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I remember watching it in the 80s. Loved the show at the time. I now have the box set and hopefully will watch the series again.

Well reviewed, Paul although for me I would strongly disagree that it’s an unexceptional film. It’s actually one of my favourites from Hammer studios and I think has fallen largely by the wayside for many because it’s not a creature feature as such, instead focusing on the more psychological aspects of their search. I love it

Did you have to snark at Joy to the World *every* time you referenced it? I'm kind of worried that the Disney deal will end, not because the show is bad or deserves it, but because the optics of a mega-corp promoting a diverse/inclusive show in the current US climate.

Excellent review of a very good and, yes, understated movie.

Hopefully do. All the missing episodes lifelong fan

Great video what nice guy keep up good work videos lifelong fan

Wouldn’t blame Ncuti for leaving if he is offered guaranteed work.

With a likely April start it’ll be nearly a year since this series finished filming, and with only the spin-off keeping the studios at Bad Wolf occupied, it does seem the show’s been in limbo despite the broadcast of last year’s episodes and Christmas special. Alongside this has been something of a siege mentality defence from RTD and the publicity machine - everything is bright, marvellous and the future couldn’t be better - which given the lack of any actual commitment from Disney or the BBC does seem wish-fulfilment at best. If Ncuti’s walked then contingencies will have been made, as they were when Eccleston left at a time the show’s immediate future was still to be decided based on the broadcast of that first series, so I’ve little doubt once/if the green light is given then we will have a new star. As to the Disney distribution deal beyond the UK and Ireland, irrespective of whether they stay involved somebody will have to take up the role of the show’s overseas broadcaster, be that another streaming platform or more likely the Sci-fi Channel or BBC America (assuming such a thing still exists). Either way, we’ll know something concrete by the end of May if not sooner. The waiting is part and parcel of any fan who recalls the wilderness years, both before and after the McGan Fox TV Movie, and this is arguably the closest experience to that since.

Great level-headed summary PM and well done for getting through those writer press-releases without gagging. As a fan of RTD’s work, I agree he’s doing better things away from Who and hasn’t shown anything close to the quality of storytelling he had before.

I've never watched Ace of Wands.

I don't know your criteria for choosing which series to review but you might want to have a look at "Doom Patrol", possibly the most batcrap crazy TV show ever made. Currently showing on ITVX.

Not looking great for Bond at the moment, but then its all speculation. I have faith Barbara will do/make the right decisions. I'm also from the valleys, great to see a fellow Welshman on here. Not many of us.

With other franchises staggering, I’m more excited now than I was about the original run, perhaps because I was a viewer, not a *superfan*, at the time. I’m less precious about it, and won’t approach every new instalment with protective anxiety the way I do with, say, Doctor Who.

Excellent video,thanks. Just discovered your channel via a Blake's 7 video you did and I'm really enjoying it all.

Back to my formative years in the 1960s. Sunday afternoon tv, the Champions followed by the golden shot.

Great review Paul. Saw this this evening and I’m happy to endorse your comments and opinions. Much like Speak No Evil the premise is people being far too polite and deferential in the face of an overpowering personality with their own unique take on life. I see Grant’s mesmeric performance is up for a BAFTA in a couple of weeks and it’ll be interesting to see if he’s in with a chance. Probably not, but it’s still nice to see him nominated. A24 are certainly leading the way in terms of edgy genre filmmaking these past few years, and I always relish a new release from them.

Another great review, Paul. I have very fond memories of the Champions from my youth and I remember avidly collecting the bubble gum trading cards. I seemed to remember that they incorporated codebreaker puzzles. I also still have the paperback novel that you mentioned. I agree that it was fairly formulaic but I enjoyed it nonetheless. It was glossy and glamorous as all those ITC series were at the time. I'm still fond of it and own the excellent Network dvd boxset. I was also very fortunate to meet Alexandra Bastedo some years ago at a memorabilia event. So all in all I was a big fan. Look forward to your review of Department S. One of my favourite ITC series.

Maybe they should hire Neil Gaiman. Chances are he's not that busy.

MGM was bought by Amazon in 2021, and as the principal distributor of the James Bond films means EoN rely on them for worldwide release.

Believe the Movie came out in 2025 👍🏼

Great review, loved the show as a kid and enjoy it now, but I think you are right about it's shortcomings. Some of the episodes tended to under-use the powers as well. It's one of those programmes I would like to see remade but not made too OTT.

Good review, man, I went to see companion there for myself earlier actually and i have to say i really enjoyed it! Good to see you loved it as well! 👍

Love your Intro 😊

Hi Paul, good review. I have fond memories of watching this as a kid on Sunday afternoons in the late 70's or early 80's in the UK. Funnily enough, I've just got the dvd boxset for xmas and I've watched almost all of the episodes so far. I am enjoying them immensely and i do love seeing the old British actors too. The best episodes for me are the ones set in the UK, as the ones set abroad suffer from too many fake backgrounds and obvious sets because of the limited budget. I agree with you that Alexandra Bastedo is not the best actor, but she is criminally underused in the majority of episodes, she should have been given more to do like Emma Peel in the Avengers. Also, as well as being formulaic, a fair few of the episodes have enough plot holes in them to sink a submarine. My favourite episodes are The Night People, Nutcracker and Autokill. Least favourites: Operation Deep Freeze and Twelve Hours.

Hello Paul, I have recently discovered your channel and having been born in 1958 your reviews of classic shows really take me back to my childhood. I must thank you for reuniting me with "Ace of wands" as I had forgotten the shows title but the theme tune and the name Tarot have been occasionally popping to mind in the intervening fifty plus years. Thanks again and keep up the good work. Regards Chris

Need to do a Christmas Special with Vindaloo Singh (Christmas Songs) having a Christmas Curry.

Hi Paul, I remember this terrifying the living daylights out of me as a teenager in 1984! I caught it again about a month ago while searching through iPlayer. It still hits hard all these years later, even more so as Im now a dad and grandad. Also with the Russia/Ukraine war still going on, some bits make for uneasy viewing watching it now. Knowing what was coming combined with stoney narration and tv reports gives the first half a pervading sense of dread and unease seeing normal, everyday people going about their business and getting more paranoid as the hostilities escalate so far away from them. Then the bomb hits, and for an 80s BBC made show, it doesn't shy away from the full horror of a nuclear attack. The scenes of total silence as the screen goes white as everyone is vaporized is still horrific and chilling to the bone all these years later!!!

We weren't allowed ITV or the BBC Light Service (Radio 2!). The man from DER came and removed the two spare channel buttons from the TV. We didn't get ITV till Channel 4 launched so I didn't see Thunderbirds till I was in my late teens.

Wonderfully summarised video Paul. We love the classic shows of the 60's despite all their faults. The biggest of course was the complete lack of character development and depth, followed by any continuity. And of course being aimed at the U.S market, the majority of the ITC glossy shows had this problem more than Doctor Who and anything the BBC might have made. Just look at the enjoyable Irwin Allen shows as to how the market they were aimed at wanted their TV made.

Ahhh 'Low' Grade....

Always felt that William Gaunt was the most charismatic of the three, putting a little charm into what little he was given! Alexsandro Bestada's charms, though, weren't in her acting! I think one of her strongest moments was actually playing a villain in "Randell & Hopkirk Deceased" fighting with Annete Andre in the cemetery! Yes, I think this is one instance where a well done modern reboot would work!

Sound keeps cutting out for me. Anyone else?

Almost forgot. How about a review of "The Medusa Touch" (1978)? Richard Burton is on top form as the psychiatric patient who thinks he can cause disasters. It came to mind because I finally found a free,legal download of Peter van Greenaway's original novel which, like all his other books is long out of print. A physical copy goes for over£300.

I loved The Champions in 1968 but like a lot of ancient TV, it takes some sitting through these days. The plane crash in the first episode seems to last about a week.

Love all the itc series. Currently watching the b/w episodes of the saint on dvd

I liked the show when seeing reruns and episodes on VHS as a kid, but... Yeah, nothing you say here is wrong.

Great review.I sort of agree with you that this series hasnt stood the test of time.I watched it when it came out,im as old as that lama now!.And it did strike me as being very serious unlike say the other ITC series.Almost apart from them.The super powers were a bit come and go the only one that got used every week was the hearing ability with that sound effect.The best thing for me about the series was that title music and the classy opening and closing titles.It did have potential but largely fell into ITC proceedural with some guys with a few powers.Which was a shame as it could have been more.Some episodes are very good but get swamped on the whole by mediocre ones.I like the series but in small amounts.Its not go to ITC stuff for me.Got to be in the mood for it.

More than anything, what I want out of a future Red Dwarf seriese, is a satisfying ending to the show. We've reached the point where, as much as I'd love to see ever more seriese. the creation of a "the end" is more important. Perhapse instead of numbering this short season, they could title it "the final season" That way they could inject one, maybe two new seasons into the sequence retroactively.

Doug Naylor has said he would never write a final episode and I think thats the best way personally. And I have a feeling that it may yet still return once more...

I first discovered Doomwatch when BBC Video released 4 episodes on 2 VHS cassettes, as I wasn't born when it was originally shown on BBC1. I also still have my VHS recordings made off UK Gold when they repeated Doomwatch in the 1990's. My mum remembers watching this but is convinced they all were killed off at the end, but I wonder if she's just remembering the end of Series 1 when Toby Wren was killed off.

The Vanishing is the US remake of a superior Dutch film if I recall.

Yeah alot of charity shops dont sells DVD's anymore as they are worth so little. I think the silly low prices are mainly for films. I think as far as TV series are concerned they have probably gone through the bottom prices and now as some are OOP prices may get silly. So get stuff while you can. I've wondering as far as Blakes 7 is concerned as nothing has been said about series 2 on BR is it going to happen?

Hi, picked up hyperdrive staring nick frost and amanda hart in charity shop for a pound. Bargin. Perhaps 1 to add to your list for a future review. Not as good as red dwarf but I enjoyed it.

Imitation game is a brilliant film

Doomwatch had some great ideas but was ruined by the usual tatty tinpot - film it in an hour BBC budget. it should been (like Adam Adament) made by ITC and it would have shined.

I've been a fan since '88, very popular in Australia in it's day! Always hoped there would be just one more special to round off the saga.

Love this show! I am curious as to its future; they have settled their legal issues in court and can make more hope they continue. One thing though is I do t think a recast would ever work because the actors have these characters mastered; do t think it would work without them.

My favourite Kong film. Wonderfully romantic score by John Barry and the World Trade Centre finale gives it a haunting quality