Aliens In The Family (BBC-1 1987, Grant Thatcher, Sophie Bold)

Children’s scifi drama serial Aliens in the Family told the story of a family who befriend a young alien teenager from the planet Galconque. The Aliens aspect is more than just the real alien though as young 12 year old Jacqueline (aka Jake) is feeling very much like an alien herself now that her father has remarried and brought a new wife and two step siblings into the house.

Bond, the alien, is being pursued by villains known as the Wirdegens and has to try and reach a stone circle in order to get back home. Without giving too much away though there is more to his pursuit than even he realises.

A typically strong mid 1980’s fantasy/scifi series that nicely tackles the tricky subject of parents remarrying and the ensuing arrival of stepsiblings by placing it within the frame work of a scifi chase tale.

production details
UK / BBC1 / 6×25 minute episodes / Broadcast 18 November – 23 December 1987

Writer: Allan Baker / Novel: Margaret Mahy / Music: Roger Limb / Costumes: Inez Nordell / Design: Paul Montague / Executive Producer: Paul Stone / Director: Christina Secombe

cast
Grant Thatcher as Bond
Sophie Bold as Jake
Clare Wilkie as Dora
Sebastian Knapp as Lewis
Rob Edwards as David
Clare Gifford as Philippa
Elizabeth Watkins as Solita
Granville Saxton as Wiredegan Leader
Sue Soames, Tony Birch, James Woodward as Wiredegans