Radio Times

• Episode 1/6 A Gift from the Glish

  The Glish, a race of permanently moist aliens, show some initial interest in Peterborough. But despite a great deal of courteous hand and face licking, the deal falls through. With the ship's navigational system malfunctioning after an accident with a cup of coffee, and an alien killing machine on board, can Henderson find another investor by the end of the week?

  RT Choice (David Butcher, 11 January 2006)

  It's 2151 and the crew of a British spaceship are cruising around the Milky Way on a mission to "protect Britain's interests in a changing galaxy". The fact that the ship is the HMS Camden Lock made me laugh and so did many other moments in this easy-going sci-fi sitcom.

  Nick Frost is excellent, and he's ably supported by Kevin Eldon as a steely first officer. Whether Hyperdrive is a new Red Dwarf or more of a Supernova, time will tell, but for now it certainly looks worth cruising with.

• Episode 2/6 Hello, Queppu

  The crew are given the auspicious task of making first contact with the inhabitants of a world called Queppu - and are promptly captured and sentenced to death. Fortunately, Henderson's caught the eye of Layvia, the daughter of the Queppu leader, who manages to secure the crew's release. They're invited to join the Queppu in Set Feast #2, and things are going well until a jealous Teal gets drunk.

  RT Choice (David Butcher, 18 January 2006)

  Let's hope this series gets a chance to establish itself because amid all the talk of the death of the sitcom, it's a little gem. The pace occasionally flags, but there are some beautifully turned jokes.

  Best of all is [Nick] Frost, who pulls off the perfect sitcom combo of being ridiculous and lovable at the same time. A star in the making.

• Episode 3/6 Weekend Off

  It's Gary Neville Day and the crew take a well-earned break and prepare for the celebrations. While the Cadet's Ball proves popular, the Commander's high-class dinner (fine wines and Wotsits) attracts only one guest - Teal. Meanwhile, Vine has blown all his savings in an auction for an inhospitable planet, and takes Jeffers to visit his new acquisition, "Vineworld."

• Episode 4/6 Asteroid

  Henderson facilitates negotiations between the Bulaah and the Lallakiss over the rights to an asteroid. Ever the diplomat, he threatens to blow up the rock if they don't agree to share it. It's a slight miscalculation. The asteroid is destroyed and the two races unite against their common enemy - Britain. Heavily outgunned, will The Camden Lock survive the "Death Swarms"?

• Episode 5/6 Clare

  The Camden Lock encounters solo round-the-galaxy spacewoman Clare Winchester. Henderson pays her a visit but realises the isolation has taken its toll. Clare's a seething mass of neuroses and superstitions and has developed a rather unhealthy relationship with a "Mr Cup." Desperate to improve her mood, Henderson heaps on the flattery, but when he prepares to return to the Lock, Clare has other ideas.

• Episode 6/6 Assessment

  When the crew fails a battery of routine psychological tests, it's the last straw for the Space Marshal, who orders a "Category J" - a rigorous inspection of ship and crew, designed to be impossible to pass. Henderson shuts himself in his cabin to await his dismissal, placing York in charge. Can the steely first officer whip the crew into shape in time and make them the first ever to pass a Category J?

Go to Series two