The Tomorrow People

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For the song by Ziggy Marley, see Conscious Party.

The Tomorrow People is a children's science fiction television series, devised by Roger Price which first ran between 1973 and 1979. The show was re-imagined between 1992 and 1995, this time with Roger Price as executive producer. A third incarnation that ran between 2001 and 2007 saw a return to the original conception and characters, but this time produced as a series of audio plays by Nigel Fairs for Big Finish Productions. All three incarnations have been cancelled mid-run.

Contents

[edit] Premise

All incarnations of the show concerned the emergence of the next stage of human evolution known colloquially as Tomorrow People. Born to human parents, an apparently normal child might at some point between childhood and late adolescence experience a process called "breaking out", when they develop their special abilities. These abilities include psychic powers such as telepathy, telekinesis, and teleportation. However, they are physically unable to deliberately kill others.

[edit] Original series

The original series was produced by Thames Television for Britain's ITV network. In the show the Tomorrow People operate out of a secret laboratory, The lab, built in an abandoned London Underground station. They watch for new Tomorrow People "breaking out" to help them through the process and sometimes deal with attention from extraterrestrial species. They deal with the "Galactic Federation" which oversees the welfare of telepathic species throughout the galaxy. In addition to their psychic powers, they also use advanced technology such as the biological computer TIM, which is capable of original thought and can augment their psychic powers. TIM also helps the Tomorrow People to teleport long distances, although they must be wearing a device installed into a belt or bracelet for this to work. Teleportation is called jaunting in the show, similar to the term jaunte used in the novel The Stars My Destination.

In the original series the Tomorrow People are also referred to by the term Homo superior. This term appears in David Bowie's song Oh! You Pretty Things: "Let me make it plain. You gotta make way for the Homo Superior." This term came up as part of a conversation between Roger Price and David Bowie at a meeting at Granada studios in Manchester. Price was directing a programme in which Bowie was appearing. Price had been working on a script for his Tomorrow People project and during a conversation with Bowie, the term Homo superior came up. Bowie liked the term and soon afterwards wrote it into his song, predating the series itself which was eventually produced as a TV series by Thames TV in 1973. Price has sometimes been quoted as saying that that the lyrics to this song were inspired by the series, not the other way around.[1] This, however, is impossible, as the album containing the song (Hunky Dory) was released two years before The Tomorrow People began. The term "Homo Superior" has also been used earlier, for instance by the character Magneto in the American X-Men comic book. The earliest known use of "homo superior" as a description of a superhuman was decades prior, in British author Olaf Stapledon's novel Odd John.

Alistair McGown of Screen Online cites The Mind in Chains by Dr Christopher Evans as a primary source.[1] He also suggests a similarity between the Tomorrow People and the children's fantasy fiction of Enid Blyton.

While they reveal their existence to some, the Tomorrow People generally operate in secrecy for fear that normal people (whom they term "Saps", a pejorative abbreviation for Homo sapiens) will either fear or victimize them because of their special powers or try to exploit them for military purposes. In order to defend themselves they must use non-lethal weaponry such as "stun guns" or martial arts throws due to their inability to cause harm, referred to as the "prime barrier".

Even for the time, the special effects of the original show were considered sub-par and camp, largely attributable to the show's small budget. For example, the series initially suffered from the somewhat primitive yellow-screen chroma key effects of the time, although in later episodes the special effect for jaunting became very convincing. In an interview Price said that the producer of Doctor Who actually telephoned him, and asked how he managed to make people jaunt while others moved in the shot.[1]

[edit] Look-In comic strip

A comic strip version, based on the original series, was also produced, written by Angus P. Allan and printed in TV comic Look-In that ran somewhat concurrently with the 1970s series.

[edit] New series

Price produced the revival for Tetra Films (an independent production company, mostly comprising the former children's department at Thames Television) in association with the Thames-owned American company Reeves Entertainment for Thames and Nickelodeon between 1992 and 1995. After some pressure from executives, Price decided to start with a blank slate and so the show is almost completely different from its predecessor.[1] None of the original cast, characters, or music were used. This alienated some of the series' original audience[citation needed]. However by then they were not the target audience. The incorporation of a multi-national cast was to ensure that worldwide syndication sales would be easier to obtain.

The distinctive belt buckles were omitted as the new Tomorrow People were able to teleport without them. The non-lethal stun guns and other gadgetry were also done away with. The new Tomorrow People relied more on their wits, each other, and powers to get themselves out of trouble.

There remain some analogies however. The Lab was replaced by a crashed alien psychic spaceship in the South Pacific to which Tomorrow People are drawn when they "break out". TIM is replaced by an ostensibly mute computer that is part of the alien ship. The visual effects were improved considerably by effects artist Clive Davis along with the sets in the new series compared to the original series.

[edit] Audio revival series

In 2001, Big Finish Productions launched an audio series based on the original concept, produced by Nigel Fairs. Nicholas Young and Philip Gilbert reprised their roles as John and TIM, with Helen Goldwyn and Daniel Wilson appearing as Elena and Paul, the new Tomorrow People. Some releases also feature other original cast members, such as Peter Vaughan-Clarke, Elizabeth Adare and Mike Holoway (notably Trigonometry). Trevor Littledale took over the role of TIM in the audio series from The Warlock's Dance onwards after Philip Gilbert's death.

Five series were produced of the audio series before it was cancelled, due to the discontinuation of a licensing arrangement with Fremantle Media Enterprises, in December of 2007. CDs of the series were permanently withdrawn from sale on the 7th of January 2008.[2]

[edit] Documentaries

In October 2005, Fantom Films together with First Time Films released the much talked about yet never before seen 1997 documentary about the series entitled Beyond Tomorrow.[3] The documentary features interviews with cast members from the original series including: Nicholas Young (John), Peter Vaughan-Clarke (Stephen), Sammie Winmill (Carol), Elizabeth Adare (Liz), Dean Lawrence (Tyso), Mike Holoway (Mike) and the late Philip Gilbert.

The following year, Fantom Films released a second DVD discussing the 1990s series with writers Lee Pressman and Grant Cathro, entitled 'Re-inventing The Tomorrow People'.[4]

[edit] Television series episodes

ITV broadcast the original series in the 1970s. Nickelodeon broadcast the original 1970s version in the United States in the early 1980s, and broadcast all five stories from the new series in the 1990s in the United States and Australia. The ABC, and later the Seven Network in Australia broadcast the original series. Both shows were also seen in other parts of the World.

[edit] 1970s series

The Tomorrow People (1973)
Format Fantasy / Drama / Sci-Fi
Created by Roger Price
Starring Nicholas Young, Elizabeth Adare, Peter Vaughan-Clarke, Philip Gilbert, Stephen Salmon, Sammie Winmill, Dean Lawrence, Mike Holoway , Misako Koba, Nigel Rhodes
Country of origin United Kingdom
No. of episodes 68
Production
Running time 30 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel ITV
Original run April 30, 1973 – February 19, 1979
External links
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

[edit] Series 1

Regular Cast
John - Nicholas Young
Stephen - Peter Vaughan-Clarke
Carol - Sammie Winmill
Kenny - Stephen Salmon
Voice of TIM - Philip Gilbert
Ginge - Michael Standing
  • Slaves of Jedikiah
Original UK transmission 30 April - 4 June 1973
Authors: Roger Price, Brian Finch
Director: Paul Bernard
Guest Cast:
Lefty - Derek Crewe
Jedikiah - Francis de Wolff
Cyclops - Robert Bridges
Mrs. Jameson - Patricia Denys
Plot: Stephen, up until now an ordinary schoolboy, suddenly collapses on a London street as the mental ordeal of "breaking out" begins. The three existing Tomorrow People John, Carol and Kenny, aware of his ordeal, manage to make contact with him and guide him through the process, but are unable to keep him from being kidnapped by Ginge and Lefty, two Cockney thugs working for the mysterious Jedikiah, who wants the Tomorrow People for their psychic powers, and who serves in turn the even more mysterious Cyclops. Jedikiah turns out to be in reality the Cyclops' shape-changing robot; the Cyclops (implied to be of the same race as Polyphemus, the Cyclops of Homer's Odyssey) turns out to be an alien traveller stranded near Earth after an accident killed his crew of telepaths, whose powers are needed to operate his ship's engines. Jedikiah is damaged and goes berserk, damaging the ship and dooming it to explode; the Tomorrow People, however, are able to teleport the Cyclops off the ship to Earth, and contact other aliens who can provide the Cyclops with the atmosphere he needs to breathe and with transport back to his own star system. Jedikiah survives the explosion of the ship and is left drifting in space; Ginge and Lefty become the Tomorrow People's allies.
  • The Medusa Strain
Original UK transmission 11 June - 2 July 1973
Authors: Roger Price, Brian Finch.
Director: Roger Price.
Guest Cast:
Peter - Richard Speight
Jedikiah - Roger Bizley
Rabowski - Roger Booth
Coppin - Dave Prowse
Medusa - Norman McGlen
Plot: In the twenty-sixth century, non-telepath Count Rabowski's vessel recovers the drifting robotic form of Jedikiah, who proceeds to take over the vessel, secretly located in hyperspace. Robowski has captured a young "Time Guardian", Peter, who is forced to transport Robowski and Jedikiah back to 1973 to steal the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London, but are foiled by Stephen and Carol. However, Carol is captured, and Jedikiah takes over the vessel, planning to use Peter to stop the Tomorrow People's "Great Emergence" in the twenty-first century, after which they displace homo sapiens. Robowski uses the Medusa, a predatory ambulatory plant that preys on telepathic animals on its homeworld through nullifying their psionic abilities and destroying them.

However, Jedikiah and Robowski are sent back to Mercury in the distant past, killing Robowski on arrival, and rendering Jedikiah inoperative.

  • The Vanishing Earth
Original UK transmission 9 July - 30 July 1973
Authors: Roger Price, Brian Finch.
Director: Paul Bernard.
Guest Cast:
Lefty - Derek Crewe
Smithers - Kenneth Farrington
Steen - Kevin Stoney
Spidron - John Woodnutt
Plot: Alien criminal Spidron is mining the Earth's core for rare minerals, leading to serious geological planetwide instability that may shatter the planet. For the first time, the Tomorrow People encounter the Galactic Federation, a network of fellow telepaths from different species that have banded together to protect galactic peace, and prevent the exploitation of more vulnerable species.

[edit] Series 2

Regular Cast
John - Nicholas Young
Stephen - Peter Vaughan-Clarke
Elizabeth - Elizabeth Adare
Chris - Christopher Chittell
Voice of TIM - Philip Gilbert
Professor Cawston - Brian Stanion
  • The Blue and the Green
Original UK transmission 4 February - 4 March 1974
Author: Roger Price.
Director: Roger Price.
Guest Cast:
Grandfather - Nigel Pegram
Robert - Jason Kemp
Police Inspector - Simon Merrick
Johnson - Ray Burdis
Plot: As new Tomorrow Person Elizabeth M'Bondo breaks out, violence around the world is increasing, due to blue and green badges being distributed by an alien species, the D'henagali, that needs large amounts of violent energy in order to metamorphose into their energy-based adult phase, and leave the planet. According to TIM, this happened once before, in ancient Rome, where the Blues and the Greens destabilised the empire, leading to its long-term collapse. The Tomorrow People turn Skylab into a giant stun gun to prevent widespread destruction. However, the violent emotions emitted through the sleeping populace's dreams gives the D'henagali all the energy they need and more to leave Earth, and they gratefully do so without further incident.
  • A Rift in Time
Original UK transmission 11 March - 1 April 1974
Author: Roger Price.
Director: Darrol Blake.
Guest Cast:
Peter - Richard Speight
Professor Sylvia Garner - Sylvia Coleridge
Gaius - Stanley Lebor
Lothar - Leonard Pieroni
Plot: In ancient Britain, Roman officers from an alternate history try to alter the past in order to restore their own world, one in which the Roman Empire has had a thirteen hundred year technological headstart on our own world due to the premature invention of a working steam engine, and has become a major galactic empire.
  • The Doomsday Men
Original UK transmission 8 April - 6 May 1974
Author: Roger Price.
Director: Roger Price.
Guest Cast:
Douglas McLelland - William Relton
Lt General McLelland - Lindsay Campbell
Traffic Warden - Nigel Pegram
Lee Wan - Eric Young
Doomsday Man - Bill Treacher
Plot: A deranged group of militarists attempts to provoke a global conflict by hijacking a space station.

[edit] Series 3

Regular Cast
John - Nicholas Young
Stephen - Peter Vaughan-Clarke
Elizabeth - Elizabeth Adare
Tyso - Dean Lawrence
Chris - Christopher Chittell
Voice of TIM - Philip Gilbert
Professor Cawston - Brian Stanion
  • Secret Weapon
Original UK transmission 26 February - 19 March 1975
Author: Roger Price.
Director: Stan Woodward.
Guest Cast:
Patricia Conway - Anne Curthoys
Col. Masters - Trevor Bannister
Prime Minister - Hugh Morton
Plot: An experimental weapons research establishment abducts new Tomorrow Person Tyso Boswell, and it is revealed that Earth's governments are engaged in a covert psionic arms race that involves the exploitation of telepaths.
  • Worlds Away
Original UK transmission 26 March - 9 April 1975
Author: Roger Price.
Director: Vic Hughes.
Guest Cast:
Mrs Boswell - Joanna Tope
Evergreen Boswell - Denise Cook
Lenda - Lydia Lisle
Timus / Tikno - Philip Gilbert
Arkron - Keith Chegwin
Plot: Timus Irnok Mosta, a maverick Galactic Federation diplomat, arranges for the Tomorrow People to intervene in the affairs of Peeri, a medieval earthlike world where the native telepaths, or 'Vesh' are burnt as witches, at the mercy of a cruel Vesh-Hunter elite. It is also revealed that the alien Kulthan Empire were responsible for delaying the emergence of homo superior on Earth and elsewhere through installing a hidden "psi damper" in the Great Pyramid of Cheops. Peeri has a similar device concealed within one of its own pyramids.
  • A Man for Emily

This story is chiefly notable as the first TV appearance of Peter Davison, later famous as the fifth actor to play the Doctor in Doctor Who. He and Sandra Dickinson were married from 1978 to 1994.

Original UK transmission 16 April - 30 April 1975
Author: Roger Price.
Director: Stan Woodward.
Guest Cast:
Elmer - Peter Davison
Emily - Sandra Dickinson
The Momma - Margaret Burton
Publican - Robin Parkinson
Mr Greenhead - Bill Dean
See also: Tickling boots
Plot: Three humanoid aliens appear in an automated starship, refugees from a nuclear war that destroyed their species generations ago, resulting in a matriarchal culture and cannibalism onboard the vessel. Unfortunately, the vessel still has its own operative nuclear weapons.
  • Revenge of Jedikiah
Original UK transmission 7 May - 21 May 1975
Author: Roger Price.
Director: Vic Hughes.
Guest Cast:
Jedikiah - Francis de Wolff
Sergeant Evans - John Lyon
Evergreen Boswell - Denise Cook
Mustaf - Ali Bongo
Plot: An old nemesis returns to try to destroy the Tomorrow People one last time, after the Kulthan Empire retrieves Jedikiah's robotic body from the surface of Mercury during the time of ancient Egypt, reactivate his shapechanger abilities, and use him as a Pharaoh. He then remains inactive as an Egyptian mummy and re-emerges in 1975. Upon his return, he becomes the assistant to a second rate magician in order to pursue the Tomorrow People. Jedikiah's plot is eventually foiled when TIM removes his shape shifting abilities and condemns him to life on Earth as a human. The Tomorrow people are granted honorary status with the Galactic Federation and are taken away by Tymus for a vacation.

[edit] Series 4

Regular Cast
John - Nicholas Young
Stephen - Peter Vaughan-Clarke
Elizabeth - Elizabeth Adare
Tyso - Dean Lawrence
Mike Bell - Mike Holoway
Voice of TIM - Philip Gilbert
  • One Law
Original UK transmission 21 October - 5 November 1975
Author: Roger Price.
Director: Leon Thau.
Guest Cast:
Inspector - Tim Barrett
Lord Dunning - Harold Kasket
Mr O'Reilly - Patrick McAlinney
Thwaites - Arnold Diamond
Two Tone - John Hollis
Plot: The Tomorrow People return to Earth after an intergalactic vacation. They recruit Mike, a new Tomorrow Person from a Cockney working class background who has, in their absence, fallen in with organized crime.
  • Into the Unknown
Original UK transmission 13 January - 28 January 1976
Author: Jon Watkins.
Director: Roger Price.
Guest Cast:
Tirayaan - Geoffrey Bayldon
Kwaan - Stephen Garlick
Vaktaan - Brian Coburn
Ralaa - Raymond Boyd
Plot: The Tomorrow People unwittingly find themselves on an alien ship that is being pulled towards a wormhole or singularity.

[edit] Series 5

Regular Cast
John - Nicholas Young
Elizabeth - Elizabeth Adare
Mike - Mike Holoway
Voice of TIM - Philip Gilbert
  • The Dirtiest Business
Original UK transmission 28 February - 7 March 1977
Author: Roger Price.
Director: Vic Hughes.
Guest Cast:
Pavla - Anulka Dubynska
KGB Man - Jan Murzynowski
Senior KGB Man - Gabor Vernon
Major Ann Turner - Vivien Heilbron
Plot: Pavla, a young Russian telepath, escapes from her Soviet intelligence minders in central London, prompting the SIS to raid the Tomorrow People's headquarters. The Tomorrow People set out to find Pavla before either the KGB or the SIS do.
  • A Much Needed Holiday
Original UK transmission 14 March - 21 March 1977
Author: Roger Price.
Director: Richard Mervyn.
Guest Cast:
Gremlon - Anthony Garner
Trig - Guy Humphries
Trog - David Corti
Plot: The Tomorrow People take another vacation, this time to a primitive planet, where ruthless Kleptons have enslaved the population to steal the planet's diamonds.
  • The Heart of Sogguth
Original UK transmission 28 March - 4 April 1977
Author: Roger Price.
Director: Vic Hughes.
Guest Cast:
Jake - Roddy Maude-Roxby
Mike Harding - James Smilie
Derek - Derek Pascoe
Bill - Bill Rice
The Fresh Hearts - Flintlock (Jamie Stone, John Summerton, Mike Holloway)
Plot: Mike's band gets a new manager, who happens to be the leader of a cult that worships Sogguth, an evil god.

[edit] Series 6

Regular Cast
John - Nicholas Young
Elizabeth - Elizabeth Adare
Mike - Mike Holoway
Hsui Tai - Misako Koba
Voice of TIM - Philip Gilbert
  • The Lost Gods
Original UK transmission 15 May - 22 May 1978
Author: Roger Price.
Director: Peter Webb.
Guest Cast:
Matsu Tan - Burt Kwouk
Sage - Robert Lee
Plot: The Tomorrow People discover another one of their number, Hsui Tai, a young Japanese woman kept captive in a Chinese monastery that practices human sacrifice.
  • Hitler's Last Secret
Original UK transmission 5 June - 12 June 1978
Author: Roger Price.
Director: Leon Thau.
Guest Cast:
Hitler - Michael Sheard
Professor Friedl - Richard Warner
Major Hughes - Leon Eagles
Karl Brandt - Nicholas Lyndhurst
Willi Frisch - Earl Rhodes
Plot: Adolf Hitler was an alien metamorph who is also behind the rise of neofascism amongst European youth.
  • The Thargon Menace
Original UK transmission 19 June - 26 June 1978
Author: Roger Price.
Director: Peter Yolland.
Guest Cast:
General Papa Minn - Olu Jacobs
Flynn - Michael Audreson
Sula - Jackie Cowper
Major Marcos - Eric Roberts
Plot: Alien Thargon youths crashland on the Earth, and the conniving Pacific Island dictator Papa Minn tries to use them to create world domination until their world's military arrives...

[edit] Series 7

Regular Cast
John - Nicholas Young
Elizabeth - Elizabeth Adare
Mike - Mike Holoway
Hsui Tai - Misako Koba
Andrew Forbes - Nigel Rhodes
Voice of TIM - Philip Gilbert
  • Castle of Fear
Original UK transmission 9 October - 16 October 1978
Author: Roger Price.
Director: Vic Hughes.
Guest Cast:
Bruce Forbes - Dominic Allen
Angus McDuff - Bill Gavin
Professor Gail Mayer - Jennifer Watts
Professor Young - Brian Jackson
Plot: New Scottish Tomorrow Person Andrew Forbes is beset by his father, Bruce, who has religious fears about the nature of his son's newfound abilities.
  • Achilles Heel
Original UK transmission 23 October - 30 October 1978
Author: Roger Price.
Director: Gabrielle Beaumont.
Guest Cast:
Bruce Forbes - Dominic Allen
Yagon - Hilary Minster
Cantor - Christian Rodska
Glip - Stanley Bates
Timus - Philip Gilbert
Accompanist - Ted Taylor
Plot: Cantor and Yagon are two rogues who want to mine the anti-telepath element balamin for use in an anti-telepath galactic black market amongst 'psi-null' worlds that cannot develop their own telepaths.
  • Living Skins
Original UK transmission 6 November - 11 November 1978
Author: Roger Price.
Director: Stan Woodward.
Guest Cast:
Wilton - Ralph Lawford
Girl - Judith Fielding
Guard - Dave Carter
Plot: Ameboid aliens try to use a youth style craze to invade Earth, temporarily taking over Mike, Hsui Tai, John and Elizabeth in the process.

[edit] Series 8

Regular Cast
John - Nicholas Young
Elizabeth - Elizabeth Adare
Mike - Mike Holoway
Hsui Tai - Misako Koba
Andrew Forbes - Nigel Rhodes
Voice of TIM - Philip Gilbert
  • War of the Empires
Original UK transmission 29 January - 19 February 1979
Author: Roger Price.
Director: Vic Hughes.
Guest Cast:
American President - John F. Parker
American General - Richard Bartlett
Morgan Evans - David Baxt
Thargon General - Oliver Maguire
Chaircreature - David Cann
Sorsen Captain - Terry Woodfield
Thargon Commander - Percy Herbert
Thargon Officer - Anthony Stafford
Plot: In this final serial of the seventies version of the Tomorrow People, the Sorson and Thargon Empires are at interstellar war. Earth gets involved when the Sorsens establish a base on the Earth's moon for use against the Thargons, who destroy a US space shuttle in the crossfire when they destroy it. The US President agrees to Earth's involvement in the war, while the Galactic Federation is beset by its usual bureaucratic infighting. Angry, the Tomorrow People alienate the Federation, and must stop the Thargons from devastating the Earth, still regarded as a strategic target even after the Sorsens have left the planet after technology theft is believed to have occurred.

[edit] 1990s series

The Tomorrow People (1992)
Format Fantasy / Drama / Sci-Fi
Created by Roger Damon Price
Starring Kristian Schmid, Christian Tessier, Adam Pearce, Kristen Ariza, Naomie Harris, Alexandra Milman
Country of origin United Kingdom
No. of episodes 25
Production
Running time 30 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel ITV
Original run November 18, 1992 – March 8, 1995
External links
IMDb profile
TV.com summary
Tomorrow People:
Adam Newman - Kristian Schmid
Megabyte (Marmaduke Damon) - Christian Tessier
Kevin Wilson - Adam Pearce (only until The Culex Experiment)
Lisa Davies - Kristen Ariza (only in The Origin Story)
Ami Jackson - Naomie Harris (from The Culex Experiment)
Jade Weston - Alexandra Milman (The Living Stones with a brief appearance in The Culex Experiment)

[edit] Series 1

  • The Origin Story
First UK transmission: November - December 1992
Note: A short test pilot version of the first episode entitled A bad dream gets real was created before full production commenced. Its content was roughly that of the first two episodes of the Origin Story. This remains unaired as it was an internal proof of concept only. The main cast was made up of the same actors, except that Stephen Pollard played Kevin.[5]
Guest Cast:
General Bill Damon - Jeff Harding
Professor John Galt - Hugh Quarshie
Colonel Masters - Manning Redwood
Gloria - Romilly Nolan
Mrs. Davies - Shezwae Powell
Lady Mulvaney - Gabrielle Hamilton
Hulk - Tom Kerridge
Ray - Callum Dixon
Smith - Charles Balfour
Jones - Lou Hirsch
Mrs Hawthorne - Avril Angers
Boris - Paul Humpoletz
Sammi - Linda Goens
Sgt. Young - Ricco Ross
Sgt. Holloway - Fidelma Meehan
Newsreader - Sally McClaren
Newspaper girl - Monica Peck
MC - Wolf Mueller
Plot: Several young people begin to mysteriously vanish and reappear all over the World. Unknown to the authorities investigating, they are transported to a remote Pacific island where a mysterious alien spaceship has been wrecked for centuries.
Adam Newman, an Australian, is the first to appear on the island and soon discovers the ship.
Marmaduke "Megabyte" Damon and Kevin Wilson are school friends. Megabyte, from Vermont, USA but living in London and Kevin a native Londoner. During a sleepover, Megabyte discovers a psychic link between himself and Kevin, but believes that the mind reading ability is Kevin's alone. After Kevin disappears and reappears several times over the next day, Megabyte suggests that Kevin is psychic and can teleport.
Lisa Davies, from Virginia, USA, disappears due to extreme anxiety while attempting to perform at a children's talent show. Lisa and Adam meet on the island and with the help of the ship they learn that they are Tomorrow People and begin to explore their abilities.
Meanwhile, the authorities (Colonel Masters, Professor John Galt and Gloria) are closing in on Lisa due to her public disappearance and set up a trap at the location of the talent show. Megabyte and Kevin travel to Virginia, by conventional means, after seeing news of Lisa's disappearance. They intervene in Lisa's capture, inadvertently getting Megabyte caught instead.
The Tomorrow People must rescue their new friend and thwart the authorities' plans to capture and exploit them all.
Screenplay: Roger Damon Price
Director: Ron Oliver
Music: Tim Pitt & Bobby Broughton

[edit] Series 2

  • The Culex Experiment
First UK transmission: January - February 1994
Guest Cast:
Dr. Culex - Jean Marsh
"Aunt Ruth" Tanner - Denise Coffey
Inspector Platt - Roger Sloman
Dr. Poole - Adam Blackwood
Mrs Jackson - Sally Sagoe
The twins - Deborah Vale & Tessa Vale
Dr. Lucy Connor - Connie Booth
Commander Scott - Janet Amsden
Dr. Leong - Richard Rees
Jim - Bazil Otoin
Richie - Nicky Twining
Plot: While on his way to meet Megabyte at the train station, Kevin runs into a lab coat-wearing victim of an apparent abduction orchestrated by the sinister Doctor Culex and her twin hench(wo)men. When he finally meets Megabyte and Adam at the train station he too falls victim to Doctor Culex and is left in a coma.
Ami Jackson, who is visiting her mother in the same hospital that Kevin is taken to, feels a psychic connection with Kevin. Despite the protests of her mother, Ami falls into company with Adam and Megabyte. The three and Kevin's aunt Ruth investigate Doctor Culex, hindered by the bumbling Inspector Platt. The Tomorrow People must stop Doctor Culex's evil plans and find a cure for Kevin, all while Ami comes to terms with her newly discovered powers.
Notably the part of Dr. Connor is played by Connie Booth and Dr. Culex by Jean Marsh.
Screenplay: Lee Pressman & Grant Cathro
Directors: Alan Horrox & Viviane Alberine
Music: Andrew Phillips (Credited with the second version of theme music)
  • Monsoon Man
First UK transmission: February 1994
Guest Cast:
Colonel Jeremiah J. Cobb - William Hootkins
Professor Lawrence Middlemass - Christopher Benjamin
Wilkie - Kerry Shale
Lucy Allen - Laurence Bouvard
Les Bishop - John Judd
Annette - Faith Edwards
Dr Roberts - Alwyne Taylor
Colin - Peter Aubrey
Betty - Paula Jacobs
Salesman - Steve Knowles
Policeman #1 - Stuart Fox
Policeman #2 - Jonathan Markwood
Mrs Butterworth - Peggy Mount
Quentin D'Arcy - Ian McNeice
Au Pair - Simone Bendix
Tammy - Nonie Kent
Twitch - Mac McDonald
Beef - Anthony Venditti
Vinny - Michael Benz
Zimmerman - Vincent Marzello
TV Reporter - Bob Sessions
Plot: Lucy Allen, an eager cadet reporter bumps into Adam outside a nightclub before witnessing a baffling occurrence of a frozen cat-burglar while on her way home. Her further illegal investigation lands her in trouble. Adam and Megabyte attempt to find Lucy, but are frustrated by people posing as residents claiming that she never existed.
Meanwhile, Ami's mother is still protesting Ami's involvement with the Tomorrow People. She rudely rejects Megabyte's morning visit before attempting to ground Ami. However, fate proves the stronger force, pulling Ami into the mystery.
The Tomorrow People must solve the mystery of the vanishing Lucy, and thwart the maniacal Colonel Cobb's underhanded and dangerous plans to rule the breakfast cereal market.
Screenplay: Lee Pressman & Grant Cathro
Director: Niall Leonard
Music: Andrew Phillips

[edit] Series 3

  • The Rameses Connection
First UK transmission: January 1995
Guest Cast:
Sam Rees - Christopher Lee
Millicent F Rutherford - Elizabeth Spriggs
Hubert Tate - Robert Lang
Scully - Andrew Powell
Felix Fry - Harry Jones
Red Rainwear - Anthony O'Donnell
Lynzie Motherwell - Sarah Flind
Rupert Short - Christopher Brand
Amanda James - Adjoa Andoh
Tutankhamun - Adam Dean
Plot: As a crystalline meteoric rock (The Marhaba Stone) is stolen from a museum exhibit. Adam, Megabyte and Ami are contacted from the past by a boy from Ancient Egypt. Trying to find the meaning of the Ancient-Egyptian message sends The Tomorrow People on a dangerous and surreal adventure. Joining forces with the bizarre Millicent F Rutherford and her even more bizarre friends The Tomorrow People must travel to Egypt to save the World from an ancient evil.
This story notably includes a guest appearance by Christopher Lee as the sinister Sam Rees.
Screenplay: Grant Cathro
Director: Roger Gartland
Music: Tony Flynn
  • The Living Stones
First UK transmission: February 1995
Guest Cast:
Gladys Toms - Rosemary Leach
Byron Lucifer - Danny John-Jules
Gen. Beaumont-Savage - Clive Merrison
Prof. Beth Halliday - Briony Glassco
Penny Weston - Sharon Duce
Felicity Triplett - Patricia Hayes
Frank - Ron Berglas
Chester Toms - George Raistrick
Sergeant Manx - Duncan Faber
Greg Golden - Jim Sweeney
Dr Bradley - Akim Mogaji
Henderson - Clara Onyemere
Murdo - Trevor Steedman
Jessie the Dog - Jester
Plot: Jade, who was first introduced in The Culex Experiment is woken by a meteorite falling from the sky. While she is investigating a subsequent occurrence, she is captured by a military operation headed by General Damon (Megabyte's father). Ami is off on a tour of Australia, leaving Adam and Megabyte to help General Damon and Jade solve why everyone in her village suddenly likes to mysteriously sit in the dark with sunglasses on; and what exactly they are doing in secret with all the meteorites.
Notably the part of Byron Lucifer is played by Danny John-Jules. Strangely, the final episode's end credit's theme music is replaced by the cinematic orchestration from the Rameses Connection.
Screenplay: Lee Pressman
Director: Crispin Reece
Music: Tony Flynn

[edit] DVD releases

The original series was released on DVD in both region 1 and 2. All 8 series of the original 1970s series were released on DVD through Revelation Films[6] in the UK. All discs are Region 0 and are playable in most countries where PAL is the standard. In 2005, A&E TV[7] released three boxsets for North America, in the NTSC format, that contain all 8 seasons and the documentary "Beyond Tomorrow".

The 1990s series was released as a 5-DVD set but only in region 2.

[edit] The audio series episodes

[edit] Series 1

  1. The New Gods by Rebecca Levene and Gareth Roberts
  2. The Deadliest Species by Gary Russell
  3. The Ghosts of Mendez by Austin Atkinson
  4. The Sign of Diolyx by Mike Tucker and Robert Perry (two discs)

[edit] Series 2

  1. A New Atlantis by Nigel Fairs
  2. The Power of Fear by Steve Lyons
  3. The Curse of Kaavan by Nigel Fairs
  4. Alone by Nigel Fairs

[edit] Series 3

  1. The Slarvian Menace by Mark Wright
  2. The Warlock's Dance by Cavan Scott
  3. A Living Hell by Nigel Fairs
  4. Trigonometry by Gary Russell

[edit] Series 4

  1. Saying Goodbye by Nigel Fairs
  2. The Lords of Forever by Craig Hinton
  3. Queen of Slarvos by Nigel Fairs
  4. The Plague of Dreams by Jim Mortimore (two discs)

[edit] Series 5

  1. A Broken Song by Nigel Fairs
  2. Aftermath by Joseph Lidster
  3. Spiritus Mundi by Craig Hinton
  4. Stemming the Tide by Helen Goldwyn
  5. End of Silence by Alex Crowe
  6. Rachel by Nigel Fairs

[edit] Proposed titles for Series 6

Series six was cancelled part way through the production of Saving the World, Talking to God and Tandem. These episodes will not be released through official channels.

  1. Saving the World
  2. Talking to God
  3. War of the Slarvians
  4. Tandem
  5. Godwin's Law
  6. Buartek

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c "You must be joking" In conversation with Roger Damon Price. Jackie Clark.
  2. ^ Bigfinish press release (2007-12-19).
  3. ^ Beyond Tomorrow documentary page. Fantom Films.
  4. ^ Re-inventing The Tomorrow People documentary page. Fantom Films.
  5. ^ IMDB entry on A bad dream gets real. imdb.com.
  6. ^ The Tomorrow People. Revelation Films.
  7. ^ AETV website.

[edit] External links