M.I. High

M.I. High
File:Mihigh-logo.jpg M.I. High logo
Created by	Keith Brumpton
Starring	Bel Powley Moustafa Palazli Rachel Petladwala Danny John-Jules Scott Gibbins
Country of origin	United Kingdom
No. of episodes	23
Production
Producer	Kerry Appleyard
Running time	28 minutes
Original release
Network	BBC One, CBBC
Release	8 January 2007

M.I. High is a BBC children's adventure series following the exploits of a group of inner-city secondary school pupils, Blane, Daisy and Rose, who work as undercover spies. The series is shown on Mondays at 4.30pm on BBC One with the next episode shown 15 minutes later on the CBBC Channel. The previous two episodes are shown every Sunday at 4pm on the CBBC Channel.

The spies are led by M.I.9 agent Lenny Bicknall (Danny John-Jules), working undercover as the school caretaker. All other spies' covers have been rumbled and the only spies left undercover are school children still being trained.

The agents are summoned by a communicator disguised as a pencil. Blane, Daisy and Rose must come up with some excuse to get themselves out of class.

The caretaker's storeroom is the cover for the underground spy headquarters, accessed by means of a high-speed lift, where they learn about their latest mission from M.I.9.

M.I. High is produced for the BBC by the independent production company Kudos, who also produced the hit BBC spy drama Spooks. It follows in the success of Young Bond and the book/film Stormbreaker. M.I. High was recorded in high definition.

The first series of the programme was filmed at Eastbury Comprehensive School's old site (Dawson Road site), with the second filming at Christchurch School, Finchley North London.

Character Profiles

See also minor characters in M.I.High

Lenny Bicknall (Saint Hope's Caretaker /M.I. High's Supervising Agent) is an M.I.9 agent deep undercover posing as Saint Hope's School's caretaker. He has an old war wound on his hip. He has been at M.I.9 for years and has lots of old secret mission stories. His storeroom is the secret entrance to the M.I. High underground headquarters, and he has his own personal spy gadget: a signalling device concealed within the handle of his broom, which he uses when in caretaker guise to secretly signal Blane, Daisy and Rose to report to M.I.High H.Q. He trained Carla Terrini to be a top secret agent.

• Played by Danny John-Jules Current Status: ACTIVE

Blane Whittaker. Age 13 1/4. (Saint Hope student and M.I. 9 Spy) is a karate black belt. His hand-eye coordination is second to none and he is also the UK Long Jump Record Holder. In his spare time he loves watching Martial Arts films. He has been friends with Stewart since he was six years old. He also fancies Daisy ,(they do every mission together)and also in Spy Plane he is pleased when Daisy takes him away from a cute girl.

• Played by: Moustafa Palazli (credited in the first series as "Moustafa Chousein-Oglou"). Current Status: ACTIVE

Daisy Millar Age 13 1/2. (Saint Hope's Student and M.I.9 Spy) An only child, her parents are married and both of them work abroad. In "The Power Thief", we learn that her dad is the chairman of a museum trustee board and he is very famous. She has met the Queen because of her dad's position and lives in a big country estate, although she tells no-one at school about her family or where she lives. Only Blane finds out the truth in "The Power Thief". She is an undercover expert with extraordinary chameleonic abilities (she is an expert in the art of disguise), building allegiance to get closer to the enemy. She thinks Rose seriously needs a makeover and it is hinted that she fancies Blane. in the episode Spy Plane, Daisy becomes very jealous when Lenny says that Blane is going to spend time with another girl, who he thinks is cute.

• Played by: Bel Powley. Current Status: ACTIVE

Rose Gupta Age 13 3/4. (Saint Hope's Student and M.I. 9 Spy) is the eldest of three and her parents own the local DVD rental store. Rose has a very high IQ. She is the spy team's scientific, technical and analytical expert. She also has a musical side and played the tuba in "Eyes on Their Stars" before switching to clarinet at the end of the episode; she also has a hidden talent for singing, shown when she sang with Crush. She has a crush on Stewart Critchley. The worm also has a crush on her.

• Played by: Rachel Petladwala. Current Status: ACTIVE

The Grand Master (S.K.U.L. Super Villain) is the Leader of S.K.U.L., the Secret Kriminal Underground League, the whereabouts of which remain unknown. He operates an undefined quantity of enemy cells called S.K.U.L. Riding high after M.I.9's adult mission to locate him was foiled. Numerous failed missions to stop the Grand Master have led to his and his S.K.U.L. associates' increased capacity to threaten national security. He owns a white rabbit which he refers to as General Flopsy. The Grand Master's face is never seen on-screen; his features always being concealed in shadows. He has grey hair and is possibly in his late fifties/early sixties, but beyond that very little can be determined. On deciding to retreat to his hidden bunker on the floor of the Indian Ocean towards the end of "The Fugitive", the Grand Master turns down Agent Zero's offer to carry on the running of S.K.U.L. – preferring to leave the job in the capable hands of General Flopsy instead! As witnessed in "The Big Freeze", he is a big fan of the Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq.

• Played by: Kerry Shale (voice) (series one).
• Played by: Julian Bleach (series two). Current Status: ACTIVE S.K.U.L.

Mr. Flatley (Saint Hope's Headteacher) is the school headmaster, who is easy going but has a determined streak and an obsession for getting things right. He really believes in Saint Hope's School and its pupils. He has great patience and works long hours without complaining. Though there has been no improvement in school results, morale or truancy levels, Mr. Flatley's optimism remains undented. He likes to boss Lenny the school caretaker about all the time, but deep down he wishes he was more like him.

• Played by: Chris Stanton.

Episode Guide

Series One

#	Title	Villains	Original airdate	Production code
1	"The Sinister Prime Minister"	The Guinea Pig	8 January 2007	unknown
The spies investigate the British Prime Minister, who is about to declare war on the rest of Europe. But is the leader of the UK all he appears?
2	"Eyes on their Stars"	Tony Frisco	8 January 2007	TBA
A pop band, Crush, are hypnotising fans with the lyrics in their songs.
3	"The Big Freeze"	Sonya Frost	15 January 2007	TBA
A secret plan to plunge the world into a new ice age with the use of a machine that can control the weather itself unfolds.
4	"The Power Thief"	Brent Gilbert	22 January 2007	TBA
A man named Brent Gilbert is planning to start the new Dark Age by using the three dark stones unless the government give him £250,000.
5	"Nerd Alert"	The Worm	29 January 2007	TBA
A shuttle launch is about to be sabotaged unless Stewart can defeat a computer geek named The Worm.
6	"Super Blane"	Chad Turner	5 February 2007	TBA
Daisy falls for teenage CIA officer Chad Turner. Blane puts on one of the MT 3000, that Chad has brought for Rose to fix, because he is jealous of his popularity. Or is it something else?
7	"Spy Animals"	Silas Fenton	12 February 2007	TBA
In a bid to apply for membership of S.K.U.L., inventor Silas Fenton sends animals to spy on the teachers but a truth serum dart hits Daisy. What will she reveal?
8	"Forever Young"	Vanessa Zeitgeist	19 February 2007	TBA
Ageing beautician Vanessa Zeitgeist poisons scientists with a formula to turn them into toddlers. The whole school except the spies and Lenny are acting like 3-year olds, and with Rose's dad coming to look around the school she might have to leave!
9	"Red Button Rampage"	General Ryan Scarp	25 February 2007	TBA
Rich kid millionare Dylan Towser invents the Missile Disarmer, a device which neutralises attacking missiles and will thus create world peace. But his Security Chief, General Ryan Scarp, believes that the army will become redundant as a result, and makes insane plans to start a Third World War...
10	"The Fugitive"	Agent Zero, Carla Terrini	5 March 2007	TBA
When what appears to be a flying saucer from outer space crashlands in the local park, the spies ignore orders from Lenny stating that Air One have priority over M.I.9 in the case. Led by one of Lenny's best spies, Carla Terrini, Air One are determined to capture the pilot of the strange craft. But has the pilot really come from another world and is he friend or foe?

Series Two

#	Title	Villains	Original airdate	Production code
11	"It's a Kind of Magic"	Leah Retsam	7 January 2008	unknown
Rose, Blane and Daisy have caught the Grand Master but the USA President is suddenly kidnapped.
12	"You Can Call Me Al"	A.L.L.E.N.	7 January 2008	TBA
A hapless inventor brings trouble to St Hope's when his Artificial Intelligence computer tries to enforce the school rules.
13	"Evil by Design"	Lorenzo Ferrago	14 January 2008	TBA
A new fashion range is imprinting logos into kids, with weird side effects.
14	"Fit Up"	Maximus Fiticus	21 January 2008	TBA
Children are sleeping for days - after a school visit from Maximus Fiticus.
15	"Face Off"	Charlie 'Chuckers' Chuckworth, Lewis Chuckworth	28 January 2008	TBA
A crimewave is committed by allegedly well-behaved kids, and the team are baffled when Lenny is arrested.
16	"Big Sister"	Mary Taylor	4 February 2008	TBA
The spies investigate when a child-hating MP threatens to send Britain's kids to a remote island.
17	"The Cold War"	Gesundheit	11 February 2008	TBA
The Grand Master unleashes a flu epidemic on Britain.
18	"Nano Nits"	Nora Braithwate	18 February 2008	TBA
Daisy must overcome her greatest fear when the kids of St Hope's catch nits and turn into master criminals.
19	"The Others"	James Blond	25 February 2008	TBA
The agents are forced to team up with old foes Violet Webb, Lewis Chuckworth and the Worm to battle ex-agent James Blond.
20	"The Big Bling"	Reg Lacey	3 March 2008	TBA
When Britain's most precious diamonds go missing, the M.I. High team suspect Ben Lacey, England's captain. But really his brother is to blame.
21	"Spy Plane"	N/A	10 March 2008	TBA
A mysterious pilot steals an invisible spy plane and Blane is sent to investigate.
22	TBA	TBA	17 March 2008	TBA
23	TBA	TBA	24 March 2008	TBA

Spy Gadgets

During the series, Blane, Daisy and Rose make use of a variety of spy gadgets, all of which – with the exception of the handheld weather machine – were specially created by M.I.9.

High-speed Elevator Hidden within the caretaker's storeroom at Saint Hope's School, and used in all episodes by Blane, Daisy and Rose to descend to M.I.9's underground headquarters. It is accessed by means of a Fingerprint scanner hidden behind a dummy light switch outside the door. Once inside, a lever disguised as a broom handle in a railway signal box is pulled, a green arrow pointing downwards illuminates on a fake paint tin, and the elevator begins its speedy descent. The elevator also seems to have a quick-change device (although this is never explained in detail on-screen), as during the journey the spies' clothing can be seen to change from their school uniforms to casual black outfits – as well as apparently swapping Rose's spectacles (which she wears in civilian life) for contact lenses. Bearing in mind that the elevator appears to be the only access from the caretaker's storeroom to M.I.9 headquarters and back, it would appear that the quick-change facility can be negated for when Blane, Daisy and Rose set off on their missions – otherwise they'd end up back in school uniform again.

Weather Machine The Weather Machine, as developed by Sonya Frost, controlled the weather by means of transmitters located in different national landmarks around the world. A smaller handheld device had a smaller range. Both machines can produce all manners of weather. The handheld version was used by Blane and Roger Powel and the large scale device by the Grand Master in "The Big Freeze".

Code Breaker A green calculator-like device with wires connected to suckers. When the suckers are attached to any encoded or locked device, the code breaker works out the correct combination or code. Used by Rose in "The Big Freeze".

Laser Lipstick A red laser contained in a lipstick tube-style casing. It can cut a hole at ten metres. Used by Daisy in "The Sinister Prime Minister".

Pencils Standard pencils at first glance, but when missions are received the small eraser on the end flashes. The pencils also work as communicators. Used by all agents in most episodes.

False Nail Cameras Five fake nails containing miniature cameras. Used by Daisy in "Eyes on Their Stars".

Sonic Detonators Three button badges with harmless looking motifs on them, like a PEACE slogan and a smiley face, but which are actually sonic detonators. Used by Blane, Daisy and Rose in "Spy Animals".

Forcefield Pods At first glance, these appear to be ordinary traffic warning cones, but can actually generate an invisible forcefield around the required area – in this case, the crashlanded 'flying saucer's' landing zone – which can be activated/deactivated as needed by remote control. Used by Daisy and Rose in "The Fugitive".

Strong String This is a badge-like device worn on Daisy's belt, and when she pulls it a long strong string comes out. She can then attach it to her headband and throw it over a high wall or fence; it'll then grip to it and she can climb up and over. Used in "The Power Thief". Given that Daisy regularly wears the headband and belt she probably carries the device with her even when it's not in use.

Radio Ears These are earings which when attached to a surface allow the spy to hear from up to 1 mile. They were used by Daisy in "Forever Young".

Spy Camera Headband Pink and white headband with a spy camera on the front. Used By Daisy In "Fit Up"

False Eyelashes Black false eyelashes that disarm security cameras. Used by Daisy in "The Cold War"

DVD Release and Literature

The first series of M.I. High is scheduled to be released on DVD in two five-episode instalments. The first of which was released on the 21st January 2008 and the second will likewise follow on 21st March 2008. The first DVD includes a documentry about the series (which is made up of various short clips show during the series on CBBC Extra).With these are to be four novelisations and a 'Spy Survival Handbook' published in the UK by Puffin.

M.I. High Game - Whack the Mole!

Starting at the beginning of season two there is a new interactive web experience that can be found at the show's web site. The game was created by Xenophile Media. After gaining access to the Flash-based game with a simple registration process, players can participate in weekly missions. So far, the missions are tied in with events occurring on the show each week, but the game includes video clips that summarize each episode which makes it possible for people outside of the broadcast area to play the game as well.

The plot of the game centers around the spy school which is the basis of the television programme. There is a mole amongst the students, and it is the job of the player to try to figure out who the rogue agent is. At the successful end of each mission, the list of suspects is narrowed down automatically.

The user interface includes the Digital Operations Research Assistant, or D.O.R.A, which guides players to manipulate various technological tools including a geographic locator and an audio analyzer. Players are given instructions about how to use the tools to complete the missions.

Series Three

The series was officially recommissioned for a third series by the BBC on 6th February 2008. [1]

See also

• BBC, CBBC and the CBBC Channel

External links

• Official site