Counterstrike

Counterstrike

1969 - United Kingdom

Originally planned in 1966 but shelved by the BBC for three years, Counterstrike was a short-lived science fiction series centred round alien invasion and an alien 'agent', Simon King, sent to Earth by an intergalactic council (the celestial equivalent of the UN), posing as a journalist in order to unmask the Centuarans, refugees from a dying planet, who wanted to take over the world. 

The series was similar in theme to the US series The Invaders and this was the reason why the BBC held it back. The Corporation had even gone so far as to have commissioned effects and title music (by Delia Derbyshire) and assigned a producer, Antony Kearey, before calling a halt on production. 

When the project was dusted off the shelf in 1969 new effects and music were created by Brian Hodgson and Keith Beckett produced. Jon Finch starred as King who quickly goes about unmasking the villains of the series and he was aided by his doctor friend, Mary (Sarah Brackett). Having made the series the BBC then seemed to lose faith in it, inexplicably showing only nine of the ten episodes. 

Episode six was pulled at the eleventh hour to be replaced by a documentary on the notorious London gangland twins, The Krays, who had been refused leave to appeal against their prison sentences on that same day. However, it was never rescheduled and the series tapes were subsequently wiped. The first four episodes exist today on 16mm Black & White Film. An un-transmitted pilot episode was also made but it is unclear if this was from 1966 or 1969. It too is no longer held in the archives. 

Published on December 5th, 2018. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

Imposter

The Earth has been at war with the Outspacers for many years. The fate of the planet depends on the success of a vital project headed by one man.

Also tagged Science Fiction

Doctor In The House

Hospital comedy based on Richard Gordon's series of books, which had previously been adapted for the cinema starting with a 1954 production starring Dirk Bogarde. New medical students arrive at St Swithin's Hospital...mayhem ensues

Also released in 1969

Hark at Barker

Ronnie Barker starred in this sitcom as Lord Rustless, an ageing but perennial scatterbrain.

Also released in 1969

Babylon 5

Given the similarities in basic formats, it was initially tempting for unfair comparisons to be drawn between Babylon 5 and the various Star Trek incarnations...

Also tagged Science Fiction

The Time Machine 1949

Earliest television outing for H.G. Wells' classic sci-fi tale about a time traveller

Also tagged Science Fiction

A for Andromeda

Now recognised as a classic science fiction series, A for Andromeda was developed for television by writer and BBC producer John Elliot from an original storyline by Cambridge astronomer and novelist Fred Hoyle.

Also tagged Science Fiction

Curry and Chips

Poorly received sitcom by Johnny Speight who attempted (and many would say failed) to highlight the stupidity of racism.

Also released in 1969

Roy Thinnes in The Invaders

When David Vincent gets lost on a country road he stumbles across visitors from another planet. But will anyone ever believe him?

Also tagged Scifi

The Day of the Triffids

When a comet blinds nearly everyone in the world, a genetically-engineered species of plant takes over.

Also tagged Scifi