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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

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

"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.

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

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 [email protected] Listen to The Randomiser podcast at Apple Podcasts Find out more about Very British Futures at garethpreston.blog

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

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

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 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!

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

“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 [email protected] Follow us on X at @futuresvery Visit our Facebook page

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  Facebook /verybritishfuturespodcast  Visit our website for plenty of related links about Cruise of the Gods. http://westlakefilms.uk/verybritishfutures  Email us your thoughts and suggestions to [email protected]  Visit our online bookshop at https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/verybritishfuture

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. Follow the podcast on: Twitter @futuresvery Facebook / verybritishfuturespodcast Visit our website for plenty of related links about A for Andromeda. http://westlakefilms.uk/verybritishfutures Email us your thoughts and suggestions to [email protected] Visit our online bookshop at https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/verybritishfutures