Valerie Leon, Seductress

Ms Valerie Leon sends up her appearances in the 'Hai Karate' ads in this brief appearance in the 1975 'Goodies' episode, 'It Might As Well Be String'.

The Many Moods Of Jason King

5/30

Ye Olde Moonbase

From 1967, but looking much, much older here's a clip from the second Doctor adventure 'The Moonbase'. I've tinted the picture to at least try and make some of it clearer but I also like the effect. This is another show in the series which I knew intimately from a Target book. Infuriatingly, not only are the visuals pretty poor, but this is from one of only two episodes out of the original four that still exist. Thanks, Auntie.

Limbo Trip

Dr. Who: Inferno

'Inferno' was the final story in Pertwee's successful first season as the Doctor. Picking up on the ecological theme of 'The Silurians' (the Pertwee years featured a number of stories on what would now be called green issues) it tells the story of an attempt to drill through the Earth's core in search of a new energy source, a project that narrowly misses being the end of the world (in our dimension at least).

The Doctor, trying to escape from his exile, routes nuclear power through the TARDIS console and finds himself trapped in an alternate fascist Britain where the Brigadier has an eyepatch and Liz Shaw is dressed like a Nazi Air Hostess. They're drilling here too, and everyone who touches the green goo oozing from the shaft turns very hairy indeed.

It's a good story but slightly overlong, although, interestingly, the whole parallel universe storyline was invented to fill the prescribed seven episodes. It marks the last appearance of Caroline John as Liz who, as a scientist, was thought too brainy to be an assistant. A good assistant, apparently, has to ask all the questions the audience are asking, like 'what's going on?', 'what does that mean?' and 'why has Sergeant Benton turned into Roy Wood from Wizzard?'.

What Dread Hand

First mix of 2011, and the first to be hosted on 'Island Of Terror'. How exciting.

'Earthborn' was inspired by the first twangs of Spring, but is more about the arse end of Winter, the muddy, chilly, damp and dreary that sticks around and makes everyone vaguely depressed until the beginning of April when the sun starts to break through. I don't mind that sort of weather at all, of course, I'm a vaguely depressed kind of person: I like drizzle better than sizzle.

Tracks: 

001 Boards Of Canada: Wildlife Analysis 002 Talk Talk: The Rainbow (Edit) 003 Evan Parker: Birds One 004 Norma Winstone: Perkins Landing 005 Pentangle: In Your Mind 006 The Memory Band: Once Bittern 007 Basil Kirchin: Once Upon A Time (Excerpt) 008 Spontaneous Music Ensemble: Oliv II (Excerpt) 009 Belbury Poly: Cool Air 

It's all mixed together with some additional sound effects, nature recordings and the odd bit of sonic manipulation, as well as some dialogue samples from, well, you'll never guess...

Census Working Overtime

Don't forget to fill out your Census Form today. Facts help fight sickness and disease.

Cave Dwellers

Radiophonic Of The Day

Delia Derbyshire: Mattachin

Virgin Sacrifice

For those people who found 'They Came From Beyond Space' too high-brow, here's 'The Terrornauts', the other Amicus sci fi production in The Swinging Year Of Our Lord 1967. It's basically a kid's film, which is why it had such a strong effect on me when I first saw it in the mid-seventies, leading to several unsettling dreams about a savage world where two massive planets filled the sky. Luckily, Charles Hawtry wasn't in my dream; unfortunately, he is in the source material.

The Terrornauts

Valerie Leon, Queen Of Space

Just for Dolly Dolly, here's Valerie Leon in her short but memorable appearance as the 'Space Queen' in 'The Persuaders' episode 'The Long Goodbye'. Fill your moon boots, Dave.

Conquerers From A Dying World

What can I say about Amicus production 'They Came From Beyond Space'? Well, it's cheap, cheerful, utterly ridiculous and, apart from some slightly psychedelic effects, looks more like 1957 than 1967.

It's an underwhelming affair, but it's inoffensive and unpretentious, and the mind control combat colander never fails to raise a smile. The late Michael Gough gives a performance that could be described as 'arch', although 'insanely camp' covers it better. If only they'd got The Pink Floyd to do the soundtrack.

They Came From Beyond Space

The Many Moods Of John Cleverly Cartney

The Avengers: A Touch Of Brimstone