999 (British TV series)

999 is 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 is a British adaption of the American TV series Rescue 911 which premiered in April 1989 and ended in August 1996.

999
Genre	Docudrama
Created by	Peter Salmon
Presented by	Michael Buerk Juliet Morris Donna Bernard
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	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
Chronology
Related shows	Rescue 911 Real Rescues

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 replaced by 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 September 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	Main presenter(s)	Co-presenter(s)
1	8 September 1994	13 October 1994	6	Michael Buerk	Juliet Morris
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		Donna Bernard

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[lower-alpha 1]	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 February 1996[lower-alpha 2]	The Flying Doctors
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[lower-alpha 3]	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

Merchandise

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.

• 999 Young Lifesavers by Michael Buerk, published by BBC Books in 1996. ISBN 0-563-40431-0.

Tying in with the children's television series, "999" and "999 Lifesavers", this book contains instructions on how to react in emergencies. The topics covered include coping with sudden illness, what to do if someone is struck by lightning, survival out of doors, electrical accidents and road accidents. There is also advice on how to avoid accidents in the first place, focusing on, for instance, dangerous plants and animals, and sensible behaviour at the seaside.

Video releases

• 999: Lifesaver Video (1996)
• 999: Family Safety Video (1998)

See also

• Real Rescues (2007–2013)

Notes

1. Repeated on 14 November 1995[5]
2. Replaced Part 1 of 999 International Rescue
3. Postponed from 18 September 1997[6]

References

1. 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.
2. Rees, Jasper (9 April 1994). "Review - Dial nine for no-nonsense entertainment". The Independent. London. Retrieved 27 October 2009.
3. "Stuntman killed in parachute jump". The Independent. London. 6 February 1993.
4. Cozens, Claire (4 September 2002). "999 faces last rites". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 27 October 2009.
5. "999 Special - No Excuses". 14 November 1995. p. 94. Retrieved 13 July 2020 – via BBC Genome.
6. "999 Volcano Special - Escape from Paradise". 17 March 1998. p. 86. Retrieved 13 July 2020 – via BBC Genome.

External links

• 999 at IMDb