Guardians, The (ITV 1971, Gwyneth Powell, Edward Petherbridge)

In scifi drama The Guardians we are in the not too distant future where Britain is in a state of disarray. There has been a major General strike, there is major unemployment the government has collapsed – replaced by a self styled team of experts and somewhat all encompassing police force called The Guardians.

The experts running the country are using the slogan ‘Make Britain Great’ despite the fact that they are heading towards totalitarianism.

Tom Weston (John Collin) is a member of The Guardians who as the series progresses realises the country is in serious trouble, at one stage he ends up in a special “rehabilitation centre” that pretty much tips him over the edge. Meanwhile his wife Clare (Gwyneth Powell) becomes involved with Christopher Hobson (Edward Petherbridge), the son of the Prime Minister Sir Timothy Hobson (Cyril Luckham). Clare is also visiting psychiatrist Dr Benedict (David Burke) who turns out to be one of the key figures in the growing resistance movement (known as Quarmby) that is trying to bring down the government.

Funnily enough the series remains just as relevant today.

Cast: 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

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

UK | ITV – London Weekend Television | 13×50 minutes | Broadcast 10 July – 2 October 1971

THE EPISODES
1. THE STATE OF ENGLAND
2. PURSUIT
3. HEAD OF STATE
4. THE LOGICAL APPROACH
5. QUARMBY
6. APPEARANCES
7. THIS IS QUARMBY
8. THE DIRTIEST MAN IN THE WORLD
9. I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND ME
10. THE NATURE OF THE BEAST
11. THE ROMAN EMPIRE
12. THE KILLING TRADE
13. END IN DUST