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.

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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.

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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

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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/

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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

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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/

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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

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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.

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/ 

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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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