 Series 1 of Parallel 9 began on 25 April 1992.The premise of the show focused on Mercator, an old alien 'Time Baron' with very long eyebrows (played by Roddy Maude-Roxby) who had been banished to Parallel 9 after summoning an earth girl named Calendular as a result of his thirst for knowledge — a criminal offence on his home planet 'Zarb'.As part of his punishment, he was allowed to awake for only 2 hours a week; from 9am to 11am on 'the day the Earthlings call Saturday', and had the ability to 'beam up' guests from Earth to Parallel 9, to take part in interviews and features with Calendular, who had decided to take up permanent residence in Parallel 9.