Created by Rex Firkin and Vincent Tilsley, London Weekend Television's 'The Guardians' tried, over the course of thirteen weeks, to predict Britain's future. The country has become a fascistic police state. Anyone trying to speak their mind is knocked back into line by the vicious Guardians. Democracy is a sham. The Prime Minister - 'Sir Timothy Hobson' ( the late Cyril Luckham ) - is little more than a figurehead. He is not even told where the country's nuclear weapons are kept. 'Norman' ( Derek Smith ), Secretary to the Cabinet, knows, however. Concerned about the rising number of Communist infiltrators in the Guardians, he instructs his lover 'Peter Lee'' ( Robin Ellis of 'Poldark' ) to enlist. Lee is given a thorough going-over by the newly-promoted 'Captain Tom Weston' ( John Collin ). After being accepted into their ranks, he is then shot dead by an unknown sniper who had been targeting the P.M.
It is interesting, from a modern view point, to compare this to Wilfred Greatorex's B.B.C. drama '1990' which covered much the same ground seven years later. The former looks as though it had a larger budget; the first episode opens with a pro-democracy demonstration which turns violent ( Windsor Davies plays the shop steward ). Tilsley's script is an effective opener, though perhaps a little talky for modern tastes. In the very next episode - 'Pursuit' - Weston he will become the Guardians' target. Gwyneth Powell ( later to play 'Mrs.McClusky' in 'Grange Hill' ) is his wife 'Clare'. The psychiatrist she sees - 'Dr.Benedict' ( David Burke ) - is initially a light relief character, but plays a key role as the series unfolds.
'The Guardians' cannot be termed science fiction; it is more a speculative political drama in the vein of Orwell's 'Nineteen Eighty-Four'. An alarming number of internet reviewers have tried to establish parallels between the G's and Tony Blair's New Labour. But Ted Heath's Tories were in power when it was made. In an interview with The T.V. Times published at that time, writer John Bowen made it clear that the starting point for the fascist regime was a collapsing coalition government. We had better watch our backs, hadn't we?
It is interesting, from a modern view point, to compare this to Wilfred Greatorex's B.B.C. drama '1990' which covered much the same ground seven years later. The former looks as though it had a larger budget; the first episode opens with a pro-democracy demonstration which turns violent ( Windsor Davies plays the shop steward ). Tilsley's script is an effective opener, though perhaps a little talky for modern tastes. In the very next episode - 'Pursuit' - Weston he will become the Guardians' target. Gwyneth Powell ( later to play 'Mrs.McClusky' in 'Grange Hill' ) is his wife 'Clare'. The psychiatrist she sees - 'Dr.Benedict' ( David Burke ) - is initially a light relief character, but plays a key role as the series unfolds.
'The Guardians' cannot be termed science fiction; it is more a speculative political drama in the vein of Orwell's 'Nineteen Eighty-Four'. An alarming number of internet reviewers have tried to establish parallels between the G's and Tony Blair's New Labour. But Ted Heath's Tories were in power when it was made. In an interview with The T.V. Times published at that time, writer John Bowen made it clear that the starting point for the fascist regime was a collapsing coalition government. We had better watch our backs, hadn't we?