BFI Blu-ray/DVD, out now

A mysterious object is approaching Earth…

This 1965 serial is one I wish I’d known about many, many years ago – watching it one episode a day, rather than binging, ratchets up the tension with various reveals that make you question what’s going on a lot. Whatever you do, though, do not look this up before you watch it – too many places give away the events of the final episode, and you do not want to be spoiled.

It’s very much of its time – it might have gone out in the children’s pre-news slot, but there’s precious little allowance made. The reality of a world where only a quarter of the population is likely to survive isn’t sugar coated at any stage; there’s a lovely moment where the Prime Minister is tackled about whether he’s going to be one of the lucky ones who goes into the fallout shelters, with everyone expecting that some string might have been pulled, and he admits that he isn’t. There’s a shouting fanatic called Keeler who… well, he’s all too reminiscent of those we still are seeing on the political stage 60 years later, and if you only know Trevor Bannister from Are You Being Served? and its ilk, prepare to be surprised by his performance here. There’s the odd weak link amongst the cast, but overall it’s played absolutely straight, with Chris McMaster giving us a credible TV service and some effective scientific dialogue.

The BFI release has commentaries for each episode, all of which are well worth a listen, but watch the episodes themselves first.

Verdict: A surprising gem rescued from the archives. Now, someone find the sequel… 8/10

Paul Simpson