Singer Molly Rainford takes the title role as the trend-setting singing sensation in the comedy series, which airs on CBBC and BBC iPlayer in September. Newcomer Grace Barkley is cast as McLaren, her younger but more mature, sister.
With original music throughout, Nova Jones oozes talent and makes an impact with her out-of-this-world fashion in the quirky comedy. While Nova is playing sell-out gigs to her legions of fans all across the universe, it’s up to McLaren to organise her superstar big sister’s tour schedule, her many moods, and to untangle the various knotty situations that Nova gets them into.
From intense chart battles to monsters on the loose, from confronting a space troll to helping a talking plant save the environment, the universe offers up an infinitely crazy set of problems for a hard-working legend and her even-harder working sister.
Molly Rainford says: “Nova Jones is definitely a lovable diva, and playing her is a dream come true. Performing super catchy tunes in sparkly costumes is so much fun. It’s a pleasure to be a part of the Jefferson crew!”
Also travelling the universe on board the Jefferson Spaceship are The Captain (John Lynn) and his robot arm named Digit; his excitable companion Sid (David Byrne); Kid Songwriter (Samuel Palliser Kehoe); messy baby / culinary genius Chef Din-Dins (Ace Bradley Donaldson) and a crew of colourful aliens. On their travels they come across showbiz journalist Bobbles Smithsonian (Christina Bennington), pop rival Johnarchy (Luke Coughlan), his manager Malcolm (Charlie Reid) and The Host of Universe Has Talent (Kevin McGahern).
The series was filmed in Belfast with funding from Northern Ireland Screen and Screen Ireland and produced by JAM Media. The Executive Producers for JAM Media are Alan Shannon and John Rice and the Executive Producer for CBBC is Sarah Muller. It was created and written by Helen Serafinowicz (Motherland) with head writer Andrew Ellard (script editor for Miranda, Detectorists and Red Dwarf). Original songs are written by Matthew Graham and Jessica Hammond (Konica).
