Science Fiction television is more that a genre, it’s a sub-culture. For this episode we’re stepping out one kind of imaginary world, and into one rather more similar to ours. It’s also possibly the most personal episode yet.

Cruise of the Gods is a poignant, darkly comedic British television film that aired during Christmas on BBC Two in 2002. Written by Tim Firth, Peter Baynan and Michael Thomas, the story revolves around a convention for a defunct cult sci-fi TV series titled Children of Castor. This reunion takes place aboard a fan-organized cruise ship event that quickly becomes a stage for awkward encounters, faded glory, and heartfelt reflection.

At the heart of the film are two former stars of Children of Castor: Andy Van Allen (played by Rob Brydon), a bitter unemployed actor still clinging to the remnants of his fleeting fame, and Nick Lee (played by Steve Coogan), who has moved on to a successful career as a Hollywood actor, now famous as the star of Sherlock Holmes in Miami. The contrasting fortunes of the two men set the tone for a sharp exploration of celebrity, nostalgia, and the often bittersweet relationship between fans and their idols.

The film's witty script balances humour with pathos, as it highlights the absurdity of chasing fame and the perils of rejecting human contact. Supported by an ensemble cast that includes Helen Coker, David Walliams, Phillip Jackson and James Corden, Cruise of the Gods offers a touching and satirical look at the fleeting nature of success and the enduring power of fandom.

Despite only being broadcast once, Cruise of the Gods remains a cult favourite, compared favourably with the better known Galaxy Quest.

Joining me aboard the good ship VBF are actor Cliff Chapman and podcaster Dani Wray and our conversation goes into our own fandom experiences, as well as Doctor Who, Little Britain, Elementary and Fraiser amongst others.

Find out more about Cliff Chapman at https://cliff-chapman.com/

Buy a copy of Stone Circle, designed by Dani Wray at https://westlakefilms.uk/stonecircle/

Listen to Dani’s podcast I Don’t Do Scifi at https://westlakefilms.uk/idontdoscifi/

Find out more about Gareth Preston at https://garethpreston.blog/

Follow the podcast on: Twitter @futuresvery

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Visit our website for plenty of related links about Cruise of the Gods. http://westlakefilms.uk/verybritishfutures

Email us your thoughts and suggestions to verybritishfuturespodcast@gmail.com

Visit our online bookshop at https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/verybritishfuture

A for Andromeda is a BBC science fiction TV series that originally aired in 1961.

It was the first adult BBC science fiction series since the Quatermass trilogy of the Fifties. Created by reknown (and controversial) astronomer Fred Hoyle and television writer and producer John Elliot, and directed by Michael Hayes (Replaced by John Knight for the sequel). One of the earliest mainstream British TV dramas to explore the themes of artificial intelligence and realistic alien contact.

A for Andromeda follows a group of scientists who receive a radio signal from the Andromeda galaxy containing instructions for building a powerful computer. Once built, the computer reveals a formula for creating a new life. Meanwhile a multinational company called Intel are stealing information from the project via a mole. Shockingly, one of the team, Christine, is hypnotised and killed by the computer. Her body is then used as a blueprint for a newly grown beautiful woman who is christened Andromeda. However, as Andromeda grows more self-aware, she begins to be torn between the agenda of the alien AI and her own humanity.

The series was a great success at a time when the BBC had been losing audiences to its new rival ITV. Unsurprisingly a sequel was commissioned.

The Andromeda Breakthrough was originally broadcast in 1962. It picks up directly where the previous one left off, with Andromeda and Dr John Flemming, the scientist who has treated the computer with suspicion almost from the beginning, having escaped from the island where it was created. Soon they are abducted by Intel and taken to the Middle Eastern country of Azaran, where the alien computer has been recreated. Too late, the humans realise that the computer has a ruthless plan for human civilisation, and only the dying Andromeda can save them.

Both series were groundbreaking for television in mixing scientific concepts with contemporary politics and a more cynical view of business and political institutions.

For this episode I was delighted to be reunited with writers Nigel J Anderson and Brian M Clarke, who had been my very first guests when we covered Pathfinders in Space. We also take a few minutes to discuss the BBC4 remake in 2006. I must also mention Michael Thompson, who helped with the glossy production values on this particular podcast.

Follow the podcast on:

Twitter @futuresvery

Facebook / verybritishfuturespodcast

Visit our website for plenty of related links about A for Andromeda. http://westlakefilms.uk/verybritishfutures

Email us your thoughts and suggestions to

verybritishfuturespodcast@gmail.com

Visit our online bookshop at https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/verybritishfutures

Imagine Star Trek designed by Stanley Kubrick and inhabited by a plethora of familiar (or soon to be familiar) British actors, led by three American TV stars. It's a SF show that mixes big imaginative concepts with foam machines and alien babes in tight costumes. It looks amazing, with one of the most iconic spaceships that ever flew across the small screen. And for a while, it was one of the biggest SF series on TV.

The Moon has escaped orbit and gone warping across the galaxy. Each episode the survivors face new aliens and new terrors. The time, the place? Space: 1999!

Space: 1999 ran for 48 episodes across two seasons between 1975 and 1977. Made by ITC and produced by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, although Star Trek producer Fred Freiberger took over day to day running of the second season. Brian Johnson headed the special effects modelwork and would later gain acclaim for The Empire Strikes Back and The Neverending Story.

Very British Futures host Gareth Preston invites nostalgic Ian Taylor and recent fan Kara Dennison to examine one of ITC's biggest undertakings. They'll be taking an especially close look at "Dragon's Domain", "Earthbound" and "The Beta Cloud".

Follow the podcast on:

Twitter @futuresvery

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Visit our website for plenty of related links about Space: 1999 and our guests. https://westlakefilms.uk/verybritishfutures/

Email us at verybritishfuturespodcast@gmail.com

Find out more about Kara Dennison's work at https://karadennison.blogspot.com/

Find out more about Ian Taylor's horror anthologies at https://twitter.com/BHF_books