Thanks for this. Loved the show then and now. I remember the Tripods being repeated on Channel 7 in Australia in the early 90s, can’t believe it’s never been repeated in the UK. Loved to hear the interview with Jim Baker, good to hear he’s become a ‘soapie star’ in later life ;)
The Tripods book: "All For Nothing" arrived today. Oh boy, it's a BIG AND HEAVY thing of beauty!! Chris Jones really has done himself and us proud. I'll be diving into it properly tonight. Note: the hardcover doesn't have a dust jacket, which I'm really grateful for. I wish more publishers would do this as dust jackets are always a pain in the arse and soon get damaged. 10/10 and highly recommended! ⭐
Fascinating that Ken Freeman based the theme on Holst's Mars The War-bringer. The same piece influenced Dudley Simpson's creation of the Blake's 7 theme. Ken Freeman also created the original theme for Casualty in 1986. Quite a different proposition altogether.
I recall someone writing in to the BBC's Viewer opinion show "Points of View" asking if Ken had composed the theme to Casualty, as his style was unmistakable. Even the differences between the opening and closing themes mirrored what he'd done with The Tripods.
Love the sketch at the beginning based on Henry's interrogation by the bogus Black Guard! Laughed a lot. I'm going to play it to Jim Baker when I see him.
I loved that show! I even got my parents to help me write a letter to Kenner to ask them to make Tripods versions of the Star Wars style figures and toys. Never heard back, lol.
Its because Nick Briggs hates Tripods. On an episode of The Benji and Nick Show podcast [Edit: later deleted from most platforms but available here on UA-cam] he was not only down on the show but pretty vile to the co-host personally, about the co-hosts friends who he'd watched it with back in the day, in fact hateful towards "the kind of people" who ever liked Tripods. It really put me off Briggs for a while, but apart from that one ep it's a good podcast celebrating a lot of stuff we all seem to love. However, a Big Finish version is unlikely to say the least. On a more cheerful note (other audio houses are available!) wouldn't it be great to have the original cast, the original theme, plus incidental music from The Pool of Fire CD, back for one last Ullaa - sorry, I mean Hurrah - to give the fans the finale we all wish for. I'd buy it
I was 14 too back in 84. Great series overall. Agree with Will, series 1 is better as 50 minute chunks. Inevitably Michael Grade didn't like it. So stupid to cancel a trilogy two thirds of the way in! Better to have taken a punt and given us that last series, which if well promoted could have found an audience. The Saturday teatime slot didn't help. Had it been three series of 6x50 minutes, perhaps screened on Saturday or Sunday about 7pm it might just have worked.
Or 6 x 25 minutes per book with no additional storylines ... I think producer Richard Bates sold it to the BBC as three seasons of 13 so it could be marketed overseas, and especially to the United States. But 18 episodes would have told the full story, wouldn't it?
It's as much a member of the Doctor Who "family" as Blake's Seven.
Agreed!
Thanks for this. Loved the show then and now. I remember the Tripods being repeated on Channel 7 in Australia in the early 90s, can’t believe it’s never been repeated in the UK. Loved to hear the interview with Jim Baker, good to hear he’s become a ‘soapie star’ in later life ;)
Thank God for people like Chris Jones! THANK YOU for putting in the work, Chris! I've pre-ordered the book and can't wait to read it!
Hope you enjoy it!
The Tripods book: "All For Nothing" arrived today. Oh boy, it's a BIG AND HEAVY thing of beauty!! Chris Jones really has done himself and us proud. I'll be diving into it properly tonight. Note: the hardcover doesn't have a dust jacket, which I'm really grateful for. I wish more publishers would do this as dust jackets are always a pain in the arse and soon get damaged. 10/10 and highly recommended! ⭐
Sounds fantastic! Cannot wait to get a copy!
Fascinating that Ken Freeman based the theme on Holst's Mars The War-bringer. The same piece influenced Dudley Simpson's creation of the Blake's 7 theme.
Ken Freeman also created the original theme for Casualty in 1986. Quite a different proposition altogether.
I recall someone writing in to the BBC's Viewer opinion show "Points of View" asking if Ken had composed the theme to Casualty, as his style was unmistakable. Even the differences between the opening and closing themes mirrored what he'd done with The Tripods.
Influential piece
I wish I'd known about the convention. I would've loved to have gone.
I would love to have gone too!
Love the sketch at the beginning based on Henry's interrogation by the bogus Black Guard! Laughed a lot. I'm going to play it to Jim Baker when I see him.
I was hoping you would. Lol!
I loved that show! I even got my parents to help me write a letter to Kenner to ask them to make Tripods versions of the Star Wars style figures and toys. Never heard back, lol.
That is awesome!
Sorry for hogging the comments! We don't get much Tripods material like this to react to. Thanks, Dwayne & co. 😊
Hog away! Lol!
@@AudioSirens 😁👍
Ordered my copy today. Anyone know what the print run is? As its a relatively niche show I'd imagine it wouldn't be too high.
No idea what the print run is. Sorry.
I bought the (first) three Tripods novels this week. The ones with the BBC logo and photos from the series on the covers.
Wonderful! I had those too!
I can't for the life of me understand why Big Finish hasn't made the missing Series 3. Or adapted the books. Rights issues?
You will find out the reason when the episode drops.
Its because Nick Briggs hates Tripods. On an episode of The Benji and Nick Show podcast [Edit: later deleted from most platforms but available here on UA-cam] he was not only down on the show but pretty vile to the co-host personally, about the co-hosts friends who he'd watched it with back in the day, in fact hateful towards "the kind of people" who ever liked Tripods.
It really put me off Briggs for a while, but apart from that one ep it's a good podcast celebrating a lot of stuff we all seem to love.
However, a Big Finish version is unlikely to say the least.
On a more cheerful note (other audio houses are available!) wouldn't it be great to have the original cast, the original theme, plus incidental music from The Pool of Fire CD, back for one last Ullaa - sorry, I mean Hurrah - to give the fans the finale we all wish for. I'd buy it
Only one of the reasons it won't be made.
Yep. Rights issues.
Anybody know if the comic strips from BBC 'Beeb' magazine will ever see the light of day again? The art was by John M. Burns.
Don't know about those.
"Beeb" was a shortlived BBC version of "Look-In". I don't remember any plot details but the art was (of course) awesome!
I was 14 too back in 84. Great series overall. Agree with Will, series 1 is better as 50 minute chunks.
Inevitably Michael Grade didn't like it. So stupid to cancel a trilogy two thirds of the way in!
Better to have taken a punt and given us that last series, which if well promoted could have found an audience.
The Saturday teatime slot didn't help. Had it been three series of 6x50 minutes, perhaps screened on Saturday or Sunday about 7pm it might just have worked.
Or 6 x 25 minutes per book with no additional storylines ... I think producer Richard Bates sold it to the BBC as three seasons of 13 so it could be marketed overseas, and especially to the United States. But 18 episodes would have told the full story, wouldn't it?
Michael Grade was such a pain.