The Missing Professor

Although the new series of Space: 1999 has brought to the screen a crop of fresh faces - notably the female alien Maya - it has also caused at least on casualty. It appears that Professor Bergman the amiable father figure of Moon- base Alpha, has been lost in space.    Professor Bergman - played by veteran London actor Barry Morse (The Fugitive, The Adventurer, The Zoo Gang ) - was an English professor who was plucked from the security of an Earthbound posting to lecture on Moonbase Alpha. When the Moon went out of orbit, his cool resourcefulness greatly assisted Koenig in making decisions affecting the Base.    Apart from his logical, academic brain, Bergman's coolness stemmed largely from his unique medical

history. An early illnes led to his having a mechanical heart-replace- ment. This, because it responded more slowly to nervous stimuli than a normal heart, reduced his reactions to emotional stress.    Now, although the Space: 1999 production team is being rather tight lipped about his future, it appears Bergman has dis- appeared in Deep Space. Apparent- ly the space craft he was piloting simply vanished.    Bergman's mysterious fate will undoubtedly prove a great loss to Koenig and the rest of the Moon- base Alpha crew. But perhaps, one day, the rogue moon and the Professor will once again cross paths. In space, anything is possible!

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