This picture was taken between the time John Paul featured in Probation Officer and Doomwatch. With thanks to James Paul.
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JOHN PAUL PHOTOGRAPH (taken between Probation officer and Doomwatch)
This picture was taken between the time John Paul featured in Probation Officer and Doomwatch. With thanks to James Paul.
JOHN PAUL PHOTOGRAPH
This picture was taken around the time John Paul featured in Emergency Ward 10. With thanks to James Paul.
JOHN PAUL'S HAUNTED COTTAGE
THE Old Duke’s Head, Buckland, used to be two cottages with loose boxes on the left and licensed premises on the right, standing beside the lane where gipsies came to fashion pegs from branches taken from the willow trees around the village pond near Manor Farm.
The lane is no longer named Pegs Lane. The pond has been filled in, and the delicensed Old Duke's Head is a well-maintained picturesque Bucks thatched cottage.
But the atmosphere of its history is still in the building, as I was told by actor John Paul who has lived there for 15 years.
“Only one person has come back who remembered drinking a pint here. He was a thatcher and died a few years ago, but the house is meant to be haunted by a Chinaman.
STRANGE
“It was a pub for a very long time, and it does have an atmosphere of something strange. When we were doing up our bedroom we slept in the haunted room on the other side of the house. “In the early hours of the morning someone started climbing the stairs leading straight into the room. I sat up and listened, and the steps faded away," he said.
It was only in the morning he learnt his wife Jean also sat up in bed and listened intently to the sound of footsteps at the same moment.
“Even when I was alone here for the first time I woke up and found myself talking to someone. I was cursing him as though he must be unfriendly.
“But as I came more awake I asked myself ‘Why am I calling him this way?’ Ever since, I have tried to think he must be friendly, and there’s no reason to be frightened,” said John Paul, who glayed a major part in the TV series “Doomwatch”.
He has just completed a film warning about the dangers of being careless with building site equipment, emphasising the proper use of a builder’s hoist.
Even in one scene during the filming there was nearly a tragedy due to carelessness, he said.
“A man was up to his neck in mud in a trench as a result of not taking the right precautions. Yet people were standing close to the edge of the trench watching him, and it could have caved’ in at any moment."
John Paul has a feel for the part of a safety officer. In the past he has been cast as a probation officer, and a doctor in “Emergency Wand 10" with Richard Chamberlain.
With thanks to James Paul for the newspaper article from the Bucks Herald.
DR QUIST OF DOOMWATCH
Dr Quist of Doomwatch
POLLUTION in all its forms is causing concern in many quarters — not least of all in a secluded cottage at Buckland, the home of “Mr. Doomwatch” himself, actor John Paul.
Mr. Paul who plays Dr. Quist in the Doomwatch series on television has found that learning the part
and acting out the drama of impending death has made him aware of the dangers of pollution.
He told the Bucks Herald at the weekend: “As a result of playing this part, I now feel very strongly about pollution.It has been brought home to me as a layman, and I can only hope it has the same effect on people who watch the series.”
And the message will be got over to an even wider audience through the film about Doomwatch which is to be screened at the Granada, Aylesbury, from Sunday for seven days.
SEA POLLUTION
In it Mr. Paul leads the Doomwatch team in investigating pollution of the sea and some of its dramatic effects. There is a special guest appearance of George Sanders -his last before his
death. Also appearing are Ian Bannen and Judy Geeson. Mr. Paul, who began acting in repertory at the end of World War II after leaving the Army, has been a familiar face on the TV screen since 1954, and has starred in Emergency Ward 10 and Probation Officer.
VISUAL HARM
Having finished recording all 12 episodes in the current Doomwatch series — his third — he has more leisure for thought about what could lie in store for his estimated seven million viewers.
It is not only threats to health that concern him, for, as he travels around the country, he is becoming in-
creasingly aware of visual pollution. ' .
“The countryside is beautiful, but I have noticed several places which have little regard for beauty, and
stand out like sore thumbs. A little camouflage would make all the difference.” he added.
With thanks to James Paul for the Newspaper article
Survival Code Fan produced Reconstruction Test
Here is a snippet of the fan produced total reconstruction of DOOMWATCH - Survival Code. There is no full sound effects or music track yet but I hope you like the enthusiastic performances.
DOOMWATCH IN JAMAICA?
We previously reported that DOOMWATCH was broadcast in Jamaica. It now looks like this may not be true despite the newspaper clipping promoting the series that exists in the Jamaican Daily Gleaner.
The 16 June 1974 TV preview says it will be shown on Tuesdays, but all the Tuesday papers that are available to view just say "To be Scheduled" in that 8.15pm slot. It's unusual that JBC didn't know what they were playing in that slot for weeks on end, especially if it was a regular weekly series like DOOMWATCH.
From 6 August, "Colditz" is actually listed in that slot. From the dates, no more than 8 eps of DOOMWATCH could have aired. As it so happens 8 is how many episodes of Season 1 that currently exist! Read into that what you will...
It's a shame that no one appears to have access or records of the BBC's Retention Authorisation Sheets or access to overseas sales information that might shed some light on the worldwide distribution of the series. A summary of what is known appears here
If anyone can find actual listings for DOOMWATCH from 1974 onwards on JBC, of which there seems to be none please get in touch.
With thanks to Jon Preddle
The 16 June 1974 TV preview says it will be shown on Tuesdays, but all the Tuesday papers that are available to view just say "To be Scheduled" in that 8.15pm slot. It's unusual that JBC didn't know what they were playing in that slot for weeks on end, especially if it was a regular weekly series like DOOMWATCH.
From 6 August, "Colditz" is actually listed in that slot. From the dates, no more than 8 eps of DOOMWATCH could have aired. As it so happens 8 is how many episodes of Season 1 that currently exist! Read into that what you will...
It's a shame that no one appears to have access or records of the BBC's Retention Authorisation Sheets or access to overseas sales information that might shed some light on the worldwide distribution of the series. A summary of what is known appears here
If anyone can find actual listings for DOOMWATCH from 1974 onwards on JBC, of which there seems to be none please get in touch.
With thanks to Jon Preddle
Prophets of Doom: The Unauthorised History of Doomwatch Book
This is a NEW BOOK due in April 2012 from Miwk Publishing Ltd. A book on the classic series DOOMWATCH is way overdue and this is excellent news for fans of the series. Michael is also currently researching for another book for an authorised biography of the originator of Doomwatch, and author of The Quest For Gaia, Dr. Kit Pedler. So, yes, there are 2 NEW DOOMWATCH BOOKS IN THE PIPELINE!!!
Press release
In February 1970, one of the most important television drama programmes from the 1970s was broadcast on BBC1. Not only did it introduce a new word to the English language, it also brought to a mainstream audience of ten million viewers each week the new, emerging idea of the scientists' moral and ethical responsibility in society. This was Doomwatch, a visionary science fiction series which took scientific research and technological advances and imagined where they could go disastrously wrong if greed, politics or simple ambition won over caution. This was drama with a message. And it was heard. The fears of the Sixties: over-population, test-tube babies, super-sonic aircraft, DDT, the Bomb, all found expression in Doomwatch.
Launching the career of actor Robert Powell, Doomwatch entertained and thrilled its audience with concepts such as a plastic eating virus, animal hearts transplanted into children, toxic chemical dumps, cannibal rats, the surveillance state, noise that can kill, food poisoned by drugs and chemicals, and by the end of its first successful series, the ultimate horror: a nuclear bomb washed up underneath a seaside pier, its countdown ticking down to claim the life of one of the celebrated Doomwatch team.
It was conceived by a research scientist and a television dramatist, Dr. Kit Pedler and Gerry Davis, who had previously devised the Cybermen for Doctor Who. With Doomwatch, they soon became famous for creating seemingly prophetic storylines in which the media eagerly found parallels in real life. Were the writers of Doomwatch prophets of doom or simply scaremongering popularists?
The programme divided the scientific and political establishment into those who thought the programme was a much needed and timely warning and tried to do something about it, and those who thought it was a naive, reactionary piece of trivial, and ignorant television. Dr. Kit Pedler actively tried to create a real-life Doomwatch, and was at the beginnings of the alternative technology movement in Britain and did his own experiments on creating ecologically sound housing and develop a new way of living in a modern society without destroying the habitat or regressing back to the stone age.
With contributions from the family of Dr. Kit Pedler, Darrol Blake, Jean Trend, Glyn Edwards, Martin Worth, Adele Winston, Eric Hills, and others, this book will tell the proper story of Doomwatch both on and off the screen, how it was made, the true story behind the stories, the controversies, the back stage bust-ups, and how the programme inspired those who looked around the world in which they had been conditioned to accept, and begin to question.
Michael Seely's love affair with the Doomwatch series is over twenty years old and he is a regular contributor to www.doomwatch.org, the only Doomwatch appreciation site on the web. In his time he has worked as an English second language teacher in Asia, attempted a degree and has worked in a variety of jobs where a real-life Doomwatch investigation would not have gone amiss. He is married with two children.
Michael is currently researching an authorised biography of the originator of Doomwatch, and author of The Quest For Gaia, Dr. Kit Pedler.
PUBLISHED: APRIL 2012
ISBN: 9781908630117
Product Code: MIWK107
Join the official Facebook page here for updates and teasers and click here to pe-order your copy. Don't miss out on this book!
With thanks to Miwk Publishing Ltd
PHOTOPLAY FILM MONTHLY MAY 1972
An expensive little treat for you this one! A very rare magazine that features a look at the then new, DOOMWATCH Feature Film with some eyebrow raising predictions of life in 1980 and the first time we've read anywhere about a planned sequel to the film...
DOOMWATCH
The hit TV series Doomwatch now comes to the big screen.
Photoplay previews this film which looks at the disturbing problem of pollution.
TWENTY-SIX per cent of the population of Great Britain watched "Doomwatch" on television. It is, perhaps, synonymous with the age we live in that a television series, a dramatic, fictional situation given credence by its documentary approach, should do more to ram home the immense problem and
danger of pollution than all the learned dissertations of experts. Pollution is a problem we have to face — and do something about — before it is too late. The success of the television series has now led, naturally enough, to the production of a full-length feature film. Unlike so many similar transitions, Doomwatch has mushroomed into a really exciting and adventurous film. Starring Ian Bannen, Judy Geeson, George Sanders, with John Paul, Simon Oates, Jean Trend and Joby Blanshard from the television series also featuring in the film, Doomwatch was written by Kit Pedler and Gerry Davis (the men responsible for the original television concept), with a final screenplay by Clive Exton. The film is directed by Peter Sasdy. Kit Pedler and co-writer Gerry Davis have a frightening knack of predicting the future; many times they have preceded an actual occurrence by a matter of weeks. I went to Kit Pedler's home in Clapham to talk about his work. A Doctor of Medicine, Kit found himself attracted to research shortly after qualifying and completed a second degree. One of his greatest dreams is the setting up of a real life team to keep an eye on pollution. He told me: "What we've got to elimihate is the dreadful apathy which people have about pollution. I'm sure they don't realise how serious it is. I feel that one of the best and most effective ways of making the public aware of the problem is dramatically. Talk a lot of dry, dusty facts and they couldn't care less, but absorb those facts into a dramatic, fictional work and they start to take notice. He and Gerry Davis spent an afternoon by a blackboard deciding on a name for their project; such ideas as ‘Monitor’ and ‘Protector’ were eliminated and finally they decided to join together ‘Doom’ and ‘Watch’, both of which had figured in their final list. It must be gratifying to them both that Doomwatch has been integrated into the English language. “If only," he joked, “we could collect 1p every time someone says Doomwatch!". Dr. Pedler is doing his bit to make the public more aware of environmental pollution; he gives lectures at universities and to the general public, he has appeared on television, talked on radio. But in spite of his deep concern he is basically optimistic: "I believe in people. I am sure that one day they will turn round and say ‘stop’ and do something before it's too late." The ironic and frightening thing about Doomwatch is that within weeks of the film being completed in Cornwall the ‘Cornwall Canisters’ scandal came to light. Even more coincidental is the fact that the plot of Doomwatch concerns what happens after canisters containing a hormone substance are illegally dumped in the sea by a large chemical company. The hormone escapes into the water, is consumed by fish and subsequently by people living on a small island off the west coast of England. The result is a very real disease known as acromegaly, which disfigures the face and body. Kit Pedler and Gerry Davis have just written another book, ‘Mutant 59', on which the film company, Tigon, have an option. It tells of the evacuation of the whole of London to save it from a bug that eats plastic and destroys the city. The director of the film is Peter Sasdy. Born in Budapest, Peter escaped to England during the Hungarian uprising of 1956 and after a determined struggle he worked his way into television. He finally broke into films two years ago and his work has been highly praised. His last two films were Countess Dracula and Hands Of The Ripper. With Doomwatch, Peter is particularly concerned that there should be a successful marriage between the entertainment value and the serious message. "I hope that in this film I have made a personal statement combined with entertainment. My main function, as a director, is to entertain. I feel I can look in the mirror in the morning and say ‘Pete, you tried’. I can't’ be my own critic and say I succeeded — I leave that to you. I have tried to make it in a documentary style — a ‘News At Ten‘ plus entertainment. But do stress that it's not just a serious subject; it's also an exciting story." Already there are plans for a sequel. One of the most commendable aspects of Doomwatch is the attention to detail, the insistence on scientific authenticity. Dr. Pedler could be found on the set many tirnes setting up equipment, overseeing the scientific ritual. He even demonstrated the correct way to dissect a fish, for the benefit of Ian Bannen! Peter Sasdy says he thinks that in one way it is exciting to be able to make a statement on pollution when it is still a relatively new subject for British concern. "The Americans and the Japanese are much more advanced in it than we are." Dr. Pedler told me that he felt Communist China was doing the most in actively protecting the environment. I asked Peter Sasdy whether his concern about pollution had happened since the film or whether he had been concerned even before Doomwatch became part of his way of life? "Yes, I was concerned. I hate going on a beach and finding it filthy with oil which you get on your feet and clothes." The personnel connected with the film both stars and technicians have all absorbed Dr. Pedler's feeling about pollution. Talk to any of them and they all express concern. Some are taking positive steps, particularly Jean Trend who starred in the television series as well. Jean has organised a housewives’ group who are all actively involved in antipollution activities. In the recent controversial report on the environment it was stated that by 1980 we won't have to worry about the population explosion: pollution will have overtaken the birth rate! This sort of frightening data cannot be ignored. We must do something before it is too late. Doomwatch will help to make the public aware of the problem; now it's up to us to realise that it isn't just a fictional situation.
Original article by Susan d’Arcy
DOOMWATCH
The hit TV series Doomwatch now comes to the big screen.
Photoplay previews this film which looks at the disturbing problem of pollution.
TWENTY-SIX per cent of the population of Great Britain watched "Doomwatch" on television. It is, perhaps, synonymous with the age we live in that a television series, a dramatic, fictional situation given credence by its documentary approach, should do more to ram home the immense problem and
danger of pollution than all the learned dissertations of experts. Pollution is a problem we have to face — and do something about — before it is too late. The success of the television series has now led, naturally enough, to the production of a full-length feature film. Unlike so many similar transitions, Doomwatch has mushroomed into a really exciting and adventurous film. Starring Ian Bannen, Judy Geeson, George Sanders, with John Paul, Simon Oates, Jean Trend and Joby Blanshard from the television series also featuring in the film, Doomwatch was written by Kit Pedler and Gerry Davis (the men responsible for the original television concept), with a final screenplay by Clive Exton. The film is directed by Peter Sasdy. Kit Pedler and co-writer Gerry Davis have a frightening knack of predicting the future; many times they have preceded an actual occurrence by a matter of weeks. I went to Kit Pedler's home in Clapham to talk about his work. A Doctor of Medicine, Kit found himself attracted to research shortly after qualifying and completed a second degree. One of his greatest dreams is the setting up of a real life team to keep an eye on pollution. He told me: "What we've got to elimihate is the dreadful apathy which people have about pollution. I'm sure they don't realise how serious it is. I feel that one of the best and most effective ways of making the public aware of the problem is dramatically. Talk a lot of dry, dusty facts and they couldn't care less, but absorb those facts into a dramatic, fictional work and they start to take notice. He and Gerry Davis spent an afternoon by a blackboard deciding on a name for their project; such ideas as ‘Monitor’ and ‘Protector’ were eliminated and finally they decided to join together ‘Doom’ and ‘Watch’, both of which had figured in their final list. It must be gratifying to them both that Doomwatch has been integrated into the English language. “If only," he joked, “we could collect 1p every time someone says Doomwatch!". Dr. Pedler is doing his bit to make the public more aware of environmental pollution; he gives lectures at universities and to the general public, he has appeared on television, talked on radio. But in spite of his deep concern he is basically optimistic: "I believe in people. I am sure that one day they will turn round and say ‘stop’ and do something before it's too late." The ironic and frightening thing about Doomwatch is that within weeks of the film being completed in Cornwall the ‘Cornwall Canisters’ scandal came to light. Even more coincidental is the fact that the plot of Doomwatch concerns what happens after canisters containing a hormone substance are illegally dumped in the sea by a large chemical company. The hormone escapes into the water, is consumed by fish and subsequently by people living on a small island off the west coast of England. The result is a very real disease known as acromegaly, which disfigures the face and body. Kit Pedler and Gerry Davis have just written another book, ‘Mutant 59', on which the film company, Tigon, have an option. It tells of the evacuation of the whole of London to save it from a bug that eats plastic and destroys the city. The director of the film is Peter Sasdy. Born in Budapest, Peter escaped to England during the Hungarian uprising of 1956 and after a determined struggle he worked his way into television. He finally broke into films two years ago and his work has been highly praised. His last two films were Countess Dracula and Hands Of The Ripper. With Doomwatch, Peter is particularly concerned that there should be a successful marriage between the entertainment value and the serious message. "I hope that in this film I have made a personal statement combined with entertainment. My main function, as a director, is to entertain. I feel I can look in the mirror in the morning and say ‘Pete, you tried’. I can't’ be my own critic and say I succeeded — I leave that to you. I have tried to make it in a documentary style — a ‘News At Ten‘ plus entertainment. But do stress that it's not just a serious subject; it's also an exciting story." Already there are plans for a sequel. One of the most commendable aspects of Doomwatch is the attention to detail, the insistence on scientific authenticity. Dr. Pedler could be found on the set many tirnes setting up equipment, overseeing the scientific ritual. He even demonstrated the correct way to dissect a fish, for the benefit of Ian Bannen! Peter Sasdy says he thinks that in one way it is exciting to be able to make a statement on pollution when it is still a relatively new subject for British concern. "The Americans and the Japanese are much more advanced in it than we are." Dr. Pedler told me that he felt Communist China was doing the most in actively protecting the environment. I asked Peter Sasdy whether his concern about pollution had happened since the film or whether he had been concerned even before Doomwatch became part of his way of life? "Yes, I was concerned. I hate going on a beach and finding it filthy with oil which you get on your feet and clothes." The personnel connected with the film both stars and technicians have all absorbed Dr. Pedler's feeling about pollution. Talk to any of them and they all express concern. Some are taking positive steps, particularly Jean Trend who starred in the television series as well. Jean has organised a housewives’ group who are all actively involved in antipollution activities. In the recent controversial report on the environment it was stated that by 1980 we won't have to worry about the population explosion: pollution will have overtaken the birth rate! This sort of frightening data cannot be ignored. We must do something before it is too late. Doomwatch will help to make the public aware of the problem; now it's up to us to realise that it isn't just a fictional situation.
Original article by Susan d’Arcy
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