Ground-breaking, intelligent, prescient 1970s drama Doomwatch, now out on DVD, is a British television classic…
This spring sees the most comprehensive haul ofDoomwatchepisodes released on DVD for the first time.
It followed half an hour of comedy from Kenneth Williams, which must have surely heightened its dramatic impact.
The two shows undoubtedly shared a synergy of ideas not to mention cast and crew.
Pedler described the series as being part of an emerging genre: Sci-fact.
Cannon actively encouraged discussion of the show on the listings magazines letters page.
Simon Oates, often in outrageous attire (even for the flamboyant 70s!)
and often worn as a bet with the crew portrayed Dr John Ridge.
The series hit the ground running with a tremendous opening episode,The Plastic Eaters.
The team is introduced to the viewer as Toby Wren begins his first day assigned to the department.
This leads to a genuinely horrifying depiction of a plane brought down after every plastic surface melts away.
The products production and long term future was very much a hot topic as the series hit the airwaves.
However, it was the explosive finale to the first season that really shocked the shows many fans.
One of the department is lost whilst dismantling a bomb on a seaside pier.
Even today such a shocking scene probably wouldnt be shown in the context of a drama.
However, the scene was shown in a 1988Panoramadocumentary on the subject of TV violence.
A familiar trope from much early Seventies television, in 2016 his attitude towards women seems cringeworthy at best.
This mars an otherwise terrific story.
InThe Devils Sweetsit is the young secretary, Pat Hunnisett, who responds to drug-induced advertising.
Chantry was a strong, intelligent woman who was devised to be an intellectual equal.
However, Chantry was both under-written and under-used.
The well-meaning intentions of the Production team, seemingly being marginalised by some of the programmes more misogynistic attitudes.
The grammar of TV production has changed considerably over the last 45 years.
Whereas in the early Seventies television drama was treated more like a theatre play.
More often than not, location filming was kept to a minimum and decidedly basic studio-based sets predominated.
Nowadays, only soap opera and some situation comedies employ multi-camera format.
He tells his oblivious colleagues We are surrounded by film!
in the shocked tones of a horror movie.
Sadly, like earlyDoctor Whoand many programmes of similar vintage,Doomwatchhas several episodes missing from the BBC archives.
The DVD release includes 26 extant episodes of the 38 recorded.
Only 37 episodes were actually transmitted.
One episode that does exist isThe Web Of Fear, a title it shares with the recently rediscoveredDoctor Whoserial.
Lis Sladens contribution to the series is unfortunately lost.
After three successful seasons,Doomwatchended in August 1972.
Behind the scenes, the writers and producer had fallen out.
The working relationship had been strained at the best of times.
Pedler described Dudleys treatment of the programme as a total travesty.
The regulars were often absent from the latter episodes and there was a general lack of cohesion.
A feature film was produced in 1972, the TV regulars very much bit part players.
Sadly, it didnt lead to a new series.
At its peak,Doomwatchwas thought-provoking, often shocking but above all intriguing.
It had much to say about the state of scientific research and the ecological issues affecting contemporary Britain.
1997 saw a one-off BBC drama calledBreakout, about a virus which had spread from a scientific research establishment.
The concept wasDoomwatchin all but name.
More recent fare such asSpooks,Sea Of SoulsandTorchwoodowe something of a debt toDoomwatch.
The series was truly ground-breaking, consistently intelligent and often prescient.
It has been virtually forgotten, yet it undoubtedly deserves its cult status.
For fans of vintage British television drama with an edge, this is potent stuff and is thoroughly recommended.
Doomwatchis released on DVD by Simply Media on 4th April.
