RTBWTV February 20th 2025 - Robots, cyborgs and computers

As we enter that optimistic Star Trek future, where everything is automated and everyone lives a life of peaceful leisure staring at their screens, Guy Morgan and David Newell look back at how the future was viewed by classic television during Britain's golden age - 1956 and the Suez Crisis to 1974 and the three day week. We discover that amongst all the bright predictions, many writers and producers were offering a rather more gloomy forecast.

Dave takes charge of the robots (although there's a tussle regarding the Cybernauts) while Guy tinkers with giant computers.

But where, you ask, do the Daleks and Cybermen fit in?

What's the best way to disable an errant computer? (A trip to your local ironmonger's might prove useful)

and never, never cancel a scientist's funding -- who knows what they might get up to in revenge?

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