M.I. High

Premise

The series follows the adventures of secondary school pupils who work as undercover spies. The spies are led by an MI9 agent (first by Lenny Bicknall, later by Frank London) whose cover job is a school caretaker. The team must constantly save the world from domination by a variety of villains, whilst hiding their spy identities from their teachers and peers, and completing their school work. The identity of the overarching villains the Grand Master (Series 1–5) and the Mastermind (Series 6–7) remains a mystery within the show.

Cast

Main

M.I. High agents

• Lenny Bicknall (Danny John-Jules), the team's MI9 handler working undercover as the school's caretaker (Series 1–2).
• Frank London (Jonny Freeman), who replaces Lenny as the team's MI9 handler working undercover as the school's caretaker (Series 3–7).

Supporting

Saint Hope's/Saint Heart's School Staff

• Kenneth Flatley (Chris Stanton), the Headmaster of Saint Hope's (Series 1–5) and of Saint Heart's (Series 6–7). He is unaware of the spying activities along with much else that happens in the school.
• Hermione King (Chanelle Owen), the Deputy Headmistress of Saint Hope's (Series 3–5) and of Saint Heart's (Series 7), who often undermines Mr. Flatley resulting in him seemingly being afraid of her.

Antagonists

• The Grand Master (voiced by Kerry Shale (Series 1), played and voiced by Julian Bleach (Series 2–6), the head of the Super Kriminal Underworld League (SKUL). Owns a white rabbit which he refers to as General Flopsy.
• The Mastermind (voiced by Brian Cox (Series 6), Gavin Mitchell (Series 7), the dictatorial head of KORPS, whose consciousness was digitally uploaded to cheat death.
• The Crime Minister (Pollyanna McIntosh), The Mastermind's second-in-command (Series 6-7). She is generally seen in command of KORPS due to the Mastermind's condition.

Episodes

Main article: List of M.I. High episodes

Awards and nominations

Merchandise

Books

Books have been released including three novels, a survival handbook and a 2012 annual.

• M. I. High: A New Generation (31 January 2008, 978-0-14-132361-9, Puffin Books)
• M. I. High: Secrets & Spies (31 January 2008, 978-0-14-132362-6, Puffin Books)
• MI High: Spy Survival Handbook (31 January 2008, 978-0-14-132363-3, Puffin Books)
• M.I. High Annual 2012 (1 August 2011, 978-1-4052-5972-9, Egmont Books Ltd)

A further novel, M.I. High: The Midas Machine, was cancelled.

Comic

DVD release

The first series of M.I. High was scheduled to be released on DVD in two five-episode installments by the Contender Entertainment Group, under license from the BBC. The first of which was released on 21 January 2008 and the second which would complete the first season was to follow on 31 March 2008 but was cancelled indefinitely with no reason given, and the rest of the show has not seen a DVD release yet. The first DVD includes a documentary about the series (which is made up of various short clips shown during the series on CBBC Extra).

References

References

1. (2008). "Programme Awards Winners 2008". [[Royal Television Society]].
2. (2009). "Programme Awards Winners 2009". [[Royal Television Society]].
3. "M.I. High Book 1: The Midas Machine – Cancelled". egmont.co.uk.
4. "Issue 8 M.I. High". titanmagazines.com.
5. (27 January 2011). "Titan Launch Totally M.I. High Magazine". titanmagazines.com.
6. "M.I. High: The Sinister Prime Minister and Other Adventures". [[British Video Association]].
7. "M.I. High: Super Blane and Other Adventures". [[British Video Association]].
8. (21 January 2008). "MI High – The Sinister Prime Minister and Other Adventures [2007] [DVD]".
9. "M.I.High – Series 1: Episodes 1–5". [[JB Hi-Fi]].