The Changes (TV series)

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The Changes is a British children's science fiction television serial filmed in 1973 and first broadcast in 1975 by the BBC. The serial was directed by John Prowse.

The Changes posits a Britain in which the population have mysteriously rebelled against modern technology, destroyed all modern machinery and reverted back to a pre-industrial age. Triggered by a sound emitted from electricity pylons, even the words for modern inventions have become taboo. Its theme echoes contemporaneous adult drama series Survivors in which a small group of British people attempt to survive the decimation of the world's population by disease.

The Changes are seen through the eyes of teenage schoolgirl Nicky Gore (Victoria Williams), and the 10-part series, originally broadcast every Monday from 6th January to 10th March 1975, traces Nicky's quest to find her parents and solve the mystery.

Despite its modest budget The Changes was noted for its extensive location filming in Bristol, the Forest of Dean and Sharpness. Its original premise, downbeat tone and interesting Sikh characters make it a standout example of the 1970s golden age of British television.

Theme and incidental music composer Paddy Kingsland went on to score both the radio and TV adaptations of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and incidental music for a number of Doctor Who stories in the early eighties. Writer Anna Home later became head of head of BBC Children's programmes.

The high reputation of the The Changes is partly based on the scarcity of its showings. The original episode, seeing ordinary people smash ordinary objects in fits of seeming madness made a great impact on its young audience, although the pace slowed through the serial and the denouement was rather diluted from the book's original premise.

The series was exported, but hasn't been released on video or DVD. It was repeated on the BBC in 1976 and on UK Gold in 1994.

The TV series was freely adapted by Anne Home from a trilogy of novels by Peter Dickinson. The series took most of its material from The Weathermonger which, together with Heartsease and The Devil's Children has recently been reissued in a single volume in the UK.

[edit] Episode Guide

Episode 1 The Noise

First aired: 1/6/1975

Writer: Anna Home Director: John Prowse Story: Peter Dickinson

Returning Cast: VICKY WILLIAMS as Nicky Gore, KEITH ASHTON as Johnathon, DAVID GARFIELD as Davy Gordon, RAFIQ ANWAR as Chacha, ZULEIKA ROBSON as Margaret, OSCAR QUITAK as Mr Furbelow, RUGBY BRAR as Gopal

Guest star: Sonia Graham (Mrs Gore), Bartlett Mullins (Old Man), Bernard Horsfall (Mr. Gore), Clyde Pollitt (Preacher)

A strange noise fills people all over Britain with a violent rage against modern technology.

Episode 2 The Bad Wires

First aired: 1/13/1975 Separated from her parents, Nicky joins a group of Sikhs.

Episode 3 The Devil's Children

First aired: 1/20/1975 Guest star: Arthur Hewlett (Mr. Tom)

Nicky and the Sikhs settle at Brooker's Farm but are dubbed by villagers as “the Devil’s Children.”

Episode 4 Hostages!

First aired: 1/27/1975 Guest star: Arthur Hewlett (Mr. Tom), Edward Brayshaw (Chief Robber), Derek Ware (Second Robber)

Bandits attack the village and take the children hostage.

Episode 5 Witchcraft!

First aired: 2/3/1975 Guest star: Roy Evans (Carter)

Nicky tries to track down her aunt, while the farm is visited by a witch finder.

Episode 6 A Pile of Stones

First aired: 2/10/1975 Nicky is found guilty of witchcraft and sentenced to death by stoning.

Episode 7 Heartsease

First aired: 2/17/1975 Guest star: Kenneth Gilbert (Innkeeper)

Nicky and Jonathan escape, pursued by the witch-finder and enraged villagers.

Episode 8 Lightning!

First aired: 2/24/1975 Guest star: Tom Chadbon (Michael), Kenneth Gilbert (Innkeeper)

Nicky and Jonathon try to escape to sea but their boat is struck by lightning.

Episode 9 The Quarry

First aired: 3/3/1975 Guest star: Tom Chadbon (Michael)

Nicky and Jonathon set off to investigate a mysterious power source on the other side of the mountains.

Episode 10 The Cavern

First aired: 3/10/1975

Our heroes enter a cavern and uncover the cause of the unbalancing of the world.

[edit] External links

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