Chute! Episode 9 (TV story)

The ninth episode of the CBBC series Chute! featured the licensed appearances of Daniel Anthony as Clyde Langer and Tommy Knight as Luke Smith.

Synopsis
Luke and Clyde join Ross Lee in the rubbish tip of BBC Television Centre, which has been invaded by an unwelcome alien.

Plot
Ross Lee has just recorded a distress message for his mum to find, when he hears a crash and sees that Clyde Langer and Luke Smith have fallen into the tip. As Luke analyses where they are, Clyde tries to call Maria Jackson and Sarah Jane Smith for help, only for Ross to point out that he won't get any reception where he and Luke are. Ross then introduces himself and the viewer to the two, and puts on a tape.

Clyde asks Ross what it is that he does, to which Ross replies that he sits in the tip all day and watches video tapes. Rummaging through the 83,000 cassettes to see which one the two would like (one of which being Strictly Come Dancing: Slitheen Special), he eventually comes across an alien-themed tape.

Ross thinks to himself what he would do if an alien invaded, unaware that there is an actual alien behind him. When he finally notices, he runs for cover as the alien is hit with a beam that Luke has fired from Ross's remote control, which he has modified. Ross isn't impressed, though, and tries to fix the remote while Luke puts on another tape.

Some time later, Ross is cooking alien toasties for tea, made from the alien that had invaded earlier. He first offers the viewer a toasty, but the viewer expresses discomfort when they eat it. The toasties also put Luke and Clyde off, but that doesn't deter Ross, however, who offers to make another one without cheese whilst he, Luke, Clyde and the viewer watch another tape.

But after the tape has been played, the tip's TV suddenly goes off. In the viewer's attempt to fix it, they inadvertently switch off the power. As the emergency lighting comes back on, Ross checks that everything is alright, and comes to the conclusion that everything is as it should be. Unaware that the back of his trousers is missing, he puts another tape on.

As Clyde tries to think of a way to let Maria and Sarah Jane know that he and Luke are trapped in the tip, Luke comes up with the idea to write a message on a tape and attach a rocket to it, then send it up the chute for somebody to find. On the rocket-tape's test run, however, it hits Ross, who immediately starts crying. Trying to prevent himself from crying, he plays a song on his keyboard. The viewer isn't impressed, and puts a bucket over Ross's head as they watch another tape.

After that tape has been played, Ross comes to the end of his song, and is no longer upset — however, the rocket hits him again, and causes his head to morph into those of different animals. Asking what the four of them should do now, Clyde remarks that they sit and wait for Sarah Jane and Maria to rescue them. As the viewer comforts Luke, Ross finds a tape with a clip from Warriors of Kudlak.

As the clip finishes, Sarah Jane's Sonic lipstick falls into the tip, which Luke and Clyde decide they can use to escape — which they do, leaving Ross and the viewer behind for the rest of the show.

Cast

 * Ross Lee - Himself
 * Clyde Langer - Daniel Anthony
 * Luke Smith - Tommy Knight
 * Alien - Timothy Winchester

Uncredited cast

 * Visitor
 * Ross Lee's mum

Crew

 * Writers - Ross Lee and Dermot Canterbury
 * Set designer - David Bevin
 * Music - David Blythe and Marten Joustra
 * Graphics - Shadow Industries
 * Archive
 * ITN Source
 * AP Archive
 * Granada TV
 * Institut national de l'audiovisuel
 * Neil Cicierega
 * Maxime Luere
 * Lighting director - Mike Le Fevre, Andy Stagles
 * Camera - Pat McKeeman
 * Sound - Guy Rowland, Tudor Davies
 * Editors - Bob Greenwood, Chris Toft
 * Stage Manager - Zoe Belton
 * Make-up design - Lesley Altringham
 * Costume design - Carol Lawrence
 * Art director - Sophie Irish, Chloe Cross
 * Production coordinator - Jacmel Dent
 * Production assistant - Charlie MacCormack
 * Production manager - Cill Kivi
 * Researcher - Helen Sallnow
 * Assistant producers - Lucy Cutherbertson, Isabel Buxton
 * Production executive - Karen Woodward
 * Executive producer - Joe Codwin
 * Director - Dermot Canterbury
 * Producer - Steve Ryde

Objects

 * Ross finds a video camera.
 * Ross consults the book, Cameras for Grannies, on how to use the video camera.
 * Ross plays a violin.
 * Luke and Clyde use the Sonic lipstick to escape the tip.

Individuals

 * Ross records a video message for his mum.
 * Ross's grandmother is in Benidorm.
 * Clyde calls out for Maria and Sarah Jane.

Foods and beverages

 * Ross told his mum that he was going out for a pint of milk.
 * Ross thought he'd be back in time to explain the frozen spider ice cubes.

Videotapes and clips

 * The first clip involves a little green alien being trapped under a plant pot.
 * The second clip involves a different sports matches being overlaid with random noises by a soundman that had apparently gone "bonkers".
 * A table tennis match with farting, burping and wretching.
 * A football game with various traffic sounds.
 * The third clip is a wildlife documentary about jockeys.
 * The last clip is The Mysterious Ticking Noise, starring The Potter Puppet Pals.
 * Two tapes the group decide not to watch are Strictly Come Dancing: Slitheen Special, and The Very Best of Party Political Broadcasts by the Alien Supremacy Party.

Numbers and measurements

 * The chute leading to the tip has a total volume of 3456 metres.
 * The walls of the tip appear to be 3 metres thick.

Story notes

 * The episode was broadcast just over a month of after the conclusion of The Sarah Jane Adventures' first series.
 * A clip is featured from TV: Warriors of Kudlak.