British archive channel Talking Pictures TV is to broadcast “Doomwatch“, the classic BBC science fiction series from the early 1970s. It will be aired as part of the channel’s The Cellar Club strand, presented by Caroline Munro.
What is Doomwatch?
Created by Gerry Davis and Kit Pedler, the series follows the work of the Department for the Observation and Measurement of Scientific Work (DOOMWATCH), a government agency tasked with investigating and combating various environmental and technological dangers. The agency was led by Doctor Spencer Quist.
Doomwatch first aired on BBC1 in 1970. The series ran for three series, comprising 38 episodes, and ended in 1972. It featured John Paul, Robert Powell, Joby Blanshard, Simon Oates and Vinien Sherrard among others. Due to the BBC’s wiping policy at the time, 24 episodes, including an unbroadcast episode, have survived.
Jamie’s Reaction
This is another surprise from Talking Pictures TV, not one which I was familiar with. It is great to see the channel give airtime to a series with missing episodes, something they’ve done previously to great success.
Judging by the reaction to this news, this is a series which has left quite an impression on those who have seen it. Bring it on!
What is Talking Pictures TV?
Talking Pictures TV is available free-to-air on Freeview and Freesat in the UK. Its channel allocation is 82 for Freeview and 306 for Freesat. It is also available on subscription platforms, channel 328 on Sky and 445 on Virgin. The channel is dedicated to vintage film and television, often highlighting forgotten treasures and classics. The channel also has a catch-up service called TPTV Encore.
Doomwatch will air on Talking Pictures on Friday the 17th of January at 9.00 pm. It will continue each week around the same time. Please see the channel’s schedule for any further screenings.
Will you be watching Doomwatch? Let us know your thoughts on social media, or in the comments below.
