twenty-six episodes planned. They also claimed to have adjusted the K9 CGI model based on the positive and negative comments from fans. Test footage had apparently already been filmed, with further announcements regarding production supposedly due later in 2012.[2] The new design of K9 was to be unveiled at a convention in 2013. However, this never came to fruition and only vague reassurances about the progress of the second season came from Baker and Tams in 2014.

The Essential Book of K9 was then released in 2015, including a trilogy of short stories about the further adventures of K9 Mark 2, set long after the end of this television series and distancing him completely from it. The comic story Short Circuit finally revealed the new design of K9. This design carried over into the 2020 anthology Megabytes.

History[[edit] | [edit source]]

School Reunion led to near-immediate plans to launch the Sarah Jane Adventures spin-off. The rights to K9 were obtained by other parties for a separate spinoff. According to news reports in mid-2007, the K9 series would "feature a blend of live-action and CGI: K9 himself will be a CGI creation, but the show will otherwise be recorded in front of cameras."[3] In June 2008 it was announced production would begin on the series in July 2008, with all or some of the episodes written by the co-creator of K9, Bob Baker. Other announced writers included Shane Krause and Shayne Armstrong. The series would be produced by Simon Barnes, Richard Stewart and Penny Wall. Due to licensing issues, the robot dog was extensively redesigned. At first, the series was not expected to have any obvious connection to the Doctor Who universe.[4], but a 2009 update to the Park Entertainment website revealed that the series would explicitly star K9 Mark I and he would initially appear to be the same design seen on Doctor Who.[5] These licensing issues also prevented K9 Mark IV from initially making more than cameo appearances in The Sarah Jane Adventures. K9 later became a regular for series 3 of SJA.

K9 was the first Doctor Who-related television series to not be produced or co-produced by the BBC. It marked only the second time, after the 1996 Doctor Who TV Movie, that an official Doctor Who-related production was not based in Great Britain.

The first season of the series consisted of twenty-six episodes of thirty minutes each, which gave it a similar run time to an average series of Doctor Who. It was the first time a Doctor Who-related season had so many episodes since Season 19 of Doctor Who.

The first episode of the series premiered in the UK on the cable network Disney XD as a special on 31 October 2009. The series began airing as a weekly offering on a Scandinavian network in January 2010. It commenced broadcast in the UK on 3rd April 2010, the same day it premiered on the Ten Network in Australia.[6] This was also the same day that Series 5 of the parent program debuted in the UK. Nevertheless, the later December 2010 broadcast on Five was claimed to be the "premiere" UK broadcast.[7] Disney XD soon adopted a twice-weekly broadcast schedule for K9, airing episodes on Saturday and Sunday, but soon stopped airing the show.

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Recurring[[edit] | [edit source]]

Television stories[[edit] | [edit source]]

Series 1 - 2009-2010[[edit] | [edit source]]

see Main article

Connections with Doctor Who[[edit] | [edit source]]

Crossover monsters from Doctor Who[[edit] | [edit source]]

Broadcasts[[edit] | [edit source]]

Series 1[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • K9 was broadcast in Australia on Network Ten and began screening on 4 April 2010.
  • K9 was on Disney XD in the UK.
  • In April 2010 it was announced that K9 would begin broadcasts on the UK terrestrial network Five after broadcasts on Disney XD concluded, [9] The series debuted on Five on 18 December 2010. Although it had originally been announced that the first season would be split in half, the series ran interrupted on a daily schedule for its first twenty-one episodes, concluding on 9 January 2011; after a month's hiatus, two more episodes aired on 5 and 6 February 2011. It then went on hiatus until resuming on 24 April 2011, airing episodes 24 and 25 on a weekly schedule. However as of mid-August 2011, no broadcast has been indicated on Five for the 26th and final episode of Season 1.[10]
  • K9 is broadcast in Bulgaria and Romania on Disney Channel, dubbed in both languages.
  • The K9 Official Facebook Page announced that the series would be broadcast on Cartoon Network in New Zealand.
  • The K9 Official Facebook Page also announced that K9 was due to be broadcast on Disney XD in America, although broadcast dates are currently unknown. [11]
  • The K9 Official Facebook Page also announced that K9 would be broadcast in Canada on BBC Kids, starting in September 2012.[12]
  • K9 has thus far been broadcast on Network Ten in Australia, Disney XD in the UK & Ireland; Scandinavia, Poland, Italy and the Netherlands and Disney Channel CEE in Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary, Five in the UK, circulated to the US through Disney XD. It has also been broadcast on pay TV stations through Australia, New Zealand and Asia via Cartoon Network.
  • K9 was aired in the United States on the SyFy channel on December 25, 2012. 26 episodes were aired in a marathon.

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]