From: jasstev@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (stevens jason)
Subject: DOOMWATCH, anybody?
Summary: JUNGBLUB
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 1992 19:18:53 GMT
Keywords: HUJIKLOPPY

  Heres a thought for you.
  My favourite programme of the lot, without a shadow of a doubt in my mind,
  is the BBC programme "Doomwatch" which ran on BBC1 between 1970 and 1972.
  It concerns a newly created government department established to combat 
  scientific advances which could be harmful to humans, nicknamed 'Doomwatch'.
     The main characters of Spencer Quist, a guilt ridden mathmatical genius
     who leads Doomwatch - as is claimed as a compensation for his part in the  Manhattan Project. He is the only constant character of the series (along with
     Bradley).
     Dr Ridge is the flambouyant character of the show. he womanises, twists,
     turns, thinks hes James Bond, and has an incurable temper. A key chracter
     for the first two series he appears briefly in the last, attempting to
     poison the world with anthrax (unbalanced by some lead in his garage).
     The first season also creatd the popular character of Tobias (Toby) Wren,  played by a very young Robert Powell. unfortunately his role came to an end -   blown to pieces by a bomb which he tried to defuse. The following story, You
     Killed Toby Wren, is one of the finest dramas I have ever seen, as Quist
     is accused for his death from all sides.
     Secretaries came and went, I cannot remember their names, as their roles
     consisted of wearing many short skirts, and giving feed lines.
     Bradley, the compuetr scientist, worked in the background, occasionally
     popping up to give some more invaluable feed lines.
     Quist married his psychiatrist for the third series, Anne tarrant, and she
     became a fixture.
     Other characters of minor significance appeared like Jeff Hardcastle as 
     part of the team.
     Opposing Quist is the ultimate slimeball, the Minister...in the end he gets his way and ends up ordering what projects Quist should take.

     The series has never failed to amaze me. it is well scripted (apart from 
     the feeed lines bit), superbly acted,a nd very gloomy. It may have been
     losing direction by the third series, btu who cares!!! Its about time we
     had a new Doomwatch series..it is a formula which can be used.

     First season;
     (1) The Plastic Eaters.
     A plastic eating virus ecscapes from a govt. laboratory and kills all the
     passangers on a jumbo jet when it crashes in S.America. Then, Toby discovers he also is carrying the virus on a jet with him....
     (2) Burial at Sea (does not exist)
     A rock group are found apparently under the influence of drugs on their
     yacht. One of the crew did not survive the apparent overdose...
     (3) Fridays Child (does not exist)
     plot unknown.
     (4) Tomorrow the Rat
     A breed of carnivorous, intelligent rats break free in London...
     (5) Re-entry Forbidden
     the worlds first nuclear powered rocket is manned by a crew, one with
     paranoic schizophrenia.....
     (6) Project sahara
     The govt. invades the privacy of the Doomwatch team to stop therm invetsigating Project Sahara..
     (7) Devil at the Feast
     While at global conference, Quist and the delegates are hit by food
     poisoning (does not exist)
     (8) The Devils Sweets
     A rise in smoking is attributed to a new sweet, with appalling after effectts
       
       Devil at the Feast should read "Spectre at the Feast"
       I am afraid this is as far as my list goes, so if anybody could help
       out here, up to season 3.

       Season three (exisiting)
       (4) Waiting for a Knighthood
       (7) Hair trigger
       (12) sex and Violence (untransmitted, UK)

       All of season 2 exists.

       ANYWAY, I HAVE TRIED TO PUT TOGETHER A QUICK GUIDE TO THE BEST TV SHOW
       MADE FROM MEMORY, IF ANYBODY CAN FILL IN THE GAPS IT WOULD BE 
       APPRECIATED.

       Jason.