My Hero (British TV series)

Premise

The series focuses on the life of George Sunday, a man who comes off as idiotic, but who in reality is a superhero from the planet Ultron known as "Thermoman", who serves to safeguard humanity and the Earth, and Janet Dawkins, a British nurse who works at a local surgery in the London town of Northolt, whom George falls in love with after saving her life. The series focuses on the couple's efforts to cope with numerous problems that occur to them during their relationship, including dealing with Janet's obnoxius parents and the self-centered doctor whom she works for, and George's many misunderstandings of human culture, societial values and traits.

After the second series, the writers added in additional elements surrounding the couple being married and having children of Ultronian origin – capable of speech, intelligence and super powers for their infant age – and coping with issues surrounding their family lives. In the sixth series, George loses his old body, and replaces it with a new one that he gives the alias of George Monday, taking up work as a doctor alongside Piers at his surgery.

Cast

• Ardal O'Hanlon as George Sunday AKA "Thermoman" (Series 1–5) – A dim-witted superhero, intelligent on alien matters, but completely unable to understand human society and values.
• James Dreyfus as George Monday AKA "Thermoman" (Series 6) – George's new alias after losing his old one due to financial troubles, who shows some intelligence but is still misunderstanding human culture.
• Emily Joyce as Janet Dawkins – A British nurse and George's lover, who often struggles with the alien aspects of his life and people.
• Lill Roughley as Ella Dawkins – Janet's obnoxious mother.
• Tim Wylton as Stanley Dawkins – Janet's mildly obnoxious father.
• Lou Hirsch as Arnie Kowalski – George's cousin, and a former superhero who was stripped of his powers for abusing them. Initially written to living in the US, the third series saw writers relocate him to Northolt and develop a relationship with Mrs. Raven.
• Hugh Dennis as Dr. Piers Crispin – A self-centred, pompous TV doctor who runs his own surgery in Northolt and regularly looks for ways to increase his fame and popularity.
• Geraldine McNulty as Mrs. Raven – Piers' surgery receptionist, a vindictive, sadistic woman with a cruel liking for basking in other people's misery.
• Philip Whitchurch as Tyler – George and Janet's next-door neighbour, who suffers delusions and hallucinations that cause him to mix up fictional elements, most from science-fiction, fantasy and conspiracy theories, with real-life. He is the only one to know of George's real identity. After the first series, the writers gave him more prominence, including being George's assistant at his shop.
• Moya Brady as Avril (Series 1) – George's assistant in his shop. The character was written out after the first series.
• Pat Kelman as the Ultron Postie (Series 3–6) – Ultronian postman who delivers correspondence to George on Earth
• Finlay Stroud as Apollo "Ollie" Sunday (Series 2–6) – George and Janet's son. He is highly intelligent in human life, compared to his father, with his superpowers.
• Madeline Mortimer as Cassandra "Cassie" Sunday (series 5–6) – George and Janet's daughter, highly intelligent, possessing the power of premonition and foresight.

Episodes

Main article: List of My Hero episodes

Home media

In the United States, the series has been released on DVD via BBC Video; "Season One" was released on 16 January 2007, while "Season Two" was released on 7 August 2007. The sets are now currently out-of-print and no subsequent seasons have been made available on region 1.

In the United Kingdom, Series Three was the only series to receive a home video release. The "Complete Series 3" was released on VHS on 7 October 2002 via IMC Vision, while two DVD sets, "Volume 1" (episodes 1–5 of Series 3), and "Volume 2" (episodes 6–10 of Series 3) were also released on 7 October 2002. A DVD set containing "Complete Series 3" was additionally made available from IMC Vision on 14 May 2012.

As of 2024, it has not been announced whether My Hero will receive any subsequent series releases, or a complete series box set.

Series one and two of My Hero became available to stream in the UK via BritBox from 10 March 2022. Seasons 1 & 2 as well as the additions of Seasons 3 & 4 was added to BritBox via ITVX as of 18 February 2024

References

References

1. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/myhero/index.shtml ''My Hero''] at the BBC Comedy Guide.
2. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080905080726/http://www.bigbearfilms.co.uk/myhero.htm ''My Hero''] at Big Bear Films home page
3. "''My Hero'' episode guide and forum".
4. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080720031824/http://www.bbcamerica.com/genre/comedy_games/my_hero/my_hero.jsp ''My Hero''] at BBC America.
5. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080608151858/http://www.downthetubes.net/tv/my_hero/ ''My Hero''] News, episode guide and interviews at downthetubes.net
6. "My Hero: Season One DVD". Blu-ray.com.
7. "My Hero: Season Two DVD". Blu-ray.com.
8. (7 October 2002). "My Hero: The Complete Series 3 [VHS] [2000]". Amazon.co.uk.
9. (2002-10-07). "My Hero - BBC Series 3 - Episodes 1-5 - Starring Ardal O'Hanlon, Emily Joyce, Hugh Dennis and Lou Hirsch [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk.
10. (2002-10-07). "My Hero - BBC Series 3 - Episodes 1-5 - Starring Ardal O'Hanlon, Emily Joyce, Hugh Dennis and Lou Hirsch [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk.
11. (2002-10-07). "My Hero - BBC Series 3 - Episodes 6-10 - Starring Ardal O'Hanlon, Emily Joyce, Hugh Dennis and Lou Hirsch [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk.
12. (2012-05-14). "My Hero - Complete Series 3 - BBC1 Starring Ardal O'Hanlon, Emily Joyce, Hugh Dennis & Lou Hirsch [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk.
13. Goren, Or. (18 February 2022). "Coming To BritBox UK March 2022: Sandition's Return".
14. (1 March 2022). "New on BritBox in the UK: What's added in March 2022?".
15. "My Hero - Watch Episode - ITVX".