Metal Mickey ran from 1980 to 1983. Mickey was created, controlled and voiced by John Edward, and some episodes of the show were produced and directed by Micky Dolenz, formerly of The Monkees pop group.

The situation was that of an ordinary British family whose youngest child was a science boffin, and who had created Metal Mickey to help around the home. The family consisted of a mother and father, two children and a grandmother. The show was made by London Weekend Television and shown on ITV.

British comedy actress Irene Handl played the grandmother, who Mickey affectionately called "my little fruitbat". Handl was never at home with science fiction, either watching it or appearing in it. She famously told BBC presenter Noel Edmonds, when he asked her whether she cried over the death of E.T., "Why should I cry over a bleedin' hoover attachment?" When asked, therefore, why she was appearing in Metal Mickey, she gave the pragmatic reply, "'Cos I've got a mortgage, love!"

Metal Mickey's catchphrase was "boogie, boogie, boogie", and his favourite treat was Atomic Thunderbusters (which had the appearance of Lemon Bonbons).