New season premieres in the U.K. October 18

The brand new seasons of Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis will make their U.K. premieres in mid-October on Sky One, the network has announced. SG-1 will debut its ninth season on Tuesday, October 18 at 8 p.m. with “Avalon, Part 1.”

Atlantis Season Two will premiere on Wednesday, October 19 at 8 p.m. with “The Siege, Part 3.”

New episodes will continue every Tuesday and Wednesday evening, with the week’s new episodes reaired Saturdays at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. Because Sky One does not stop mid-season for rerun breaks, U.K. viewers should pass viewers in the U.S. in January, and will see the second half of SG-1‘s ninth season before anyone else in the world.

Sky One will also air a 1-hour special titled “The Science of Stargate” at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, October 5. According to Ivon Bartok, the special is hosted by Amanda Tapping (“Samantha Carter”). The special will reair several times throughout the month.

With actor Richard Dean Anderson departing the series, the network is also asking fans which favorite Jack O’Neill episode they want to see over the next four weeks — under the themes of “Action,” “Caring,” “Alien,” and “Military.” The viewers’ choices for each will be aired Wednesdays this month, and participants will be entered for a chance to win Stargate SG-1 Season Eight on DVD (Region 2 – Europe) and other goodies. Visit Sky One’s Web site for details.

(Thanks to Sue Wood, Maciej Kwiatkowski, Lord Tyrannus, and many others for the tip)