Doomwatch (BBC Scifi John Paul, Simon Oates)

In scifi drama series Doomwatch the Government sets up a special department to counteract unwanted scientific development. Leading the group are Dr’s Spencer Quist (John Paul) and John Ridge (Simon Oates).

The series was very popular and made a star of Robert Powell (and created a massive stir when he was killed off) and was very on the money in terms of what was going on in the world (and things that would come to be too). Because of the topical angle quite a few extra scripts were commissioned for the first two seasons but were never used.

The series is another one of those BBC shows that has suffered the loss of many episodes thanks to the BBC’s policy at the time of either recording over videotapes or simply throwing them out. 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.

In 1972 Tigon pictures made a movie based on the series, this was also called Doomwatch but sadly the regular cast only had relatively small roles, the leads being taken by Ian Bannen and Judy Geeson. Then somewhat surprisingly in 1999 Channel 5 revived the format for a two hour tv movie starring Philip Stone and Trevor Eve. A hoped for series never materialised.

Cast: JOHN PAUL as Dr Spencer Quist; SIMON OATES as Dr John Ridge; ROBERT POWELL as Toby Wren (1970); 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

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

UK / BBC One / 37×50 minute episodes / Broadcast 9 February 1970 – 14 August 1972

THE EPISODES
SEASON ONE 9 February – 11 May 1970
1. THE PLASTIC EATERS
2. FRIDAY’S CHILD
3. BURIAL AT SEA
4. TOMORROW, THE RAT
5. PROJECT SAHARA
6. RE-ENTRY FORBIDDEN
7. THE DEVIL’S SWEETS
8. THE RED SKY
9. SPECTRE AT THE FEAST
10. TRAIN AND DE-TRAIN
11. THE BATTERY PEOPLE
12. HEAR NO EVIL
13. SURVIVAL CODE

SEASON TWO 14 December 1970 – 22 March 1971
1. YOU KILLED TOBY WREN
2. INVASION
3. THE ISLANDERS
4. NO ROOM FOR ERROR
5. BY THE PRICKING OF MY THUMBS
6. THE IRON DOCTOR
7. FLIGHT INTO YESTERDAY
8. THE WEB OF FEAR
9. IN THE DARK
10. THE HUMAN TIME BOMB
11. THE INQUEST
12. THE LOGICIANS
13. PUBLIC ENEMY

SEASON THREE 5 June – 14 August 1972
1. FIRE AND BRIMSTONE
2. HIGH MOUNTAIN
3. SAY KNIFE, FAT MAN
4. SEX AND VIOLENCE (NEVER TRANSMITTED)
5. WAITING FOR A KNIGHTHOOD
6. WITHOUT THE BOMB
7. HAIR TRIGGER
8. DEADLY DANGEROUS TOMORROW
9. ENQUIRY
10. FLOOD
11. CAUSE OF DEATH
12. THE KILLER DOLPHINS