Kappatoo facts for kids

Kappatoo is a fun CITV television show. It's based on a book by Ben Steed. The main actor, Simon Nash, plays two roles! He is Kappatoo, a time traveler from the future. He also plays Simon Cashmere, a schoolboy from the 1990s who loves soccer.

In the story, Kappatoo comes from the 23rd Century. He travels back in time to the 1990s. His goal is to switch places with Simon Cashmere. Simon looks exactly like him! Kappatoo wants Simon to help him win a big sports contest in the future. So, Kappatoo lives in the past, and Simon lives in the far-off future.

The show first aired on CITV in 1990. A second series, Kappatoo II, came out in 1992. Worldwide International TV made the show for Tyne Tees Television. Filming happened at Heaton Manor School in Newcastle upon Tyne. The actors even wore real school uniforms from the school!

Adventures of Kappatoo

Series 1: Time Swaps and Challenges

Episode 1: A Stitch In Time

Kappatoo lives in the year 2270. He uses his computer to find someone who looks just like him. He wants to swap places to win a futuristic game called The Hypergrid. The computer finds Simon Cashmere in 1990. Kappatoo travels to Simon's bedroom. He explains their plan to switch lives. Simon agrees to help Kappatoo win. In return, Kappatoo will help Simon with a computer test. He will also try to get Tracy Cotton to go out with Simon. Simon then travels to Kappatoo’s time. Kappatoo finds living in the 20th century very hard. He misses being able to teleport!

Simon, however, loves the 23rd century. He enjoys spending time with Mufour, a girl Kappatoo likes. Simon refuses to switch back when Kappatoo calls him.

Episode 2: Ravages Of Time

Kappatoo is still struggling in the 20th century. He thinks a vacuum cleaner is an alien! He also gets caught taking pet food from a supermarket. He doesn't understand how shopping works. Luckily, he has a special wristband. It lets him freeze and rewind time to fix mistakes. But after freezing time to escape a police officer, his wristband runs out of power. Now he can't control time anymore.

Simon is still having fun in the future. But Sigmasix, Kappatoo's rival, keeps bragging. He thinks he will beat Kappatoo in The Hypergrid. Kappatoo’s computer, now in human form, explains the game to Simon. Simon decides to learn all the best tactics.

Episode 3: Time Slime and Tiswas

Kappatoo connects Simon's phone and computer. He talks to his computer in the future. He needs to fix his wristband. The computer says it needs special fuel. This fuel won't exist for 200 years! But Kappatoo can make some using Simon's washing machine. He also uses their neighbor's satellite dish. Kappatoo makes the fuel and gets his wristband working again. Simon's best friend, Steve, sees Kappatoo teleport. Steve then learns the truth about Kappatoo. Kappatoo plays badly in a local soccer game. Simon watches from the future and is not happy.

But Simon does great in The Hypergrid contest! He beats Sigmasix, which surprises everyone. Sigmasix is very angry. He teleports to Kappatoo’s home. He accuses Simon (who he thinks is Kappatoo) of cheating.

Episode 4: Tracey Times Two

Kappatoo uses his wristband in the soccer match. He slows down time for everyone else. This lets him score seventeen goals! His team wins the game. Tracy, who Simon likes, agrees to go to a party with Kappatoo. The party is at Simon’s house. Tracy says she will leave if left alone. Everything goes well until a pot breaks. Kappatoo goes to check, leaving Tracy. She gets annoyed and leaves. To fix the pot, Kappatoo rewinds time. But Tracy was outside the time-rewind area. So, another Tracy appears at the party! With help from the computer and Steve, Kappatoo gets the two Tracys to touch. He rewinds time again, fixing the problem. Simon's parents arrive. They are not happy about the party. The washing machine also broke a water pipe, causing a big hole in the garden.

Simon watches the rest of the soccer match. He is thrilled with how well Kappatoo played. But his joy is short-lived. Sigmasix tells Simon that he is accusing Kappatoo of cheating. Simon thinks he can lie his way out. But the computer says he must wear a truth detector. It will be impossible to fool it.

Episode 5: Time Fuse

Simon's parents talk to Kappatoo (thinking he is Simon). They ask about the party and his strange behavior. They are relieved he is okay. They suggest he goes to church with them. Outside church, Kappatoo sees Tracy with Gregory, a popular boy. Tracy asks Gregory on a date. Simon's teacher visits to praise Simon's computer test score. Lucy and Sharon, after reading a book about aliens, think Simon is an alien. Lucy throws water on Kappatoo, hoping he will melt.

Simon goes to the trial. He wears the truth detector. Sigmasix asks three questions about cheating. Since Simon is wearing the detector, not Kappatoo, the detector says Kappatoo is telling the truth. Kappatoo is found innocent. Sigmasix is furious. He realizes this isn't Kappatoo. He asks who it is while Simon is still wearing the detector. Simon says his name. Sigmasix leaves to find out where Simon is from. His computer can't find Simon on the planet. Sigmasix then realizes Simon is from the past!

Episode 6: Mean Time

Kappatoo is used to everyone being equal in his time. He argues with Simon's mom about doing dishes. He learns Tracy supports Gregory in school elections. Kappatoo uses his wristband. He creates a whirlwind on the stairs. It traps Gregory and blows off his clothes. Gregory goes to find new clothes. Because of this, Gregory misses Kappatoo's emotional speech. Gregory loses the election to Simon. That evening, Tracy asks Simon to come to her house. Kappatoo is happy he improved Simon's life. But he feels bad for Simon being stuck in his "boring" time.

Meanwhile, Mufour asks Simon about his favorite historical period. She won't say why. Sigmasix approaches them. He tells Simon he knows how he cheated. He says he will prove it soon. Simon then goes to a surprise birthday party. Mufour organized it with a 20th-century theme. Simon doesn't know Sigmasix has a time-belt. Sigmasix is heading back to 1990 to expose them both.

Episode 7: Out of Time

Kappatoo calls his computer. He wants information about romance for his date with Tracy. His computer says Simon is at Kappatoo’s birthday party. It gives Kappatoo romance tips and suggests a small gift. Kappatoo has dinner at Tracy’s with Steve and Belinda. They have a great time. Kappatoo impresses Tracy with a story about fossil fuels. He almost tells her who he is. As they say goodbye, Tracy’s mom interrupts their kiss. The moment is ruined. Kappatoo walks away and runs into Sigmasix.

Simon is having a great time at Mufour’s party. He gets a message from the computer to return to Kappatoo’s home. He takes Mufour with him. They help the computer and then return to the party. Sigmasix gets a time-belt. He goes back to 1990 to capture Kappatoo. He wants to expose Kappatoo’s cheating. Sigmasix arrives at Simon's bedroom. Simon’s mom says Simon is at Tracy’s. Sigmasix finds Tracy’s house. He confronts Kappatoo as he leaves. After a chase using their wristbands, Sigmasix gets stuck to climbing bars. Kappatoo leaves him there. He says goodbye to Steve and travels back to his time using Sigmasix’s time-belt. His computer alerts the time police. They arrest Sigmasix. The police stop at Kappatoo’s home. Sigmasix had told them about Simon. But since only Kappatoo is there, Sigmasix takes back his accusation. Simon is hiding in the home. Simon says goodbye to Kappatoo and goes back to his time. Everything seems fine. But Simon gets a message about returning the time-belt. Due to interference, he types the wrong number. The belt and Simon are sent near a black hole. Kappatoo must rescue his friend.

Series 2: New Threats and Old Friends

Episode 8: Time After Time

Two years later, Kappatoo and his computer watch Simon. Simon keeps having a nightmare about being sucked into a black hole. Kappatoo had rescued him. He also made Simon and Steve forget about the time swap. Kappatoo worries their memories are returning. At a café, Kappatoo learns Sigmasix is free from special training. Kappatoo's computer doubts Sigmasix has changed. Kappatoo meets Sigmasix, who apologizes. Sigmasix is now with his Aunt Zeta 8. She promises to be responsible for him. Kappatoo still doesn't believe Sigmasix has changed. Zeta and Sigmasix return home. It's clear Sigmasix hasn't changed. He wants revenge. Zeta also wants revenge for her family's name. She plans to expose Kappatoo.

Simon seems to be living a normal life. He has no memory of Kappatoo. He, Steve, Lucy, and Sharon go to Devon for summer. They visit Simon’s Uncle Brian’s farm. Simon thought his uncle was rich, but he's not. Brian, his wife Hazel, and daughter Melonie live simply. Steve regrets coming, especially sleeping in an old caravan. But then he sees Melonie. Both Simon and Steve immediately like her. They volunteer to help with her farm duties.

Episode 9: It's About Time

Kappatoo’s computer has been looking into Zeta Corporation. Kappatoo thinks it's a waste of time. He goes to Zeta’s café to study. Sigmasix appears and wishes him luck. Kappatoo doesn't know it's an act. While Kappatoo is away, his computer gets a video message. Someone else is looking into Zeta Corporation. They give access to Zeta's secure system. It shows Zeta 8 stealing old items from different times. Zeta 8 set up the video message. She then calls Sigmasix. She pretends to have proof of Kappatoo and Simon's illegal time swap. Kappatoo tells his computer to find a way into Zeta’s home. He plans to steal the evidence while they watch Ultramatch. But Kappatoo will also be at Ultramatch. Kappatoo sends his computer to get Simon. Simon will go on Ultramatch while Kappatoo steals the evidence.

Simon and Steve wake up early to milk cows. Simon asks Steve if "Kappatoo" means anything to him. Steve doesn't remember the name. At breakfast, Brian reads about crop circles. Steve is doubtful about UFOs. Brian tells him to keep an open mind. While picking potatoes, Kappatoo's computer finds them. It's disguised as a country person. Simon recognizes it, as his memory seems to be returning. Steve does not. The computer says it needs Simon's help. Simon and the computer disappear. Simon doesn't want to return to the future at first. But he hears Sigmasix is free and Zeta is a threat. He reluctantly agrees. Kappatoo tells Simon what he needs for Ultramatch. After meeting Kappatoo’s mother, Simon teleports to the Ultramatch Studio. Simon sees Sigmasix and Zeta watching. He tells Kappatoo to teleport into Zeta’s home to find the evidence. Kappatoo teleports into Zeta’s home. He is caught by Zeta, Sigmasix, and Zeta’s computer. Meanwhile, in Simon's time, Steve and Melonie notice Simon has vanished.

Episode 10: Bad Timing

Zeta calls the time police. Kappatoo’s computer watches. It realizes Kappatoo and Simon are in big trouble. A time police officer arrives at Zeta’s home. Zeta says Kappatoo is there. She claims the Kappatoo on Ultramatch is Simon. The officer says he will take Kappatoo home. He will arrest Simon later. The officer teleports Kappatoo home. Once there, the officer turns into Kappatoo’s computer! It was a trick. Two real time police officers arrive at Zeta’s home. Zeta demands they go to Kappatoo’s home. They hesitate but obey. Luckily, Kappatoo has just teleported back to Simon's time. He fills in for Simon seconds before the officers, Zeta, and Sigmasix arrive. Kappatoo cannot be found. Zeta has to apologize for the intrusion. Everyone leaves. Back at Zeta’s home, she sees it as a small problem. Her computer finds Kappatoo. She tells Sigmasix to go back to Simon's time. He will take her computer and bring Kappatoo home. She gives Sigmasix a special wristband and a time pad. They travel back to Simon's time.

Kappatoo arrives back in Simon's time. He can't explain where he's been. Later, in the caravan, he tells Steve he is Kappatoo. Steve's memory seems to be returning too. He believes him. The next day, Kappatoo has trouble milking a cow. He uses his wristband to make it talk. He can't make it stop! They go fishing. Kappatoo uses his wristband again. He makes the fish shout at them from the water. Sigmasix and Zeta’s computer catch Kappatoo. They take him to a barn to send him back.

Simon teleports back from Ultramatch. He expects Kappatoo to be waiting. But the computer tells him what happened. Kappatoo has the time-belt, so Simon is stuck for now. Simon and Kappatoo’s computer watch Sigmasix and Zeta’s computer. They see them try to capture Kappatoo.

Sigmasix and Zeta's computer find Kappatoo. After a struggle, they put him on the time pad. It's set to send him away in 100 seconds. Steve shows up. He lets Kappatoo slow down time. A fight happens between the four of them. Lucy comes into the barn looking for her Frisbee. Just as the timer runs out, she steps on the time pad. She is teleported to Zeta’s café in Kappatoo’s time. She appears in front of Simon, the time police, and Zeta.

Episode 11: Bang on Time

Lucy arrives in Zeta’s café. She doesn't know where she is. Simon quickly says Lucy is his grandmother. He claims she looks young because of a future procedure. He says it made her a bit confused. Lucy faints. The time police help her. They scold Zeta for making false claims against Kappatoo. Simon is about to teleport back with Lucy. Zeta invites them to a grandmothers' party. Simon reluctantly agrees to let Lucy go. Sigmasix contacts Zeta. She angrily tells her computer to return. She then tells Sigmasix his next move. Simon and the computer teach Lucy decades of history. This way, she won't seem out of place at the party. At the party, Lucy is popular. She mentions some 20th-century celebrities. But the evening goes well. Zeta’s computer returns. She tells it that Kappatoo’s computer is the real problem. Her computer builds a circuit to disable it. It teleports to Kappatoo’s home. It gives the bad circuit to his computer. Simon and Lucy teleport back to Kappatoo’s home. Simon sees his mom on the screen. She is talking to Kappatoo, wanting to speak to Lucy. He tells the computer Lucy needs to go home.

After Lucy is sent to the future, Sigmasix and Zeta’s computer leave. Sharon comes into the barn looking for Lucy. Kappatoo and Steve tell her a strange story. They say Lucy ran off with a biker. Sharon agrees to play along if they buy her expensive trainers. Kappatoo connects to Simon through the TV. Steve complains about getting money for Sharon’s trainers. Melonie asks them to go bowling. Kappatoo says they are busy. Kappatoo reaches his computer. It says Lucy must stay until after the party. Kappatoo plans to say Lucy went bowling with him and Melonie. Steve, annoyed, says he's coming too. Sharon joins them. At the bowling alley, Melonie asks about Lucy. Kappatoo says she's getting food. He has no luck bowling. He uses his wristband to lift the pins when Steve bowls. When they get home, Hazel asks about Lucy. Kappatoo says a friend will drop her off. Hazel is not convinced. The phone rings. It's Simon and Lucy’s mom. After Kappatoo talks to her, Lucy appears. She has teleported back. Brian demands an explanation from Lucy. Before she can speak, there's an explosion outside. They see colored energy fields. Brian thinks they are ghosts. Kappatoo freezes them all in time. He gets rid of the fields with his wristband. Sigmasix appears. He tells Kappatoo this was just a test. Then he teleports away. Once unfrozen, they go back inside. Brian still thinks it's supernatural. But Kappatoo sees Sigmasix watching him.

Episode 12: Wrong Time Wrong Place

Kappatoo talks to Simon through the TV. He tells him what happened. With Sigmasix still free, Simon should not return. Simon says he saw it on the screen too. The computer says this is what Zeta wants. Then it starts acting strangely, playing random songs. Kappatoo asks if it's okay. It just says it must have picked something up. Back in Kappatoo’s home, the computer is still acting weird. Simon thinks about what Sigma is doing. He wonders about Zeta's plan. He also wonders when Kappatoo can return. Things get worse. The computer acts very erratically. It seems out of control. Kappatoo contacts Simon again. He tells Simon that Sigmasix has kidnapped Lucy. Since the computer is strange, Kappatoo tells Simon how to check it. But Simon doesn't know how. The computer tries to avoid an override command. Simon freezes the computer. He goes to the studios for an Ultramatch rehearsal. At the studio, Simon tells other contestants he's nervous. Zeta and her computer arrive. She asks Simon about his computer. She says computers can get bad viruses. Back at Kappatoo’s home, Kappatoo talks to his computer about Lucy. His computer tells him to come back. After the call, the computer asks Zeta if that's what she wanted him to say. This means it's now under her control.

Sigmasix wakes up to a call from Zeta. She tells him the next part of her plan. Back at the farm, Brian shows everyone a book. It has an article about a similar event in the past. It was about a girl possessed by a ghost. He won't admit it, but he finds it strange that Lucy disappears. Then similar events happen when she comes back. Hazel is not convinced. But she asks everyone to stay on the farm. Later, Sharon is angry with Lucy. Lucy won't tell her where she's been. Sharon doesn't believe Kappatoo and Steve's story. She is about to call her dad. Then Sigmasix teleports into their bedroom. He kidnaps Lucy. Kappatoo and Steve go to the kitchen. They don't get to mention the caravan. Everyone already knows Sigmasix kidnapped Lucy. Melonie interrupts. She thinks Simon and the computer are on TV. She says Brian wants to question them about Lucy. Sharon tells them everything she knows. This includes Lucy's trip to the future. Brian only cares if Simon is an alien. Brian checks Kappatoo. He can only say he's human. Steve is relieved. The phone rings. Brian and Hazel know it's Lucy and Simon's mom. Brian picks up the phone and drops it. He doesn't want to explain Lucy vanished again. Kappatoo doesn't want to talk. He freezes everyone but Steve. They teleport away. They look around the farm for Sigmasix and Lucy. They spot them frozen. But Sigmasix teleports away with her before Kappatoo can stop him.

Episode 13: Dangerous Times

Zeta and her computer leave Kappatoo’s home. Simon returns from Ultramatch rehearsal. Kappatoo arrives back in his home. He says they must get Lucy back first. Kappatoo is unhappy with his computer. He threatens to get a new one. Then Zeta calls. She says she doesn't want Lucy, she wants him. She tells him to teleport to her home right away. Kappatoo teleports to Zeta’s home. Lucy is returned. Kappatoo’s computer follows. It tells Simon it might be able to help. But when it arrives, its loyalty to Zeta is clear. Kappatoo’s computer asks to see Zeta’s old items. As she shows them off, Kappatoo’s computer asks how she travels through time without getting caught. She shows an old time travel device. She explains she never uses the same method twice. The computer returns to Kappatoo’s home. It pretends to be loyal to Kappatoo again. It tells Simon he must take Kappatoo’s place on Ultramatch. Simon, the computer, and Lucy watch from the future. The computer says it will send Lucy back to help Steve. Simon must go to Ultramatch. Simon is about to go on Ultramatch. Kappatoo’s computer arrives. It gives him an earpiece. It will tell him the answers. Kappatoo’s computer answers questions correctly. Zeta tells Sigmasix and her computer to send Kappatoo onto the stage at the right moment. Simon loses contact with the computer. He can't answer the next questions. Another contestant catches up. Simon answers the final question by luck, winning the match. Zeta, as the sponsor, arrives. People think it's for the prize. Instead, she has Kappatoo teleported onto the stage. Kappatoo’s computer gives evidence. It says Kappatoo time traveled illegally. He had Simon replace him on both Hypergrid and Ultramatch.

Kappatoo and Steve search the destroyed caravan. They find the time-belt. Before Kappatoo leaves, he gives Steve his wristband. Steve can unfreeze Brian, Hazel, Sharon, and Melonie. Steve unfreezes everyone. Kappatoo was there when they were frozen. Now he's not. They all think he vanished. Brian refuses to believe Simon didn't vanish. Then he sees the video camera. He realizes it recorded everything. Brian watches the video. He sees Kappatoo freeze time. He sees him teleport himself and Steve out of the kitchen. Brian refuses to believe Steve that it's a joke. Even when Lucy comes back saying she was swimming. He goes to make a phone call for advice. Lucy and Steve play chess. They try to stop Brian from telling people. They can't think of anything. They agree to wait. While Brian feeds the cows, the talking cow talks to him. Brian comes back. He tells everyone that after all he's seen, he will call the newspapers.

Episode 14: Home Time

Kappatoo’s computer tells the Ultramatch audience the truth. Kappatoo did time travel. Simon Cashmere from 1992 won Ultramatch. But then, in a big surprise, it names Zeta as the real time criminal. Zeta tries to say it's all lies. But the computer tells the police to check Zeta’s dressing room. They find Sigmasix wearing a time travel wristband. He is arrested. The computer then shows video of Zeta collecting old items. It also plays a recording of her explaining how she got items and time travels. Back at Kappatoo’s home, the computer explains it never had a virus. It was all an act to fool Zeta. Then the computer gets a message. The time police want to visit with Zeta and Sigmasix. The time police tell Kappatoo he must press charges. Otherwise, they can't prosecute Zeta and Sigmasix. At first, Kappatoo seems unwilling. He knows how powerful Zeta is. But just as Zeta and Sigmasix think they are safe, Kappatoo says he will see them in court. Zeta is horrified. She and Sigmasix are teleported away by the time police. Simon and the computer are happy. The time police tell the computer to send Simon home. But the computer lets him stay the night. He must return the next morning. The next day, Simon and Kappatoo eat breakfast at Zeta’s café. Kappatoo gets an urgent message. He and Simon must return to his home. The computer tells them about Brian's press conference. Time travel being discovered in the 20th century could cause big problems.

Brian tells everyone at the farm the reporters will be there. He wants them all there to answer questions. Hazel begs the kids to stop this joke. She doesn't want Brian to look foolish. But the kids know it's not a joke. Steve, Lucy, and Sharon try to convince Melonie. At first, she thinks they are lying. Then Steve uses Kappatoo’s wristband to lift a chair. She realizes the press conference must be stopped. Once Brian and Hazel are asleep, they make a plan. Steve will get the camera tape. Lucy and Sharon will get outfits. The next morning, Hazel begs Brian not to give his speech. But he won't back down. Steve, Lucy, and Sharon put their plan into action. Melonie and Sharon dress as ballerinas. They talk like characters from a TV show. Brian gives his speech. The reporters don't seem convinced. It gets worse when Steve and Lucy pretend to be aliens. Brian tries to show the reporters the tape. But Melonie quickly switches it. It's now a tape of Sharon, Melonie, and Lucy dancing. Brian is desperate. He demands they follow him to talk to the cow. Steve forgot about the cow. As they go to the field, he quickly uses the wristband. He stops the cow from talking. But he changes its moo to other farm animal noises. Brian also makes funny movements he can't control. The reporters think it's a joke and leave.

Simon and Kappatoo watch the farm antics. Simon thinks everything is fine since no time travel proof was found. But the computer uses a special program. It shows what will happen in the future because of this event. Brian becomes homeless. Hazel remarries for money but is unhappy. Melonie drops out of university and becomes a single mom. Lucy runs away from home. The computer thinks it can fix this. It will create a new timeline. Simon will return to the moment after he first left. This way, he was never missed. The bad events won't happen. Only Simon will remember everything. Simon says goodbye to Kappatoo and the computer. He returns to his time a split second after he first left. Simon sends the time-belt back to Kappatoo’s time. He goes back to the farm and the caravan. He and Steve go to the house. They see if Melonie is back from town. While helping her with laundry, a car horn honks. She says it's her boyfriend and goes to meet him. As she gets in his car, Simon realizes he looks like Sigmasix. Kappatoo and his computer watch this. They worry there might be more trouble ahead.