The Tomorrow People - Original Series (1970s)

Original Series (1970s)

List of Original Series episodes

The original series was produced by Thames Television for Britain's ITV network. The Tomorrow People operate out of a secret laboratory, The lab, built in an abandoned London Underground station. The lab was revamped at the beginning of series 6. The team watches for new Tomorrow People "breaking out" to help them through the process and sometimes deal with attention from extraterrestrial species as well as facing more earthbound dangers. They also have connections 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 (called in the series "biotronic") computer TIM, which is capable of original thought, telepathy, 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 referred to as jaunting in the programme. The start of Series 3 introduced the distinctive black and white checkerboard belt buckles on the jaunting belts, that continued to be used up to Series 5. These were subsequently (briefly) changed to a simpler silver buckle, prior to being replaced by a wristband. The TPs would also refer to normal homo sapiens as "Saps".

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, pre-dating the series itself which was eventually produced by Thames TV in 1973. Price has sometimes been quoted as saying that the lyrics to this song were inspired by the series, not the other way around.

Alistair McGown of Screen Online cites The Mind in Chains by Dr Christopher Evans as a primary source. Evans also became a scientific advisor for the series. He would be credited as such on every single episode but most people working on the show seem to recall that he only had involvement in the first couple of seasons. McGown 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 victimise 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 due to their unwillingness to cause harm, referred to as the "prime barrier". In early seasons they would have the aid of "Sap" friends such as Ginge, Lefty and Chris who would usually handle the rougher stuff that the pacifist TPs could not deal with. Also in the 2nd and 3rd years they become friendly with a psychic researcher, Professor Cawston.

Price initially offered the format to Granada but was turned down so offered it to Lewis Rudd at Thames who commissioned a 13 episode series, having seen the potential of the format. At this time, ITV was keen to find its own answer to Doctor Who although Price never really envisaged the show as such but more as an outlet for his own personal ideas and beliefs. Very early on, Ruth Boswell was brought in as associate producer and script editor as she had experience of children's fantasy drama (Timeslip and Tightrope) while TV dramatist Brian Finch was hired to co-write the scripts in view of the fact that Price had little experience of writing drama. Thames effectively poached Doctor Who director Paul Bernard to help set up and oversee the first season. He would be credited as director for two stories but was unofficially a third producer.

Bernard was very heavily involved in the creation of the memorable title sequence which involved a mixture of haunting images and facial shots of the main cast zooming towards the camera in monochrome, with an eerie theme tune from Dudley Simpson playing behind. He got inspiration from seeing billboards rushing towards him when driving. Amongst the more disturbing images were a human foetus, shadowy figures behind scaffolding and even the insides of a pepper (a somewhat exotic fruit in the 1970s).

Casting was seen as very important to the production team, in that the leads would have to be personable enough to attract a young audience while Price also wanted to ensure he got amiable, easy going actors who would be easy to work with over long periods in the studio or out on location. Nicholas Young was cast as the group's leader, John while Peter Vaughan-Clarke was offered the role of Stephen after Price saw him in a Manchester rendition of Peter Pan with Lulu. Ruth Boswell wanted Lynn Frederick (later the last wife of Peter Sellers) for Carol, the female lead, but following a meeting with her, Paul Bernard felt she was a bit too upper class and precious for what he had in mind as he saw the character as being similar to Doctor Who's Jo Grant. They finally settled on Sammie Winmill who was relatively well known for playing Nurse Crumpton on the popular Doctor at Large situation comedy (also a Thames production). The role of Kenny, the youngest TP was given to Stephen Salmon after he had been discovered in a drama workshop while theatre actor Phillip Gilbert was selected to provide the ever so paternal tones of biotronic computer TIM. Making up the team were two Sap friends, a couple of bikers called Ginge (Michael Standing) and Lefty (Derek Crewe) who encounter the Tomorrow People when acting as henchmen for the villainous shape shifter Jedekiah in the opening adventure. Stephen would be very much the show's hero and focus for the audience while John was something of an authoritarian figure who took his responsibilities for the species' future and welfare very seriously . Kenny would be little more than a pest who was often left behind in the Lab while the others went off to have the actual adventures (a role later taken by the likes of Tyso and Andrew). Early publicity included a photo session of the cast with then Dr Who, Jon Pertwee to indicate a friendly rivalry between the 2 shows.

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. Season 1's recurring villain, Jedikiah was originally devised to be a long running foe but after seeing the poorly designed robot that was the shape changer's true form, an unimpressed Price elected not to use the character again until the final of season 3 which was planned as the series swansong (noticeably the robotic form fails to appear). Despite this the season proved popular with its young audience who watched in large numbers, even denting the figures for the popular BBC magazine programme, "Blue Peter".

The success of the first season saw another thirteen episodes go into production quite rapidly, but with a number of changes. Off-screen, both Bernard and Finch departed leaving Price to take more control as writer, director and producer while on-screen Kenny and Carol disappeared (handily sent to the Galactic Trig to work as ambassadors for Earth). Salmon was simply not asked back as there was a feeling the character had failed to work but sources vary as to whether Winmill's departure was voluntary or not. In their place came student school teacher Elizabeth M'Bondo, portrayed by Elizabeth Adare. Adare initially thought her character was to be a teenage girl and made every effort at her audition to look and act like an adolescent. However Price and Boswell were suitably impressed to change the Elizabeth character so that she breaks out at an older age due to a latent puberty. Elizabeth is uncovered by Stephen when working at his school. This was the start of a near annual event where a new TP would be introduced in the first story......a handy way of maintaining interest for returning viewers and a convenient way for Price to re-establish the basic premise of the show for new audiences every year.

Filming began in late 1973 with Michael Standing returning as Ginge, but on the first day he fell off his motorbike and broke his leg, prompting a speedy re-write whereby Ginge's younger brother, Chris (Chris Chittell), was now seen as the new Sap regular. Chris was mentioned in the dialogue as already being known to the Tomorrow People, so little in the way of changes had to be made to the script. Ginge's absence was explained on-screen by his having been admitted to hospital following a fall from his motorbike – reflecting Standing's real-life accident. During the 3 adventures, the Tomorrow People would battle aliens that feed off violent energy; take a trip to the 1st century AD, accidentally creating a time paradox where the Roman Empire never fell; and finally stop the warmongering Doomsday Men from causing a nuclear holocaust.

In 1975, the third series added Dean Lawrence as gypsy boy Tyso Boswell. Tyso is captured and held prisoner by the Secret Intelligence Service, who see the Tomorrow People as a potential weapon to be used in the Cold War. Chris disappears after only appearing in one episode (his absence is never explained) while telepathic secret agent, Tricia Conway appears in 2 stories before fully breaking out in the season climax which saw the young heroes menaced by old rival, Jedikiah. This season also saw the group visit an alien world for the first time when the Galactic Trig dispatches them to help the telepathic population of the planet Peerie. A comedy script was attempted in the much derided "A Man for Emily" as Price was keen to get more into humorous writing. The negative backlash to this experiment resulted in a planned sequel story being quietly dropped but such actions added to Price's increasing frustration with the show. Phillip Gilbert also made the first of several on-screen appearances as Timus Irnok Mosta, an ambassador from the Galactic Federation who had a hand in building TIM thus sounding alike! Timus was a clone and his brother, Tikno also appears although it implied that he may have been shot dead at the end of the series. Timus was introduced so as to give Gilbert something more to do than sit in a recording booth all day and would make semi regular appearances right up to the very final story in 1979.

As the series wore on, Price became tired of his creation and attempted to end it by killing off the leads at the conclusion to season 3 (Ruth Boswell made him rewrite it so that they survived). However Thames Television had a ratings winner (as well as excellent overseas sales) and insisted he continue the programme, albeit in smaller seasons from now on. Price only ever allowed one attempt by another writer to work on it solo with Jon E. Watkins penning the story "Into the Unknown" in 1976. With fewer episodes to write, Price would have more time to work on his comedic and light entertainment productions that he enjoyed more than the demanding sci-fi drama. At the start of the fourth series he attempted to give a boost to the format with the introduction of teenage idol Mike Holoway as Mike Bell. Holoway was the drummer with pop band Flintlock and Price hoped that his young charge would be Britain's answer to Donny Osmond or David Cassidy. Mike is featured prominently in the later series of Tomorrow People, maturing from TP pest into resident juvenile hero. This meant the controversial decision to sack Vaughan-Clarke as Stephen, the programme's original male lead who is not even given a proper leaving scene at the end of season 4. With this change, it was noticeable that John and Elizabeth took on a more parental role as both actors entered their mid 20s. Tyso also vanished after the fourth year but his character had been pretty redundant for some time due to Tyso having not been written into scripts that year. His late inclusion was only addressed a couple of weeks before filming started when Price discovered from Lawrence that he was available to appear. This meant Tyso only had limited screen time and very few lines.

Vic Hughes took over as producer with season 5, which was the only series not to introduce a new Tomorrow Person. The gang come close to finding one in the memorable first story, "The Dirtiest Business" when they attempt to rescue teenage Russian telepath, Pavla who is being used by the KGB for espionage work. In a dramatic climax Pavla is brutally murdered by her superiors when they detonate a bomb inside her head believing she has fallen into the hands of the Secret Intelligence Services. Other adventures saw the Tomorrow People travel to the planet Gallia where they force out the invading Kleptons who are using local children to mine diamonds; and a guest appearance from Holoway's band Flintock whose music is used by a satanic cove to bring the devil back to Earth. All 3 adventures were 2 parters which allowed Price to write them quickly and remove any unwanted excess padding which tended to slow down the action.

1978 saw changes being made, starting with Elizabeth's absence through most of season 6 due to Elizabeth Adare's pregnancy (on screen Elizabeth is working on diplomatic missions for the Galactic Trig). In her place came Hsui Tai, played by Japanese actress Misako Koba whose poor grasp of English made her hard to understand and Nicholas Young later recalled that he and other actors found this difficult during production. A new Lab set was introduced with a slimmed-down but now mobile TIM and the jaunting belts were replaced by the cheap looking jaunting bands (worn on the wrists). These changes were forced on the production team following a fire at the Thames storerooms. The new Lab acted as both base and home for the TPs as they were now seen to be sleeping in their own cabins there. The trio took on an Oriental religious cult that burns alive children before facing a potential Fourth Reich when a craze for Nazi uniforms leads to the reawakening of Hitler himself (revealed to be an alien criminal). Finally Price attempted political satire in "The Thargon Menace" when he lampooned notorious dictators such as Idi Amin Dada and Papa Doc with the character Papa Min, a deranged despot using 2 alien runaways to build advanced weaponry for him.

Season 7 in late 1978 introduced another Tomorrow Person in the form of Scottish lad, Andrew Forbes (Nigel Rhodes). He is using his psychic powers to conjure up images of ghosts so as to provide a tourism attraction for the hotel owned by his father. Elizabeth was back from her time on the Trig. Of the three stories the most notable is the creepy "The Living Skins" in which fashionable plastic jump suits are aliens that control the human wearers before ultimately feeding off the host's life force.

With inflation out of control in the late 1970s, the budget was stretched to breaking point, a factor which was constantly on the mind of producer Vic Hughes. And indeed it was a dispute over the allocation of studio days that brought down the axe in 1979 when Hughes attempted to gain an extra studio day for the planned ninth season (which fell victim to the ITV strike that summer) following numerous problems during the production of "War of the Empires" (the sole 4 part adventure that made up season 8) which had been given only four days in studio. There has been much speculation as to the nature of this lost season as widespread belief in the fan world is that it would have been another solo 4 part adventure written by Price. However to date no script has ever emerged. Also by this point Price had emigrated to America and it seems that Thames were reluctant to carry on without him.