Supernova (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Supernova is a British
comedy
television programme produced by Hartswood Films
and jointly commissioned by the BBC in the UK and UKTV
in Australia. It follows Dr Paul Hamilton (Rob Brydon
), a Welsh astronomer, who leaves a dull academic post and unloved girlfriend for a new job at the Royal Australian Observatory, deep in the Australian outback
. The comedy centres around his difficulties adjusting to life in the outback and his eccentric fellow astronomers
. The first series was released in the UK
and Australia
in October 2005 and consisted of six 30-minute episode
s. The second series began airing on 3 August 2006 in the UK.
The exterior scenes were shot at Broken Hill
in New South Wales
, Australia
. The observatory itself is a CGI creation, according to the DVD commentary, and only a partial doorway was constructed on site for filming purposes.
to an astronaut
), the arrival of his girlfriend at the observatory, and a bout of fatalism
that comes on when he creates a simulation of how the Universe will end
.
Matt Lipsey
- Director
Theo Benton - Costume Designer
Rob Brydon
- Dr Paul Hamilton
Hollie Andrew
- Dr Jude Wardlaw
Tim Draxl - Professor Mike French
Damion Hunter - Bill
Peter Kowitz
- Max Talbot
Kris McQuade
- Professor Pip Cartwright
Kat Stewart
- Dr Rachel Mann
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
television programme produced by Hartswood Films
Hartswood Films
Hartswood Films is a British television production company, founded and run by producer Beryl Vertue. The company is noted for its sitcom output, which includes Men Behaving Badly, Is It Legal? and Coupling...
and jointly commissioned by the BBC in the UK and UKTV
UKTV
UKTV is a digital cable and satellite television network, formed through a joint venture between BBC Worldwide, a commercial subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation, and Scripps Networks Interactive, spun off from The E.W Scripps Company in 2008...
in Australia. It follows Dr Paul Hamilton (Rob Brydon
Rob Brydon
Rob Brydon is a BAFTA-nominated Welsh actor, comedian, radio and television presenter, singer and impressionist...
), a Welsh astronomer, who leaves a dull academic post and unloved girlfriend for a new job at the Royal Australian Observatory, deep in the Australian outback
Outback
The Outback is the vast, remote, arid area of Australia, term colloquially can refer to any lands outside the main urban areas. The term "the outback" is generally used to refer to locations that are comparatively more remote than those areas named "the bush".-Overview:The outback is home to a...
. The comedy centres around his difficulties adjusting to life in the outback and his eccentric fellow astronomers
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
. The first series was released in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in October 2005 and consisted of six 30-minute episode
Episode
An episode is a part of a dramatic work such as a serial television or radio program. An episode is a part of a sequence of a body of work, akin to a chapter of a book. The term sometimes applies to works based on other forms of mass media as well, as in Star Wars...
s. The second series began airing on 3 August 2006 in the UK.
The exterior scenes were shot at Broken Hill
Broken Hill, New South Wales
-Geology:Broken Hill's massive orebody, which formed about 1,800 million years ago, has proved to be among the world's largest silver-lead-zinc mineral deposits. The orebody is shaped like a boomerang plunging into the earth at its ends and outcropping in the centre. The protruding tip of the...
in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The observatory itself is a CGI creation, according to the DVD commentary, and only a partial doorway was constructed on site for filming purposes.
Plot
During the series, Paul grapples with, amongst others, his attraction to his colleague Dr Rachel Mann (who is engagedEngagement
An engagement or betrothal is a promise to marry, and also the period of time between proposal and marriage which may be lengthy or trivial. During this period, a couple is said to be betrothed, affianced, engaged to be married, or simply engaged...
to an astronaut
Astronaut
An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
), the arrival of his girlfriend at the observatory, and a bout of fatalism
Fatalism
Fatalism is a philosophical doctrine emphasizing the subjugation of all events or actions to fate.Fatalism generally refers to several of the following ideas:...
that comes on when he creates a simulation of how the Universe will end
Ultimate fate of the universe
The ultimate fate of the universe is a topic in physical cosmology. Many possible fates are predicted by rival scientific theories, including futures of both finite and infinite duration....
.
Cast and crew
Harry Cripps - WriterMatt Lipsey
Matt Lipsey
Matt Lipsey is a British television and film director. His work includes Baby Cow Productions sitcoms Human Remains and Saxondale, and Hartswood Films series Supernova, The Cup and Jekyll. His first film, Caught in the Act, was released in 2008...
- Director
Theo Benton - Costume Designer
Rob Brydon
Rob Brydon
Rob Brydon is a BAFTA-nominated Welsh actor, comedian, radio and television presenter, singer and impressionist...
- Dr Paul Hamilton
Hollie Andrew
Hollie Andrew
Hollie Andrew is an Australian actress.- Career :Andrew starred with Abbie Cornish and Sam Worthington in the AFI Award winning Somersault where Andrew herself was nominated for an AFI as best supporting actress in her role as Bianca in [2004]...
- Dr Jude Wardlaw
Tim Draxl - Professor Mike French
Damion Hunter - Bill
Peter Kowitz
Peter Kowitz
Peter Kowitz is an Australian actor.His television credits include: Prime Time, Richmond Hill, Chances, Pacific Drive, Water Rats, Wildside, Farscape, Murder Call, Grass Roots, All Saints and Supernova....
- Max Talbot
Kris McQuade
Kris McQuade
Kris McQuade is an Australian actress who has had many film, television and theatre roles.Her film credits include: The Love Letters from Teralba Road, Kostas, Fighting Back, Lonely Hearts, Goodbye Paradise, The Coca-Cola Kid, Strictly Ballroom, Billy's Holiday and December Boys.Television credits...
- Professor Pip Cartwright
Kat Stewart
Kat Stewart
Kat Stewart is a Logie Award-winning Australian actress who has made numerous appearances in television series, movies and on-stage.-Career:...
- Dr Rachel Mann
Series 1
- The Black Holes
- God, Are You Out There?
- When You Wish Upon A Star
- Venus Rising
- Unity
- Where Men Are Men
Series 2
- Wild Oats
- How's Your Father?
- Big Red
- Perseverance
- Something Wicked This Way Comes
- May The Best Man Win