A for Andromeda is a BBC science fiction TV series that originally aired in 1961.

It was the first adult BBC science fiction series since the Quatermass trilogy of the Fifties. Created by reknown (and controversial) astronomer Fred Hoyle and television writer and producer John Elliot, and directed by Michael Hayes (Replaced by John Knight for the sequel). One of the earliest mainstream British TV dramas to explore the themes of artificial intelligence and realistic alien contact.

A for Andromeda follows a group of scientists who receive a radio signal from the Andromeda galaxy containing instructions for building a powerful computer. Once built, the computer reveals a formula for creating a new life. Meanwhile a multinational company called Intel are stealing information from the project via a mole. Shockingly, one of the team, Christine, is hypnotised and killed by the computer. Her body is then used as a blueprint for a newly grown beautiful woman who is christened Andromeda. However, as Andromeda grows more self-aware, she begins to be torn between the agenda of the alien AI and her own humanity.

The series was a great success at a time when the BBC had been losing audiences to its new rival ITV. Unsurprisingly a sequel was commissioned.

The Andromeda Breakthrough was originally broadcast in 1962. It picks up directly where the previous one left off, with Andromeda and Dr John Flemming, the scientist who has treated the computer with suspicion almost from the beginning, having escaped from the island where it was created. Soon they are abducted by Intel and taken to the Middle Eastern country of Azaran, where the alien computer has been recreated. Too late, the humans realise that the computer has a ruthless plan for human civilisation, and only the dying Andromeda can save them.

Both series were groundbreaking for television in mixing scientific concepts with contemporary politics and a more cynical view of business and political institutions.

For this episode I was delighted to be reunited with writers Nigel J Anderson and Brian M Clarke, who had been my very first guests when we covered Pathfinders in Space. We also take a few minutes to discuss the BBC4 remake in 2006. I must also mention Michael Thompson, who helped with the glossy production values on this particular podcast.

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Imagine Star Trek designed by Stanley Kubrick and inhabited by a plethora of familiar (or soon to be familiar) British actors, led by three American TV stars. It's a SF show that mixes big imaginative concepts with foam machines and alien babes in tight costumes. It looks amazing, with one of the most iconic spaceships that ever flew across the small screen. And for a while, it was one of the biggest SF series on TV.

The Moon has escaped orbit and gone warping across the galaxy. Each episode the survivors face new aliens and new terrors. The time, the place? Space: 1999!

Space: 1999 ran for 48 episodes across two seasons between 1975 and 1977. Made by ITC and produced by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, although Star Trek producer Fred Freiberger took over day to day running of the second season. Brian Johnson headed the special effects modelwork and would later gain acclaim for The Empire Strikes Back and The Neverending Story.

Very British Futures host Gareth Preston invites nostalgic Ian Taylor and recent fan Kara Dennison to examine one of ITC's biggest undertakings. They'll be taking an especially close look at "Dragon's Domain", "Earthbound" and "The Beta Cloud".

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Find out more about Kara Dennison's work at https://karadennison.blogspot.com/

Find out more about Ian Taylor's horror anthologies at https://twitter.com/BHF_books

Des Kinvig's small world is turned upside when he discovers one of his customers, sexy Miss Griffin is in fact an alien from Mercury, fighting a secret war with the Xux. Is he really the only man who can help her save the Earth? Or is he just a desperate fantasist who's been listening to his UFO-mad friend Jim Piper for too long?

Nigel Kneale, creator of Quatermass, writer of TV classics such The Stone Tape, 1984, and Beasts, took an unexpected turn into situation comedy for 1981's Kinvig. Starring Tony Haygarth, Patsy Rowlands, Prunella Gee and Colin Jeavons. A science fiction parody that mocked many of his fans, it has remained one of the curios of Eighties television. Could it ever have worked? Is funny now and was it even then?

Taking a closer look at with Gareth Preston, in one person's case against their will, are Tim Reid and Charles Auchterlonie, hosts of The Randomiser podcast.

Music by Chatri Art

Produced by Gareth Preston

Follow the podcast on twitter at @FuturesVery and for more information and reviews, visit garethpreston.blog 

Deep space explorers encountering strange new dangers. Mutant powers hidden among us. Futuristic societies with surprising moralities. Cutting edge technology bringing unexpected dilemmas for the people who use it. Created by the pioneering television producer Irene Shubik and featuring some of the leading talents on television on both sides of the lens, Out of the Unknown remains one of the BBC's best science fiction series. Drawing on stories from SF masters such as Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, John Wyndham and John Brunner, as well as original scripts, it remains one of television's most sustained attempts to adapt the mood of literary science fiction.

Gareth Preston is joined by Stephen Hatcher and Dylan Rees to discuss the series, which sadly is missing half its episodes, yet what remains is still thrilling and challenging. Along the way they pay particular attention to three key episodes: The Dead Past, Some Lapse of Time and The Machine Stops.

Music by Chatri Art chatriart.bandcamp.com
Produced by Gareth Preston

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The tourist season is over and Inverdee Island is closing down and preparing for the winter. But when the body of Shelia Anderson is discovered, seemingly torn apart by a killer with inhuman strength, the islanders must join together to fight something terrifyingly unknown.

Broadcast only once in 1981, The Nightmare Man has achieved cult status as rare but expertly made piece of primetime SF/Horror from the BBC. Looking into the roots of this drama and Child of Vodyanoi, the original novel it is adapted from, Gareth Preston is joined by writers Ian Taylor and John Isles. Can it be compared with Doctor Who of the time? How well does Cornwall stand in for Scotland? How scary is it for a modern audience?

Produced by Gareth Preston
Music by Chatri Art ( chatriart.bandcamp.com )

Ian Taylor's book on the career of Jenny Agutter All Sorts of Things May Happen is available from We Belong Dead books.

It's just another day in Sheffield, everyone going about their own affairs, when suddenly the unthinkable happens - a nuclear strike. When the survivors scrabble out of the rubble, that is just the beginning of a waking nightmare, as modern society quickly crumbles into starvation and suffering.

The BBC2 TV play Threads was a television landmark that is still as powerful today as it was in 1982. Written by Barry (Kes) Hines and directed by Mick Jackson before he went to Hollywood, it is a polemic, extensively researched attempt to depict the true horror of life after a nuclear conflict.

Joining Gareth Preston to discuss this memorable production are author Rik Hoskin and lecturer Andrew Roe-Crines.

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Bystander 27, Rik Hoskin's latest novel is available at all good bookshops.

You can read Selecting Starmer, one of Andrew Roe-Crines' recent articles on left-wing politics, for free at tandfonline.com

Mankind is busy colonising the solar system. Space stations in orbit, a busy moonbase, and pioneers on Mars. A new frontier however brings new opportunities for crime: industrial, political and personal. That's where the International Space Police Force (ISPF) come in, known sardonically as the Star Cops. Now career cop Nathan Spring has been reluctantly sent into space to shake up the volunteers and turn them into a real police service.

Created by Chris Boucher, writer for Blake's 7 and Shoestring amongst other shows, Star Cops was broadcast to little acclaim in 1987, but has built up a cult following over the years and is widely regarded as one of great lost opportunities of British SF television. Taking an appreciative look back with host Gareth Preston are Peter Grehen, Kevin Hiley and Dr Rebecca Wray.

Music by Chatri Art chatriart.bandcamp.com

Produced by Gareth Preston

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For more information on Peter Grehen's novels and other writings visit petergrehanwriter.weebly.com

For more information on Kevin Hiley and Westlake Films visit westlakefilms.blogspot.com

Somewhere in the world, sometime in the future where television is the only growth industry, star reporter Edison Carter is on the track of hot new story about a new kind of advertising, unskippable, unavoidable and for many people - fatal. When boy genius Bryce sets a lethal trap for him, Edison is left in a coma, but a copy of his mind is about to become something unique - the world's first computer generated lifeform - Max Headroom!

Catch the wave with us back to 1985 when for a few months pop culture went M-M-M-Max mad. The TV film, the pop videos, the fizzy drinks, the legend that was Max Headroom. Joining Gareth Preston from their own personal TV studios are talking heads Amy Elizabeth and Steve Noble. Blade Runner, Ultravox, Shakespeare and early Eighties computing are all in there, along with a bonus chat about the Red Dwarf Smegazine.

Music by Chatri Art ( bandcamp.chatriart.com )

Produced by Gareth Preston

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When retired photojournalist Steve Blake sees a man die in a car explosion, then meets the same man the next day apparently unscathed, it is the beginning of a terrifying journey. The thread leads Blake and a woman called Melissa Gates to the mystery of the disappearance of Sweet Hope beneath the sea, a village whose population was miraculously rescued that night by Constable Philip Gates. Or were they? After a horrific discovery underwater, Steve and Melissa realise they have uncovered a secret alien invasion. Who can they convince? Who can they trust? Including each other?

Made in 1997, by Zenith Entertainment for ITV, The Uninvited was a alien conspiracy thriller firmly in the tradition of Sixties US television series The Invaders, with nods to John Wyndham. Starring Douglas Hodge, Leslie Grantham and Sylvestra Le Touzel. Join Gareth Preston, John Isles and Nicky Smalley as they go back to an era where the internet was still a strange new medium for most people, mainstream SF was a rare sight on British television screens, and ITV seemed to want every drama to be a prestige murder mystery.

Music - Chatri Art ( www.chatriart.bandcamp.com )
Producer - Gareth Preston
Follow us on Twitter at @FuturesVery and visit garethpreston.blog for more reviews and news.

The rogue planet Medusa arrives in our solar system. Beneath its surface is an advanced alien civilisation where women rule and men are slaves. Adam and Shem steal a space yacht and travel to Earth, a paradise where it is rumoured that men are in charge and women obey. Hot in pursuit are Security Chief Octavia and Councillor Fulvia, Adam's owner.

A space adventure series, a satire on the battle of the sexes, a SF parody, or a seriously intended rival to Gerry Anderson's Century 21 productions? Star Maidens is a mass of contradictions wrapped in Seventies disco futurism and C&A fashion disasters. Joining host Gareth Preston to try and untangle this British/German patchwork is Dr Rebecca Wray and Kevin Hiley.

Music by Chatri Ahpornsiri ( www.chatriart.bandcamp.com )
Production by Gareth Preston

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Earth 2089. A time of peace and contentment thanks to the benevolent rule of the Tripods, huge machine beings who "cap" teenagers to make them productive adults. Yet, Will Parker believes there is something very wrong with the world, and together with his cousin Henry, sets out on a quest to find the legendary Free Men and ultimately topple the Tripods.

At its time it was the biggest SF production ever mounted by the BBC. Yet two years in it was unceremoniously cancelled, leaving its characters on a grim cliffhanger. Join Gareth, with guests Andrew Roe-Crines and Kevin Hiley as they take a deep dive into the John Christopher's celebrated SF trilogy. How does the series stand up today? In a larger picture, were the Tripods and their secret Masters really the good guys?

Follow us on Twitter at @FuturesVery and visit garethpreston.blog for more news and reviews.

In the near-future (2020!) post civil war Britain is ruled by a military dictatorship - The Knights of God. A young man called Gervaise becomes a key player in both the resistance and the plans of the fanatical Prior Mordrin.

We journey back to the Eighties to take a critical look at ITV's post-apocalyptic Sunday teatime adventure series, which featured an impressive cast and budget. Why did it remind us of Harry Potter? What motivates the Knights? How do these characters get around the country so fast? Gareth Preston is joined by Kevin Hiley and Dr Rebecca Wray to consider violence, religion and why some series seem to fade into obscurity.

Music by Chatri Art (www.bandcamp.com)
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Seasons greetings! Stingray is the iconic children's television series that captured the imagination of Sixties viewers. Created by the legendary Gerry and Sylvia Andersonthis pioneering show set new standards for their Supermarionation process, as well as being their first in colour.

The series follows the adventures of the crew aboard the futuristic submarine known as Stingray, designed for undersea exploration and defense. Led by the valiant Captain Troy Tempest, his partner Lieutenant George Lee "Phones" Sheridan, and the enigmatic Marina, a mystical undersea woman, the trio works for WASP (the World Aquatic Security Patrol) and embark on daring missions to protect the ocean and humanity from various threats. They regularly battle King Titan, ruler of the Aquaphibians, and his cunning spy X-2-Zero.

Whilst definitely a children's show, Stingray has an unusual depth of character development, largely thanks to the romantic triangle between Troy, Marina, and Atlanta, a fellow WASP officer and daughter of the WASP's leader, Commander Shore. Shore himself had an interesting back story, having been crippled and left hoverchair bound by nameless underwater aliens.

For this special Christmas edition of Very British Futures, regular guest John Isles, and his daughter Amber, join Gareth Preston to watch "A Christmas to Remember", written by Dennis Spooner and directed by Alan Pattillo.

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At the beginning of the space age, a plucky band of scientists and children launch into adventures on the Moon, Mars and Venus. They are - Pathfinders in Space!

UK television has created some of most influential, imaginative and scary science fiction in the medium's short history. Take a journey into some of the lesser known regions with Very British Futures.

We begin with the ABC 1961-62 teatime drama series created by Sydney Newman, the television pioneer who would later devise Doctor Who for the BBC. What is the secret of Gerald Flood's acting? How much research did writers Malcolm Hulke and Eric Paice do? Why did they deliberately put microphone booms into the frame? Where does the Lost Planet fit in?

Host Gareth Preston is joined by Nigel J Anderson and Brian Clarke to celebrate this overlooked science fiction programme.

Music by Chatri Art (chatriart.bandcamp.com)

A fascinating curio from producer Gerry Anderson's peak period, made in between seasons one and two of Space: 1999 and featuring many personnel from that programme.

The spaceship Altares, with a photon drive capable of accelerating it to the speed of light, leaves an Earth-orbiting space station. The Altares crew, two families of trained specialists, journey at light speed to Alpha Centauri, experiencing time-dilation. After launching several satellites to transmit information on the Centauri star system back to Earth, guiding future vessels exploring the star system, the families vote to explore further, but a meteorite strike sends their ship accelerating out of control.

Like the original blueprint of Doctor Who and Pathfinders in Space, Special Treats producer George Heinemann, Century 21 owner Gerry Anderson, and writer Johnny Bryne's intention was combine education with entertainment. In particular, the show illustrated Einstein's Theory of Relativity. Speaking to Starlog magazine in 1979, Heinemann said, “When the teacher wrote E = mc2 on the board, I wanted the young viewer to recall the programme and say, "Yeah, I saw a programme about that. I want to learn more about it."

Starring Brian Blessed, Nick Tate and Joanna Dunham

Written by Johnny Byrne

Directed by Charles Crichton

I was fortunate to be joined by Felicia Baxter, writer, podcaster and former NASA intern, to look back at this unique British production which was originally shown on both NBC and BBC1.

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Find out more about my guest Felicia Baxter at: news.drgator.ufl.edu/2020/02/19/alumni-never-ending-curiosity/

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The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham is one of the best known science fiction novels in Britain. For many viewers, the 1981 BBC adaptation remains the best and closest version.

The series follows the story of Bill Marsden, a farmer living in a post-apocalyptic world after a meteor shower has rendered most of the population blind. The disaster also allows a species of mobile carnivorous plant called Triffids to escape and multiply. Bill is a young man who has retained his sight due to being protected by bandages, ironically after a Triffid attack. As he navigates the dangers of the new world, he meets a young woman called Joselyn and together they face tough choices, trying to balance compassion and self-preservation. The drama explores themes of survival, adaptation, and the dangers of unchecked scientific progress.

I must credit Andrew Pixley for his exhaustive DVD viewing notes in helping me research this podcast. For this episode I was lucky to be joined by writer Rik Hoskin, singer and actor Ella Burton and actor and director Chris Burton.

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You can order Rik Hoskin's latest graphic novel Red Rising: Sons of Ares Vol 3 now

Chocky was a science fiction novel by John Wyndham, the final one published in his lifetime (1968). It tells the story of an 11 year old boy named Matthew, who begins to exhibit strange behavior and abilities that concern his parents. They learn that Matthew has an imaginary friend named Chocky, who is actually a highly advanced alien being with a mission to help humanity. Yet the alien knows enough about humanity to know that if people discover the truth, Matthew's life will be in danger from groups who want to exploit Chocky's knowledge for their own wealth and power.

The novel was adapted for radio and most famously into a 1984 ITV television series which led to two original sequels, written by Anthony Read. Although the novel is narrated from the viewpoint of Matthew's father, the series is much more from the children's perspective. Very popular at the time with CITV viewers, the series is fondly remembered. In fact the Wyndham estate regards it as one of the best adaptations of his work.

As part of the research for this episode, Gareth Preston spoke to producer Richard Bates (A Touch of Frost, The Tripods) who originally obtained the rights for a television adaptation of Chocky, and served as both creative consultant and producer of the third and final series. Joining Gareth for this edition is our regular guest Dr Rebecca Wray, and author and publisher Will Hadcroft.

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It wouldn't be claiming too much to say that George Orwell's dystopian novel 1984 is one of the key books of post-war Britain and its influence is still with us today. Big Brother, newspeak, double-think, thought police, are all concepts used in politics and social media. However, the book might not have broken into the mainstream without the help of a BBC television adaptation in 1954. It created controversy in the newspapers and even the Houses of Parliament, whilst gripping the nation at a time when the BBC was still the sole broadcaster in the UK.

The story is set in a futuristic world where the government is led by IngSoc, headed by a man known as Big Brother. The Party seeks to control every aspect of people's lives, including their thoughts, emotions, and behaviour. Winston Smith (Peter Cushing) is a low-ranking member of the Party who works in the Ministry of Truth, where he is responsible for altering historical records to conform to the Party's version of reality. Despite being a loyal member of the Party, Winston is secretly unhappy with the oppressive regime and begins to rebel against it. He begins a secret affair with Julia (Yvonne Mitchell), a party member from the Fiction department. Together they become involved with a group known as the Brotherhood, which is rumoured to be a group of rebels who are plotting against the Party. However the Brotherhood is actually a myth created by the Party to lure out and eliminate any potential dissenters.

Despite his efforts to rebel against the Party, Winston is ultimately unable to escape their control and is captured and tortured until he fully conforms to their ideology. The novel ends with Winston being released back into society, fully loyal to the Party and completely brainwashed.

Written by Nigel Kneale and produced by Rudolph Cartier, using everything they had learnt from their previous hit drama The Quatermass Experiment, the play translated Orwell's cautionary tale into a grim, futuristic drama that stretched the resources of the drama department to new frontiers. The result is a production which still has power today, as evidenced by the 2022 BFI bluray release.

Writers Andrew Scott Roe-Crines and John Isles return to the show to join Gareth Preston in discussing the messages of the book and strengths of this television play. Find out about what the papers said, how the Ingsoc party operates and the nightmare of Newspeak.

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Who hasn't dreamed of stepping into a time machine and whizzing off to an exciting historical destination? Dominick Hide certainly has, but he's under strict instructions to only observe from the air, never land, never get involved. But Dominick is insatiably curious about the wild heady world of 1980 and his long lost ancestor, so one night he does touch down, stepping into a romantic adventure with a beautiful shop owner called Jane. How long can keep up his illegal excursions? What will be the consequences for his wife Ava and the future itself?

One of the best remembered productions of BBC's legendary Play for Today strand, The Flipside of Dominick Hide begat a sequel, Another Flip for Dominick and ultimately led to a series of SF stories - Play for Tomorrow. Before Back to the Future's Marty McFly ever climbed into a Delorean, these stories successfully mixed genuine science fiction, with humour and romance for a prime time audience.

Starring: Peter Firth, Caroline Langshire, Pippa Guard & Patrick Magee
Written by Jeremy Paul & Alan Gibson
Produced by Chris Cherry
Directed by Alan Gibson

Tim Reid and Charles Auchterlonie, hosts of The Randomiser podcast, join us to talk about grandfather paradoxes, smooth rock, honesty between partners and BBC costume designs for the future.

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Season 2 kicks off with E4's seemingly little remembered comedy drama about extra-terrestrial immigrants - The Aliens. UK in the near future and humanity has made its first contact with alien life. Instead of changing the world, the survivors of a crashed spacecraft from the 1970's have become Britain's latest despised underclass. Heavily policed, carrying out menial jobs and being forced to live in a walled ghetto called Troy. Lewis is one of the border guards and shares the common prejudices about the 'morks', until an accident reveals he is something allegedly impossible: a human-alien hybrid. What's more he is in love with an enigmatic webcam performer Lilyhot, who reveals his true alien father Antoine is a major boss in Troy.

Gareth, Rebecca and Dani take a look into all six episodes to consider whether it's a neglected gem. It had an impressive cast including Michael Socha, Michaela Cole, Jim Howick and Michael Smiley. You can find more information about the series and links to further reading at the Very British Futures website.

Outcasts followed the trials of humanity's first, and it would seem, last colony on a new planet. A new frontier of hope for a better world, but dogged by human weaknesses of the oldest kind. A major new BBC adult science fiction series for the 21st century. At least that was the pitch.

Kudos were one of the coolest TV companies around, with dramas like Life on Mars and Spooks under their belt. Writer and producer Ben Richards had made his name with the latter and had recently written cult drama Party Animals. The cast was filled with talents like Liam Cunningham, Eric Maibus and Hermione Norris and well-spent budget and South African location meant that this show looked glossy and impressive. However as soon as Outcasts hit the airwaves it received a critical drubbing and indifference from both the mainstream and SF genre audiences. What went wrong? How much went right?

This episode Gareth Preston is joined by three returning voices Dr Rebecca Wray, John Isles and Nicky Smalley to discuss mysterious aliens, petulant teenagers and how much influence Battlestar Galactica had.

Follow us on Twitter at @FuturesVery and at garethpreston.blog for more news and reviews.

Find out more about the forthcoming podcasts Tripodscast by following @tripodscast and Unended by following @unended_podcast

The interview with Ben Richards we reference several time can be read in full at Den of Geek.

Music by Charti Art chatriart.bandcamp.com

Produced by Gareth Preston

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Science Fiction television is more that a genre, it’s a sub-culture. For this episode we’re stepping out one kind of imaginary world, and into one rather more similar to ours. It’s also possibly the most personal episode yet.

Cruise of the Gods is a poignant, darkly comedic British television film that aired during Christmas on BBC Two in 2002. Written by Tim Firth, Peter Baynan and Michael Thomas, the story revolves around a convention for a defunct cult sci-fi TV series titled Children of Castor. This reunion takes place aboard a fan-organized cruise ship event that quickly becomes a stage for awkward encounters, faded glory, and heartfelt reflection.

At the heart of the film are two former stars of Children of Castor: Andy Van Allen (played by Rob Brydon), a bitter unemployed actor still clinging to the remnants of his fleeting fame, and Nick Lee (played by Steve Coogan), who has moved on to a successful career as a Hollywood actor, now famous as the star of Sherlock Holmes in Miami. The contrasting fortunes of the two men set the tone for a sharp exploration of celebrity, nostalgia, and the often bittersweet relationship between fans and their idols.

The film's witty script balances humour with pathos, as it highlights the absurdity of chasing fame and the perils of rejecting human contact. Supported by an ensemble cast that includes Helen Coker, David Walliams, Phillip Jackson and James Corden, Cruise of the Gods offers a touching and satirical look at the fleeting nature of success and the enduring power of fandom.

Despite only being broadcast once, Cruise of the Gods remains a cult favourite, compared favourably with the better known Galaxy Quest.

Joining me aboard the good ship VBF are actor Cliff Chapman and podcaster Dani Wray and our conversation goes into our own fandom experiences, as well as Doctor Who, Little Britain, Elementary and Fraiser amongst others.

Find out more about Cliff Chapman at https://cliff-chapman.com/

Buy a copy of Stone Circle, designed by Dani Wray at https://westlakefilms.uk/stonecircle/

Listen to Dani’s podcast I Don’t Do Scifi at https://westlakefilms.uk/idontdoscifi/ 

Find out more about Gareth Preston at https://garethpreston.blog/

Follow the podcast on: Twitter @futuresvery 

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Visit our website for plenty of related links about Cruise of the Gods. http://westlakefilms.uk/verybritishfutures 

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“Born of the world’s foremost science fiction imaginations...each week, a specially written hour long play of Tomorrow. Always different. Always compelling.” Out of this World was British TV’s first adult science fiction anthology. Each week, Boris Karloff would introduce a story which brought the works of writers like Issac Asimov and Clifford Simak. Broadcast on ITV and story edited by the legendary Irene Shubik. It only lasted thirteen weeks, but it’s influence would spread across the decade.

Sadly only one episode – Little Lost Robot – is known to exist, plus sound recordings of two more episodes. Nevertheless, Gareth Preston, Dylan Rees and Peter Grehen are here to investigate a series which also featured early work by Terry Nation, creator of the Daleks and Blake’s 7. Very British Futures is produced by Gareth Preston and is a Phantom Frame production. Find out more about the podcast and Out of this World at https://westlakefilms.uk/verybritishfutures Read Peter Grehen's blog https://petergrehanwriter.weebly.com/ Listen to Dylan Rees' Doctor Who - Too Hot for TV podcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/864883 Leave a comment on the episode or Out of this World by emailing us at verybritishfuturespodcast@gmail.com Follow us on X at @futuresvery Visit our Facebook page

1999.A time when technology has created a comfortable materially rich UK. The government has converted empty office blocks into luxury living accommodation for all single young people, where they move in after turning 18. In return for an hour of work, all their physical needs are catered for, and the residents spend their days lost in virtual reality worlds.

Sheena is a recent arrival. Invited to choose the theme for her birthday party, she and her friends research history and choose the “psycho-masochists” of the early Eighties.Sheena becomes intrigued by the CND protestors and wonders why none of her friends worry about nuclear war anymore. Then one day she wakes up and finds herselfliving in 1981, as a young woman called Abigail.

"Shades" was written by Stephen Lowe and stars Tracy Childs and Neil Pearson.

Presenting a special mini series examining BBC1's "Play for Tomorrow" from 1982. Six looks into the future by up and coming playwrights, produced by the "Play for Today" team.

Featuring regular guest commentator John Isles from "I Don't Do Sci-Fi" podcast. Listen to it at https://open.spotify.com/show/6vPllHxYmotp85gcFFxmJd?si=008d9101248b4790

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It’s 1999 and the Brown family are cooped up together in their family flat. Joe was made redundant at the start of the 80s, like most men in town. Now it’s his children Gary and Ann who are the breadwinners, working from home, much to Joe’s resentment. Joe decides that the family needs a holiday, and signs them up for a working break in the underwater Ministry of Defence Civilian Work Centre. Once there, all four of them face unexpected personal challenges.

Presenting a special mini series examining BBC1's "Play for Tomorrow" from 1982. Six looks into the future by up and coming playwrights, produced by the BBC legendary "Play for Today" team.

Written by Tom McGrath and starring Jimmy Hanley, Gerard Kelly and Russell Hunter.

Featuring guest commentator Mark Donaldson, from On the Timelash. Listen to it at https://onthetimelash.wordpress.com/

Find out more at https://westlakefilms.uk/verybritishfutures/

Follow us on X at @futuresvery or visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/verybritishfuturespodcast

Visit garethpreston.blog for more info on the podcast, reviews, fiction and more about host Gareth Preston

Please like and subscribe!

A rare of example of a SF take of rural politics, set in Northumberland.

The selection committee of Coanwood Cricket Club is meeting to decide the lineup for the final match of the season, at the farmhouse of chairman John Ridley. His wife Morna is providing afternoon tea and she notices the men are acting unusually secretively. Once she has been sent away, Lord Slaggyford activates a device to disrupt computer and radio surveillance, either by their rivals Blenkinsop or the Forrestry Commission. The meeting gets underway, using an online version of Wisden which stores all their match data and can suggest the ideal team order and strategy. However, soon cricket talk gives way to the matter of an incompetent guerilla raid on a local farm carried out by John’s son Willie and his friends.

Cricket was written by Michel Wilcox and directed by Michael Darlow. Presenting a special mini series examining BBC1's Play for Tomorrow from 1982. Six looks into the future by up and coming playwrights, produced by the Play for Today team.

Featuring writer, editor and cricket fan Steve Hatcher as our special guest.

Find out more at https://westlakefilms.uk/verybritishfutures/

Find out more about Steven Hatcher's local group work at https://www.whoovers.org.uk/home.php

Follow us on X at @futuresvery or visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/verybritishfuturespodcast

Visit garethpreston.blog for more info on the podcast, reviews, fiction and more about host Gareth Preston

Please subscribe. More episodes coming soon.

New Year’s Eve 1999. Great Britain is part of the European State. The Euro army is in the midst of a controversial war in the Middle East. Sam Howard has come to a French prison to see his daughter Cathy, who has been arrested for being part of a conspiracy to assassinate a pro-war politician, and is facing execution. The authorities hope he can persuade her to issue an apology regretting her actions, allowing them to commute her sentence to prison time. Waiting outside her cell, Sam remembers two earlier New Year’s Eves. How can he save his daughter - and should he?

Presenting a special mini series examining BBC1's Play for Tomorrow from 1982. Six looks into the future by up and coming playwrights, produced by the Play for Today team.

Bright Eyes was written by Peter Prince, and stars Robin Ellis, Sarah Berger and Stephen Greif.

Featuring guest contributor Jon Arnold, writer and co-host of the Strangers in Space podcast.

Find out more at https://westlakefilms.uk/verybritishfutures/

Listen to the insightful Strangers in Space at https://strangersinspace.libsyn.com/

Follow us on X at @futuresvery or visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/verybritishfuturespodcast

A British prison at the beginning of the 21st Century. Psychologist Melvyn is leading a therapy group of prisoners. What constitutes a crime in the near future? As different prisoners tell their stories and build up a picture of Britain, we are left to wonder whether Melvyn's world is quite as reasonable as it seems?

Presenting a special mini series examining BBC1's Play for Tomorrow from 1982. Six looks into the future by up and coming playwrights, produced by the Play for Today team.

Crimes was written by Caryl Churchill, who would soon become one of the UK's most celebrated playwrights. It stars T P McKenna, Sylvestra La Touzel and Julia Foster.

Featuring guest contributor Rod Brown, from the Nostalgia Tours podcast.

Find out more at https://westlakefilms.uk/verybritishfutures/

Listen to the marvellous Nostalgia Tours at https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/rod-brown58

Follow us on X at @futuresvery or visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/verybritishfuturespodcast

2016. Northern Ireland’s New Community College of Education is a symbol of integrated living between Protestant and Catholic communities. When founder and Director Cyril Brown returns from three weeks of convalescence, he is disturbed by the increased influence of his Security Chief turned Vice-Director, Lennie North.

History lecturer Connor Mullan wants to turn a proposed art exhibition about the centenary of the 1916 rising into a fully-fledged protest march against the government. North is bitterly against this and Brown finds himself caught in a power struggle of ego and prejudice.

Easter 2016 was written by Graham Reid, who would go on to write Play for Today's famous "Billy" trilogy. It stars Derrick O'Connor, Bill Nighy and Denys Hawthorne.

This is the final play in the Play for Tomorrow mini-season produced by the team behind Play for Today. Featuring special guest Carolyn Arnold.

Find out more at https://westlakefilms.uk/verybritishfutures/

Find out more about Carolyn Arnold's work as a Time Travel Coach

Follow us on X at @futuresvery or visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/verybritishfuturespodcast

Welcome to Very British Futures—the show where cult British TV series get the future-facing conversations they deserve. In this episode, host Gareth Preston is joined by special guests Amy Elizabeth and Una McCormack to dive deep into the world of Blake’s 7, the iconic space opera that launched a thousand philosophical debates and more than a few dodgy costume choices.

Together, they unpack two standout episodes: the intense showdown of “Seek-Locate-Destroy,” which introduces the formidable Servalan and her relentless pursuit of the Liberator crew, and the mind-bending intrigue of “Deathwatch,” where diplomacy and entertainment collide in the strangest of arenas. Expect sharp insights, fond memories, and lively discussion as they revisit the show's bold storytelling and enduring legacy.

So, strap in—it's time to teleport back to the Federation.

Find out more about Una McCormack's work at https://www.unamccormack.com/

Book tickets for "Calendar Girl with Amy, at the Lyric Theatre.

Follow us on X at @futuresvery or visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/verybritishfuturespodcast

Visit garethpreston.blog for more info on the podcast, reviews, fiction and more about host Gareth Preston

Welcome to a special episode of Very British Futures, where we dive deep into the UK cult classics that shaped sci-fi television history. Today, we're rewinding the clock to explore The Tomorrow People—the original 1970s British TV series that dared to imagine a new evolution of humanity.

With its blend of telepathy, teleportation, and teenage idealism, this show captured imaginations and sparked debates about what it means to be truly human, and what you might do if you "broke out" too.

Joining Gareth Preston for this nostalgic journey are two voices well-versed in retro sci-fi: Tim Reid and Charles Auchterlonie, the dynamic duo behind The Randomiser podcast. Together, they’ll unpack the series’ legacy, its quirky charm, and the bold ideas that made it a standout in the world of children's television. Expect lively discussion, behind-the-scenes trivia, and maybe even a jaunt through hyperspace.

So grab your belts of power and tune your mind to the frequency of tomorrow—because the future starts now.

Please subscribe to the show for more informed British geekiness. Follow us on X at @futuresvery or on Bluesky at @garethpreston.bluesky.com

Contact us at verybritishfuturespodcast@gmail.com

Listen to The Randomiser podcast at Apple Podcasts

Find out more about Very British Futures at garethpreston.blog

Welcome to Very British Futures, the podcast that dives deep into the hidden vaults of British science fiction television, uncovering the bold, the bizarre, and the brilliant. Hosted by Gareth Preston. Today we’re decoding a 80’s cold war thriller with a cerebral twist: the 1981 BBC teen drama Codename: Icarus.

Martin Smith may seem like a typical Northern teenager but he might be the next Einstein. An offer from the mysterious Icarus Foundation for gifted children seems like his golden ticket but soon Martin and his friend Susan suspect that the school is a front for something much more sinister.

Part spy story, part psychological mystery, and part techno-thriller, Codename: Icarus dared to ask what mighthappen if the brightest minds of tomorrow were weaponised today. With its moody visuals, strong cast, and a plot that spirals from boarding school corridors to global conspiracy, it’s a series that still resonates with viewers who like their sci-fi served with a dose of paranoia and intellect.

Joining me to dissect this enigmatic gem are two brilliant minds of our own: Kara Dennison, writer and pop culture analyst with a keen eye for British genre television, and Nicky Smalley, sci-fi enthusiast whose love for vintage drama runs deep. Together, they’ll explore the show’s themes, its place in the BBC’s legacy of ambitious children’s programming, and why Codename: Icarus deserves a place in the best of genre television.

So flex your keyboard skills, adjust your frequency, and prepare to enter a world where genius is dangerous and nothing is quite what it seems. Let’s begin.

Follow us:
X https://x.com/FuturesVery
Threads https://www.threads.com/@preston_gareth
BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/garethpreston.bsky.social

Find out more about Gareth Preston and the podcast atgarethpreston.blog

Read more about Kara Dennison on her blogkaradennison.blogspot.com

Kara at Crunchy Roll TV

Learn more about Codename: Icarus from these excellentarticles:
https://www.curiousbritishtelly.co.uk/2015/10/codename-icarus.html

https://ayearinthecountry.co.uk/codename-icarus-hidden-teatime-cold-war-intrigues-wanderings-23-26/

https://www.the-medium-is-not-enough.com/2010/02/lost_gems_codename_icarus_1981.php

"All irregularities will be handled by the forces controlling each dimension. Transuranic heavy elements may not be used where there is life. Medium atomic weights are available: Gold, Lead, Copper, Jet, Diamond, Radium, Sapphire, Silver and Steel. Sapphire and Steel have been assigned!"

This cryptic introduction sets the tone for an eerie blend of science fiction and supernatural mystery. It hints at a cosmic bureaucracy of elemental agents tasked with maintaining the integrity of time and reality — without ever fully explaining how or why.

In this hauntingly nostalgic episode of Very British Futures, Gareth Preston is joined by Steve Exton and Mark Stalker to unravel the enigmatic threads of ITV’s cult classic Sapphire and Steel. Together, they dive into the eerie corridors of time where logic bends, reality fractures, and two elemental agents—played by Joanna Lumley and David McCallum—battle forces beyond comprehension. They even engage in some genuine discussion of the periodic table and its metals.

Expect spirited debate, affectionate critique, and deep dives into the show’s surreal storytelling, minimalist production, and its place in the pantheon of British sci-fi. Whether you're a longtime fan or a curious newcomer, this episode will leave you pondering: just what is time… and who’s really keeping it in check?

Very British Futures is hosted and produced by Gareth Preston, with guests Simon Exton of The Extonmoss Experiment and introducing Mark Stalker.

Music by Chatri Art.

Listen to The Extonmoss Experiment on your favourite app or here https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-extonmoss-experiment/id1451454324

Buy Big Finish's revival of the series here https://www.bigfinish.com/ranges/v/sapphire-steel

At the time of publication you can watch Sapphire and Steel on ITVX in the UK.

In this episode of Very British Futures, Gareth is joined by writer Stephen Hatcher to explore The Guardians (ITV, 1971), the gripping 13-part dystopian drama that imagined a Britain under authoritarian rule. 

Together, they revisit the series’ chilling vision of a one parry state, controlled media, violent political resistance, and a society kept in line by the brutal paramilitary force and secret police known as the Guardians, or ‘the G’s’. Gareth and Stephen examine its themes, production history, and the ways this drama resonates with contemporary anxieties about power and democracy. It stars a remarkable cast of actors, many before they became household names. They also consider a lost style of mainstream television, with long erudite scenes between characters. 

Join us as we shine a light on one of British television’s most thoughtful and rarely discussed sci-fi political thrillers. 

Very British Futures is a Phantom Frame production, hosted and produced by Gareth Preston. Music by Chatri Art.

You can follow the podcast on X @futuresvery

Find out more about Obverse Books Silver Archive https://obversebooks.co.uk/product-category/silver-archive/

Book now for The Quatermass Event at the Quad in Derby https://www.derbyquad.co.uk/events/thequatermassevent/The Guardians on IMDB https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066666/reference/?ref_=nm_knf_t_2

In this episode, Gareth Preston is joined by Ken Moss and Andrew Roe-Crines to venture into one of the quirkier corners of British science fiction television: Terrahawks.

Zelda, a centuries old android with incredible powers over matter, an army of renegade aliens, and a grievance against all humanity, threatens the Earth. Standing in her way are the Terrahawks, a secret organisation of pilots and scientists and their fleet of advanced vehicles. Not to mention their Zeroids, ball-shaped self-aware robot soldiers.

Created by Gerry Anderson and Christopher Burr and first broadcast by ITV in 1983, Terrahawks arrived at a moment of transition for Anderson’s career. Mixing model work and puppetry with early video effects, broad humour, and moments of genuine darkness, the series has long divided audiences. Was it a deliberate satire of the Supermarionation era, a children’s show struggling with changing tastes, or something odder and more stylish than it’s usually given credit for? As ever, the conversation ranges across production history, aesthetics, tone, and legacy, asking what Terrahawks tells us about British television science fiction in the early 1980s—and why, decades later, it stubbornly refuses to be forgotten.

Hosted and produced by Gareth Preston. Guests Ken Moss (The Extonmoss Experiment) and Andrew Roe-Crines (Westlake Films).

Music by Chatri Art

Listen to The Extonmoss Experiment here

Find out more about Andrew S Roe-Crines' work

Buy the Big Finish Terrahawk stories

Visit Gareth Preston's blog for more info on the podcast

Welcome to Very British Futures, the podcast where we explore Britain’s past visions of tomorrow on the small screen — the futures that became part of pop culture, and the ones that somehow slipped through the cracks of television history.

We are launching a brand new season with an episode takes us back to 1977 and a groundbreaking docu-drama made when such programmes were relatively rare - Alternative 3.

Originally aired on ITV on the 20th of June that year and immediately caused confusion, alarm, and a fair bit of late-night debate in pubs and living rooms across the country. Was it a serious investigative documentary? A science fiction thriller in the vein of Quatermass? Or an elaborate hoax that proved more convincing than its makers intended?

Journalists on a science magazine show claimed to reveal a secret plan devised by world governments and scientific elites: a desperate response to a dying planet involving disappearing scientists, a secret space programme, and a supposed off-world escape route for the elite of humanity. It was bleak, conspiratorial, and delivered with astraight-faced authority that blurred the line between factualreporting and speculative fiction.

Nearly fifty years later, the programme still holds a strangeplace in British broadcasting history. It sits somewhere between Cold War paranoia, mischief, and the enduring fascination with hidden truths.

To help us untangle the story behind Alternative 3 — its production, its reception, and the long conspiracy-theoryafterlife it spawned — Gareth Preston is joined by actor, writer,broadcaster, and noted expert on the odd corners of British film and television, Toby Hadoke.

So settle in as we dig into a real one-off of British telefantasy.

Very British Futures is hosted and produced by Gareth Preston, with guest Toby Hadoke. Music by Chatri Art, and James Leatherbarrow. Artwork by Ken Moss. This is a Phantom Frame production.

Find out more about Toby Hadoke and his work -https://tobyhadoke.com/

Order his marvellous book on The Quatermass Experiment -https://tenacrefilms.bigcartel.com/product/the-quatermass-experiment-the-making-of-tv-s-first-sci-fi-classic

Toby Hadoke’s adaptation of Nigel Kneale’s The Road -https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0000y1d

IMDB page for Alternative 3https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075664/reference/

Visit our website at http://westlakefilms.uk/verybritishfutures/

Follow us on X at https://x.com/FuturesVery

Ready to take a trip to Tracy Island? In the latest episode of Very British Futures, host Gareth Preston is firing up the atomic engines for a deep dive into the 1960s puppet masterpiece: Thunderbirds.

To help navigate the high-stakes world of International Rescue, Gareth is joined by a powerhouse trio of guests from the Official Talking Pictures TV podcast: Mel Byron, Scott Phipps, and Daniel Reifferscheid.

The gang isn't just looking at the flashy vehicles (though, let’sbe honest, we all want to pilot Thunderbird 2). They’re gettinginto the nuts and bolts of what made Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s vision so enduring. Concentrating on three varied episodes: “Trapped in the Sky”, “Attack of Alligators”, and “Alias Mr Hackenbacker”. Since TPTV is the spiritual home of vintage telly, the guests bring their expert perspective on why Thunderbirds still looks "F.A.B." on modern screens.

Includes Dinky Toys, Busted and the most popular Blue Peter make ever.

It’s a warm, witty, and wonderfully nostalgic conversation.Whether you’re a lifelong fan who knows their Thunderbird 4 from their Thunderbird 5, or you just have a soft spot for Parker’s "Yus, M'Lady," this episode is a lovely tribute to acultural touchstone of British television.

Useful links

Very British Futures on Xhttps://x.com/FuturesVery

The home of Gerry Anderson shows https://gerryanderson.com/

The Official Talking Pictures TV podcasthttps://talkingpicturestvpodcast.libsyn.com/

More on Gilly’s Antiqueshttps://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/25842588.boltons-gillys-antiques-full-thousands-treasures/

Gilly’s Antiques on Ebayhttps://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/gillysantiques

Mel Byron’s home page https://www.melbyron.co.uk/