Memorable TV The TV Shows (Classic UK Science Fiction)

SciFi drama serial. In 1970 in the Yorkshire Dales a group of scientists receive radio signals from space, once decoded these give them the abilty to build a super computer. The computer demonstrates it's power by creating a girl called Andromeda, one of the scientists decides the computer must be destroyed. See also The Andromeda Breakthrough.

With:- PETER HALLIDAY as John Fleming / ESMOND KNIGHT as Prof Reinhart / MARY MORRIS as Madeleine Dawnay / GEOFFREY LEWIS as Dr Geers / JULIE CHRISTIE as Christine/Andromeda / FRANK WINDSOR as Dennis Bridger / PETER DUCROW as Dr Hunter / PATRICIA KNEALE as Judy Adamson

THE ANDROMEDA BREAKTHROUGH

BBC / 6x45m-e / 1962 28 June - 2 Aug

Writer: Fred Hoyle, John Elliot / Design: Norman Jones / Producer: John Elliot / Directors:John Elliot, John Knight

SciFi Drama serial. A sequel to A For Andromeda. Having destroyed the computer from the 1st serial, scientist John Fleming is forced on the run with Andromeda, but he and Madeleine Dawney must join forces when a toxic enzyme threatens to destroy the Earth.

With:- PETER HALLIDAY as John Fleming / SUSAN HAMPSHIRE as Andromeda / MARY MORRIS as Madeleine Dawney / WALTER GOTELL as Prof Neilson / GEOFFREY LEWIS as Dr Geers / BARRY LINEHAN as Col Salim / DAVID SAIRE as Dr Abu Zeki / ARNOLD YARROW as President

ANOTHER FLIP FOR DOMINICK

BBC2 / 1x75m-e / 1982 14 Dec

Writer: Jeremy Paul, Alan Gibson / Producer: Chris Cherry

SciFi Drama. A Sequel to The Flipside of Dominick Hyde. Dominick returns from the future to discover that he has fathered one of his own ancestors.

With:- PETER FIRTH as Dominick Hyde / CAROLINE LANGRISHE as Jane / PIPPA GUARD as Ava / PATRICK MAGEE as Caleb Line / SYLVIA COLERIDGE as Great Aunt Mavis

THE BIG PULL

BBC / 6x30m-e / 1962 9 June - 14 July black and white

Writer: Robert Gould / Design: Lionel Radford / Music: Radiophonic Workshop / Producer: Terence Dudley

SciFi drama serial. An astronaut sparks off a dangerous series of events when he returns to Earth in a dangerously contaminated ship.

With:- WILLIAM DEXTER as Sir Robert Nailer / JUNE TOBIN as Lady Nailer / SUSAN PURDIE as Janet Nailer / RAY ROBERT as Dr Alan Tulis / FREDERICK TREVES as Anderson / KEITH ANDERSON as Van Huesen

BLAKE'S 7

BBC1 / 52x50m-e / 1978-81

Creator: Terry Nation / Script Editor: Chris Boucher / Music: Dudley Simpson / Producers: David Maloney(Seasons 1-3), Vere Lorrimer(season 4)

SciFi drama series. In the third century of the second calendar a group of rebel outlaws try to keep one step ahead of the seemingly all powerful Federation and its female head Servalan.

With:- GARETH THOMAS as Roj Blake(seasons1-2) / PAUL DARROW as Kerr Avon / MICHAEL KEATING as Vila Restal / SALLY KNYVETTE as Jenna Stannis(seasons 1-2) / JAN CHAPPELL as Cally(seasons 1-3) / PETER TUDDENHAM as Zen(voice only) / DAVID JACKSON as Gan(seasons 1-2) / JACQUELINE PEARCE as Servalan / STEPHEN GRIEF as Travis(season 1) / BRIAN CROUCHER as Travis(season 2) / GLYNIS BARBER as Soolin(season 4) / STEVEN PACEY as Del Tarrant(seasons 3-4) / JOSETTE SIMON as Dayna(seasons 3-4)

CAMPAIGN FOR ONE

UK / BBC1 / 1x75m-e / 1965 3 March black and white

Writers: Madeleine Douglas, Anthony Church / Director: Moira Armstrong

SciFi Drama. An astronaut finds himself trapped in space after his craft malfunctions.

With:- BARRY FOSTER as Sq Ldr Osborne / JERRY STOVIN as Col Anderson / JEREMY KEMP as Sq Ldr Cooper / PEARL CATLIN as Helen Osborne / ROBERT ARDEN as Major Max Baker

THE CAVES OF STEEL

UK / BBC2 / 1x75m-e / 1964 5 June black and white

Writer: Terry Nation / Story: Isaac Asimov / Script Editor: Irene Shubik / Producer: Eric Taylor / Director: Peter Sasdy

Scifi drama. In a New York 200 years in the future, a cop teams up with a robot detective from Spacetown to solve a murder.

With:- PETER CUSHING as Elijah Bailey / JOHN CARSON as R. Daniel / STANLEY WALSH as Simpson / IAN TRIGGER as R. Sammy / RICHARD BEALE as Controller

CITY BENEATH THE SEA

UK / ABC / 7x25m-e / 1962 17 Nov - 29 Dec

Writer: John Lucarotti / Special Effects: Derek Freeborn / Producer: Guy Verney / Director: Kim Mills

SciFi Drama serial. Sequel to Plateau of Fear. Two science reporters whilst on board an atomic powered sub find themselves kidnapped by mad professor Ziebrecken who plans to take over the world.

With:- GERALD FLOOD as Mark Bannerman / STEWART GUIDOTTI as Peter Blake / CAROLINE BLAKISTON as Dr Ann Boyd / AUBREY MORRIS as Prof Ludwig Ziebrecken

COUNTDOWN AT WOOMERA

A-R / 1x90m-e / 1961 13 June black and white

Writer: Henry Bentinck / Design: Frederick Pusey / Director: Cyril Coke

SciFi drama. In 1968 the first British space flight to the moon is planned.

With:- NOEL McCALLUM as Robert McKerrill / SYLVIA KAY as Margaret Paisley / JOHN WELSH as Sir Robert Trelevan / PATRICK BARR as General O'Connor / JOHN MILLER as Prime Minister

COUNTERSTRIKE

BBC / 10x50m-e / 1969 8 Sep - 10 Nov

Creator: Tony Williamson / Script Editor: David Rolfe / Producer: Patrick Alexander

SciFi drama series. An alien from another planet is on Earth trying to stop another alien race from gaining a foothold. One episode of this series called 'Out of Mind' has never been shown and is believed wiped or lost.

With:- JON FINCH as Simon King / SARAH BRACKETT as Mary

THE CREATURE

BBC / 1x90m-e / 1955 30 January

Writer: Nigel Kneale / Producer: Rudolph Cartier

Scifi drama. A group of scientists tangle with a Yeti like creature whilst on an expedition in the Himalayas.

With:- STANLEY BAKER as Tom Friend / ERIC POHLMAN as Pierre Brousset / PETER CUSHING as Dr John Rollason / WOLFE MORRIS as Nima Kusang

THE DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS

BBC1 / 6x30m-e / 1981 10 Sep - 15 Oct

Writer: Douglas Livingstone / Novel: John Wyndham / Music: Christopher Gunning / Special Effects: Steve Derwent / Producer: David Maloney / Director: Ken Hannam

Scifi drama serial. A bizarre meteor shower strikes most of the world's population blind, evil carnivorous plants called Triffids begin to take over. Ex-Triffid farmer Bill Masen one of the few not to be blinded struggles to make some sense of it all and tries to come up with a plan to defeat the Triffids.

With:- JOHN DUTTINE as Bill Masen / EMMA RELPH as Jo / MAURICE COLBOURNE as Jack Coker / JONATHON NEWTH as Dr Soames / STEPHEN YARDLEY as John / DAVID SWIFT as Beadley / GARY OLSEN as Torrence

DIMENSION OF FEAR

ABC / 4x45m-e / 1963 5 - 26 January black and white

Writer: John Lucarotti / Story: Berkely Mather / Producer: Guy Verney / Director: Don Leaver

Scifi drama serial. Mysterious powers from a fourth dimension threaten a research establishment in a remote village.

With:- KATHERINE BLAKE as Dr Barbara Finch / PETER COPLEY as Professor Meredith / ROBIN BAILEY as Colonel Alan Renton / RICHARD COLEMAN as Insp Truick / MARGARET ASHCROFT as Miss Reynolds / MARK EDEN as Dr Loesser / PETER VAUGHAN as Dr Read

DOCTOR WHO

BBC1 / 679x25m-e 15x45m-e 1x90m-e / 1963-89

Creator: Sydney Newman / Music: Ron Grainer

Scifi drama series. A centuries old Gallifreyan Time Lord known as the Doctor travels space and time in his ship The TARDIS(Time And Relative Dimensions In Space) fighting evil, armed only with a sonic screwdriver and a variety of companions. The TARDIS was police boxed shaped and was bigger inside than out. The Doctor's regular foes included The Daleks, The Cybermen, The Sontarans, and the renagade time lords The Master and The Rani. The idea for the Daleks was by extremely culty writer Terry Nation.

The Doctors:- 1.WILLIAM HARTNELL(1963-66) 2.PATRICK TROUGHTON(1966-69) 3.JON PERTWEE(1970-74) 4.TOM BAKER(1974-81) 5.PETER DAVISON(1982-84) 6.COLIN BAKER(1984-86) 7.SYLVESTER McCOY(1987-89) Paul McGann played the Doctor in a 1996 American TV movie pilot for a series that never emerged.

IMPORTANT COMPANIONS INCLUDED:- CAROLE ANN FORD as Susan Foreman / WILLIAM RUSSELL as Ian Chesterton / JACQUELINE HILL as Barbara Wright / PETER PURVES as Steven Taylor / FRAZER HINES as Jamie / KATY MANNING as Jo Grant / NICHOLAS COURTNEY as Lethbridge-Stewart / ELIZABETH SLADEN as Sarah Jane Smith / LOUISE JAMESON as Leela / MARY TAMM as Romana(1) / LALLA WARD as Romana(2) / JANET FIELDING as Tegan / NICOLA BRYANT as Peri / SOPHIE ALDRED as Ace

DOOMSDAY FOR DYSON

Granada / 1x45m-e / 1958 10 March black and white

Writer: J.B. Priestley / Design: Tom Spaulding / Director: Silvio Narizzano

Scifi drama. Tom Dyson finds himself caught up in the chaos of a nuclear war. The play was followed by an hour long debate on some of the issues raised in the play.

With:- IAN HUNTER as Tom Dyson / FRANCIS ROWE as Mrs Dyson / ANN FIRBANK as Ann Dyson / GEORGE BAKER as Goltsev / HUGH LATIMER as General Kuprin / BONAR COLLEANO as Jackston / HARRY FOWLER as Porson / BILL FRASER as Civil Servant

DOOMWATCH

BBC / 37x50m-e / 1970-72

Creators: Kit Pedlar,Gerry Davis / Music: Max Harris / Titles: Alan Jeapes / Script Editors: Gerry Davis(Seasons 1-2), Anna Kaliski (Season 3) / Producer: Terence Dudley

Scifi drama series. The Government sets up a special department to counteract unwanted scientific development. One episode made for season three has never been show (but still exists) called Sex and Violence, the show included footage of a real military execution and was deemed too sensitive.

With:- JOHN PAUL as Dr Spencer Quist / SIMON OATES as Dr John Ridge / ROBERT POWELL as Toby Wren(70) / JOBY BLANSHARD as Colin Bradley / WENDY HALL as Pat Hunniset / VIVIEN SHEPHERD as Barbara Mason / JOHN NOLAN as Geoff Hardcastle / JEAN TREND as Dr Fay Chantry

THE ESCAPE OF R.D. 7

BBC / 5x30m-e / 1961 21 Nov - 19 Dec black and whiteWriter: Thomas Clarke

Writer: Thomas Clarke / Idea:James Parish / Music: Eric Spear / Producer: James Ormerod

Scifi drama serial. A fanatical virologist accidentally releases a virus deadly to humans.

With:- BARBARA MURRAY as Dr Anna Hastings / ROGER CROUCHER as Peter Warner / EDDIE MALIN as Tucker / DEREK WARING as David Cardosa / PATRICK CARGILL as Patrice Constantine / PAUL EDDINGTON as Michael Rabionowitz

THE FLIPSIDE OF DOMINICK HYDE

BBC2 / 1x75m-e / 1980 9 December

Writers: Alan Gibson, Jeremy Paul / Costume: Roslaind Ebbutt / esign: Roger Murray Leach / Producer: Chris Cherry

Scifi comedy drama. A time traveller from the year 2130 pays a visit to 1980's London and ends up fathering one of his own ancestors. See also Another Flip For Dominick.

With:- PETER FIRTH as Dominick Hyde / CAROLINE LANGRISHE as Jane / PIPPA GUARD as Ava / PATRICK MAGEE as Caleb Line / JEAN TREND as Helda / TIMOTHY DAVIES as Jim / DENIS LAWSON as Felix / KARL HOWMAN as Geoffrey / DAVID GRIFFIN as Carl / TONY MELODY as Harry / MICHAEL CARTER as 1st Youth / PHILIP DAVIS as 2nd Youth / MARK WINGETT as 3rd Youth

THE FRIENDLY PERSUADERS

ATV / 1x90m-e / 1969 23 June black and white

Writer: Paul Wheelers / Design: Michael Bailey / Executive Producer: Cecil Clarke / Director: John Sichel

Scifi drama. An alien race arrive on Earth painting an idyllic picture of their world but one Whitehall sceptic is not so convinced.

With:- EDWARD JUDD as Steven Leach / GRANT TAYLOR as Sir Terence Norrington / JOE MELIA as Michael Donnell / JULIAN CURRY as Adrian Collingwood / LIBBY GLEN as Sue Long / JONATHON NEWTH as Bernard Webb / STELLA TANNER as Madame Alex / MILTON JOHNS as John Frisby

THE GIRL WHO LOVED ROBOTS

BBC 'The Wednesday Play' / 1x75m-e / 1965 20 October black and white

Writer: Peter Everitt / Producer: James MacTaggart / Director: Brian Parker

Scifi drama. In the future a detective investigates the brutal murder of a nightclub hostess.

With:- ISOBEL BLACK as Victory / NORMAN RODWAY as Cage / DUDLEY FOSTER as Antrobus / MICHAEL GOUGH as Doctor / GEORGE BETTON as Toms / GEOFF HINSLIFF as Gogel

THE GUARDIANS

LWT / 13x60mn-e / 1971 10 Jul - 2 Oct

Creator: Rex Firkin / Theme Music: Wilfred Joseph / Producer: Andrew Brown

Scifi drama series. In the near future, Britain is ruled by an all powerful police The Guardians.

With:- JOHN COLLIN as Tom Weston / GWYNETH POWELL as Clare Weston / CYRIL LUCKHAM as Sir Timothy Hobson / EDWARD PETHERBRIDGE as Christopher Hobson / DAVID BURKE as Dr Benedict / DEREK SMITH as Norman / LYNN FARLEIGH as Eleanor

THE INCREDIBLE ROBERT BALDICK

BBC 'Drama Playhouse' / 1x50m-e / 1972

Writer: Terry Nation / Design: John Burrowes / Producer: Anthony Coburn / Director: Cyril Coke

Period scifi drama. Victorian adventurer Robert Baldick battles supernatural forces across the country in his private train, equipped with its own laboratory.

Robert Baldick................................ ROBERT HARDY

Charles Adlington............................ REGINALD MARSH

Rev Peter Elmstead......................... JAMES COSSINS

Caleb Spelling................................ JOHN RHYS DAVIES

Thomas Wingham.......................... JULIAN HOLLOWAY

Sturry............................................ PAUL HUMPOLETZ

THE INVISIBLE MAN

ITV / 26x30m-e / 1958-59

Creator/Producer: Ralph Smart / Music: Sidney John Key

Fantasy crime drama series. Scientist Dr Peter Brady becomes invisible following a failed experiment, the government recruit to work for them as a special agent. The producers of the show made a point of never revealing the identity of Brady.

Dr Peter Brady................................. ANONY MOUS

Diane Brady.................................... LISA DANIELY

Sally Brady..................................... DEBORAH WATLING

Colonel Ward.................................. ERNEST CLARK

JOURNEY TO THE UNKNOWN

Hammer/TCF / 17x60m-e / 1968

Producer: Anthony Hinds / Theme Music: Harry Robinson / Executive Producers: Joan Harrison, Norman Lloyd

An anthology series of fantasy, horror, mystery and science fiction dramas. The series has a high percentage of American guest stars and stalwart British actors in support.

JUPITER MOON

BBC/Primetime/ Andromeda / 150x30m-e / 1990

Producer: William Smethurst / Music: Alan Parker

Scifi drama series. Exploits of a group of children and teenage students aboard a space station somewhere near Jupiter. This series was made by ill fated satellite station BSB and has yet to be shown on Terrestrial TV and is unlikely to be, although it has been since several times on the Scifi Channel since the mid 1990's.

Mercedes Page............................... ANNA CHANCELLOR

Fiona McBride................................ LUCY BENJAMIN

Eliot Creasy................................... ANDY RASHLIEGH

Professor Brelan............................. RICHARD DERRINGTON

Finbow Lewis................................. PHIL WILMOTT

Petra............................................ CHARLOTTE MARTIN

Daniel Weatherby.......................... DANIEL BEALES

James Bromwich........................... RICHARD LINTERN

Victoria Frobisher.......................... NICOLA WRIGHT

Rosie Greenwood.......................... CAROLYN BLACKHOUSE

Anna Begani................................. ANNA PERNICCI

K-9 AND COMPANY

BBC1 / 1x50m-e / 1981 28 December

Writer: Terence Dudley / Producer: John Nathan Turner / Director: John Black

Spooky scifi drama. The only spin off (so far) from Dr Who. On Earth, former Doctor Who assistant Sarah Jane Smith and all round wonder dog the robot K-9 get mixed up with a witches coven.

Sarah Jane Smith............................. ELISABETH SLADEN

Voice of K-9..................................... JOHN LEESON

George Tracey................................. COLIN JEAVONS

Cmdr Pollack................................... BILL FRASER

Aunt Lavinia..................................... MARY WIMBUSH

Juno Baker...................................... LINDA POLAN