From Shaky Spaceships to Shooting Stars Quiz

Answer: Paul Darrow

Before taking on the role of Kerr Avon Paul Darrow was mainly known for his theatre work, acting in several Shakespeare plays. His appearance in "Blake's 7" changed that. He was the British answer to Spock in "Star Trek", trying to apply logic and reason to his actions.

The programme, which ran for four series, was about Rog Blake, an idealist, who, with various assorted criminals, escapes from a prison ship, takes over an abandoned alien space ship and sets out to fight the Galactic Federation, and just about anyone else they come across.

The sets were not brilliant, certainly the space ships were sometimes very shaky, but the storylines were good. The character of Avon gained great popularity, mainly for his sarcasm and wit, and his very ambiguous moral code. You were never quite certain which side he was on, other than his own. Since it finished the series has achieved a cult status.

Answer: Space 1999

Starring Martin Landau, Anton Phillip and Barry Morse, "Space 1999" ran from 1975 to 1977. The first episode set the scene when nuclear waste stored on the moon explodes, sending it, and the moon base staff on it, hurling out into space. In their unwilling journey they encounter other civilisations and peoples, but as they cannot control the speed of direction of the moon they are always travelling on.

There were two series, each of 24 episodes. A third series was planned, but never happened, so we never knew the ultimate fate of the unwilling space travellers.

Answer: Anomalies

In "Primeval" a small group of scientists are part of a very secret government programme. Dangerous creatures from the past and future are coming to the present day via anomalies. These are openings to various other times that the creatures can come through. People from the present time can also go through them to the other side, but risk being trapped if the anomaly closes while they are on the other side. Led by Nick Cutter (Douglas Henshall) the group attempt to kill or disable the creatures without alarming the general public, and also to investigate why the anomalies are occurring.

The series started in 2007, took a short break after the 2009 season and returned in 2011.

Answer: Sapphire and Steel

Joanna Lumley was Sapphire and David McCallum was Steel in this rather strange series. Their purpose was clearly to investigate, and if necessary correct, anachronisms in the time line, but quite who sent them, or where they came from was never explained.

They were clearly non-human and were, from time to time, joined by other operators with names such as Lead or Jet. "Sapphire and Steel" ran from 1979 to 1982. It never had a large budget, and many of the sets were very minimal, and casts were always small.

This though seemed to add to the overall atmosphere of the show.

Answer: Day of the Triffids

This is "Day of the Triffids", adapted for television from the John Wyndham novel of the same name. The first adaptation was in 1981 and was shown in six half hour episodes. It starred John Dutine as Bill Mason, the man who retains his sight. Ironically this is because he is hospitalised due to a triffid sting sustained when working on a triffid farm. The triffids, which up to then have been firmly rooted in the ground and farmed for their oil, become mobile. With their lethal stingers they soon force humans out of cities into isolated areas.

A further adaptation was done in 2009.

Answer: Gerald Harper

Adam Llewellyn De Vere Adamant is lured into a trap by his arch enemy, The Face, and is condemned to be frozen in a block of ice for all time. He is found in 1966 when a block of flats is demolished and he is revived. He then sets about fighting crime in 1960s London, but always in the manner of a Victorian gentleman.

Some things remain unexplained throughout the series, like where his money comes from, as he is obviously rich. "Adam Adamant Lives!" ran for two series in 1966/67, and series two saw the return of The Face.

He was however never captured, nor was his identity revealed.

Answer: Black Mirror

Created by Charlie Brooker "Black Mirror" gained much critical acclaim. Each episode was a stand alone tale with a different cast, different setting. There was no thread tying them all together. Each tale had a nasty twist in it, which made it reminiscent of "The Twilight Zone". Each story centres around modern technology, the way we use it, and what could go wrong if we are not careful.

It ran for only two series with three episodes per series. The first series was December 2011 and the second February 2013.

As well as being based around modern technology the series also satires politics, the use of social media and the current entertainment industry.

Answer: Time Travel

Dominick Hide lives in 2130, but he visits London in the 1980s as part of his job, which is to observe transport systems of the past. However, he uses his trips as an excuse to search for his great-great-grandfather. He meets a clothes shop owner, Jane Wilson, and starts a relationship with her.

When she becomes pregnant he has to confess to his 2130 superiors. He then finds out that due to a time slip they knew all about his activities, as he is in fact his own great-great-grandfather. He tells Jane all, provides for her and his son by telling her the football pool results for the next week, then goes back to 2130 never to return. "The Flipside of Dominick Hide" was shown as a single play in 1980.

Answer: Susan Foreman

Susan Foreman, played by Carol Ann Ford, made eleven appearances as the grand-daughter of the first ever Doctor. She made her final appearance as a regular companion in the second episode of the second season, "The Dalek Invasion of Earth". She was rumoured to be unhappy with the lack of development of her character.

The role of companion to the Doctor has changed over the years. In the modern era they are more involved than the early companions were, and really their role has often reflected the way women are viewed by society at the time.

Answer: The Quatermass Experiment

"The Quatermass Experiment" was something of an experiment by the BBC, as it took up most of the drama budget for 1953. Set in the near future it is about the first flight into space. When the ship returns two of the three astronauts are missing and the third, it transpires, has been taken over by an alien. Professor Quatermass, played by Reginald Tate, and his team must prevent the alien from destroying the world.

As the series, which had six episodes, was broadcast live, there was little room for special effects so these had to be imagined from the reaction to them given by the various actors.

The show was hugely popular and led to further "Quatermass" series as well as a Hammer film.