Journey Into Space: The Red Planet
Journey Into Space was a BBC Radio science fiction serial first broadcast from 1953 to 1956. Three series were originally broadcast, all written and produced by Charles Chilton.
The first series, Operation Luna, was originally titled Journey To The Moon and broadcast in 1953/4. The first four episodes, set on Earth, were not popular with audiences, but the serial grew in popularity when the story blasted off for space in episode five. The tapes of this first series were erased, but the series was re-recorded and re-broadcast in 1958, under the new title Operation Luna, but with the first four episodes omitted. The second series, The Red Planet, was the last time that a BBC radio show achieved a higher rating than its TV opponent.
Operation Luna followed the adventures of Captain ‘Jet’ Morgan and his crew, as they attempt the first Moon landing, only to encounter a fleet of UFOs who send them back in time.
The second series, The Red Planet, broadcast in 1954/5, sees Jet and his crew travelling to Mars, where they discover a plot by the Martians to invade Earth.
The third series, The World In Peril, broadcast in 1955/6, was a direct continuation of the story begun in series two, and followed Jet Morgan and his crew's return to Mars in an attempt to avert the impending Martian invasion.
The Return From Mars was a revival of Journey Into Space, written by Charles Chilton for Radio 4’s Saturday Night Theatre in 1981, and continues the story from approximately the end of The World In Peril, with the crew returning to Earth after thirty years in space, missing presumed dead.
Frozen In Time was another stand-alone story, written by Charles Chilton and broadcast in 2008. Returning from a trip to Neptune, the crew awaken from suspended animation in order to rescue a stranded mining expedition on Mars.
The Host was a further one-off episode, this time written by Julian Simpson, and broadcast in 2009, which sees the crew thwart the plans of a sentient information being to take over the Universe.
The first series, Operation Luna, was originally titled Journey To The Moon and broadcast in 1953/4. The first four episodes, set on Earth, were not popular with audiences, but the serial grew in popularity when the story blasted off for space in episode five. The tapes of this first series were erased, but the series was re-recorded and re-broadcast in 1958, under the new title Operation Luna, but with the first four episodes omitted. The second series, The Red Planet, was the last time that a BBC radio show achieved a higher rating than its TV opponent.
Operation Luna followed the adventures of Captain ‘Jet’ Morgan and his crew, as they attempt the first Moon landing, only to encounter a fleet of UFOs who send them back in time.
The second series, The Red Planet, broadcast in 1954/5, sees Jet and his crew travelling to Mars, where they discover a plot by the Martians to invade Earth.
The third series, The World In Peril, broadcast in 1955/6, was a direct continuation of the story begun in series two, and followed Jet Morgan and his crew's return to Mars in an attempt to avert the impending Martian invasion.
The Return From Mars was a revival of Journey Into Space, written by Charles Chilton for Radio 4’s Saturday Night Theatre in 1981, and continues the story from approximately the end of The World In Peril, with the crew returning to Earth after thirty years in space, missing presumed dead.
Frozen In Time was another stand-alone story, written by Charles Chilton and broadcast in 2008. Returning from a trip to Neptune, the crew awaken from suspended animation in order to rescue a stranded mining expedition on Mars.
The Host was a further one-off episode, this time written by Julian Simpson, and broadcast in 2009, which sees the crew thwart the plans of a sentient information being to take over the Universe.
Episode 1
April 1971. Jet and Mitch travel from Earth to the Moon by rocket. The Mars fleet (the flagship Discovery, 8 freighters and 20 men) begins its journey. During an EVA, Mitch's safety line fails, leaving him adrift. First broadcast: 6 September 1954. Original Story by Charles Chilton. Cast: Andrew Faulds, Guy Kingsley Poynter, Bruce Beeby, David Kossoff, David Jacobs, Anthony Marriott. |
Episode 2
Jet manages to rescue Mitch, using a miniature rocket unit. Frank tells Lemmy he's not getting on at all well with Whitaker, his shipmate. Whitaker starts behaving very strangely while Jet is questioning him. First broadcast: 13 September 1954. Original Story by Charles Chilton. Cast: Andrew Faulds, Guy Kingsley Poynter, Bruce Beeby, David Kossoff, David Jacobs, Anthony Marriott. |
Episode 3
While Whitaker is in a strange deep sleep, both Frank and Lemmy have nightmares. Radar suddenly reveals a huge meteor swarm ahead of the fleet, blocking its path. A large meteor destroys Freighter 7. First broadcast: 20 September 1954. Original Story by Charles Chilton. Cast: Andrew Faulds, Guy Kingsley Poynter, Bruce Beeby, David Kossoff, David Jacobs, Anthony Marriott. |
Episode 4
Control discovers very odd information about Whitaker - the only man answering to his description was apparently born in 1893, and has been missing since 1924. The fleet changes course twice to avoid the meteor swarm, but both times it moves to block their path again. First broadcast: 27 September 1954. Original Story by Charles Chilton. Cast: Andrew Faulds, Guy Kingsley Poynter, Bruce Beeby, David Kossoff, David Jacobs, Anthony Marriott. |
Episode 5
The fleet enters the swarm. Peterson reports an emergency on board freighter 6 with Whitaker. On leaving the swarm, Freighter 6 is nowhere to be seen, and the swarm is now blocking radio contact with Control. Two weeks later, Discovery apparently re-establishes contact with home, but the crew are puzzled by the short delay between replies. First broadcast: 4 October 1954. Original Story by Charles Chilton. Cast: Andrew Faulds, Guy Kingsley Poynter, Bruce Beeby, David Kossoff, David Jacobs, Anthony Marriott. |
Episode 6
A radio message (apparently from Control) orders the fleet to return home. However, a bearing on the radio signal reveals the transmitter to be somewhere in front of the fleet, thus proving the message to be a fake. Freighter 6 is sighted ahead of the fleet, and Discovery draws up alongside it. First broadcast: 11 October 1954. Original Story by Charles Chilton. Cast: Andrew Faulds, Guy Kingsley Poynter, Bruce Beeby, David Kossoff, David Jacobs, Anthony Marriott. |
Episode 7
Whitaker is found badly injured in Freighter 6, but Peterson has vanished. Jet has a strange dream, and Whitaker dies, suddenly transforming into an old man. Recording tapes found in the cabin confirm the crew's suspicions that Whitaker faked the radio message. First broadcast: 18 October 1954. Original Story by Charles Chilton. Cast: Andrew Faulds, Guy Kingsley Poynter, Bruce Beeby, David Kossoff, David Jacobs, Anthony Marriott. |
Episode 8
Peterson's suicide recording is found, and radio contact with Control is restored. The fleet enters orbit round Mars, and Discovery lands at the South Pole, but a strange soporific noise troubles the crew and causes them to crash-land. First broadcast: 25 October 1954. Original Story by Charles Chilton. Cast: Andrew Faulds, Guy Kingsley Poynter, Bruce Beeby, David Kossoff, David Jacobs. |
Episode 9
Freighter 1 lands alongside Discovery, and Jet and Mitch explore outside, but whilst conducting experiments they soon get lost in a dense fog. They see a mysterious orange light, mistaking it for the landing light of the Discovery, and the same soporific noise heard during the landing causes them to lose consciousness. First broadcast: 1 November 1954. Original Story by Charles Chilton. Cast: Andrew Faulds, Guy Kingsley Poynter, Bruce Beeby, David Kossoff, David Jacobs. |
Episode 10
Doc and Frank rescue Jet and Mitch, and Jet says he dreamed of a ruined city in a valley. Discovery's crew begin the exploration of Mars in the land trucks, whilst Freighter 2 begins to ferry supplies down from the fleet in orbit. However, on its second trip down, the freighter crew hear the soporific noise and crash. First broadcast: 8 November 1954. Original Story by Charles Chilton. Cast: Andrew Faulds, Guy Kingsley Poynter, Bruce Beeby, David Kossoff, David Jacobs, Anthony Marriott. |
Episode 11
Racing to reach the crashed freighter before sunset, the Discovery's crew reaches the Mare Australis, the plain north of the ice cap. After nightfall, though unable to find the freighter, they see a mysterious white light moving across the plain. In the morning, they locate the crashed freighter, but upon reaching it find its crew missing. However, there are strange marks in the ground nearby which Jet deduces to belong to "the light", realising that a ship has visited and kidnapped the freighter crew. First broadcast: 15 November 1954. Original Story by Charles Chilton. Cast: Andrew Faulds, Guy Kingsley Poynter, Bruce Beeby, David Kossoff, David Jacobs. |
Episode 12
The Discovery crew travel west across the Mare Australis in pursuit of the mysterious ship. Meanwhile, Frank and Grimshaw, crew members of Freighter 1, reach the wrecked Freighter 2 and take up residence for the night. However, during the night, a 'sphere' arrives and its crew attempt to enter the wreck. Whilst observing the crew, Frank realises they are human. A few days later, Discovery's crew reach a valley in the Argyre Desert, and a city which is identical to the one in Jet's earlier dream. First broadcast: 22 November 1954. Original Story by Charles Chilton. Cast: Andrew Faulds, Guy Kingsley Poynter, Bruce Beeby, David Kossoff, David Jacobs. |
Episode 13
Discovery's crew explore the valley's ruined city, but Lemmy vanishes, and experiences a hypnotic dream. He's later found with McLean (pilot of Freighter 2), who is now mysteriously able to breathe the Martian air. First broadcast: 29 November 1954. Original Story by Charles Chilton. Cast: Andrew Faulds, Guy Kingsley Poynter, Bruce Beeby, David Kossoff, David Jacobs, Miriam Karlin. |
Episode 14
Doc deduces that Whitaker and McLean had been 'conditioned', allowing them to be controlled, as well as breathe in the Martian atmosphere. Mitch becomes separated from the others, and meets a man who claims to be a dingo hunter in Australia. First broadcast: 6 December 1954. Original Story by Charles Chilton. Cast: Andrew Faulds, Guy Kingsley Poynter, Bruce Beeby, David Kossoff, David Jacobs, John Cazabon. |
Episode 15
McLean, pretending to be Mitch, enters the land truck and tries to overpower Lemmy, but Lemmy wins the fight. Meanwhile, Mitch, lost in the desert and now able to breathe the Martian atmosphere, comes across a house inhabited by a man and woman who claim to be sheep farmers living in Australia in 1939. First broadcast: 13 December 1954. Original Story by Charles Chilton. Cast: Andrew Faulds, Guy Kingsley Poynter, Bruce Beeby, David Kossoff, David Jacobs, Madi Hedd. |
Episode 16
Jet, Doc and Lemmy discover the same house, and find Mitch inside it. But Mitch is now 'conditioned' to believe he's in Australia, and doesn't recognise the others. He refuses to rejoin them, and attacks Jet. First broadcast: 20 December 1954. Original Story by Charles Chilton. Cast: Andrew Faulds, Guy Kingsley Poynter, Bruce Beeby, David Kossoff, David Jacobs, Madi Hedd. |
Episode 17
A 'flying doctor' arrives in a sphere, and manages to capture Doc and Lemmy. He tries to 'condition' them using the soporific noise, but they manage to resist. Meanwhile, Jet escapes back to the land trucks. First broadcast: 27 December 1954. Original Story by Charles Chilton. Cast: Andrew Faulds, Guy Kingsley Poynter, Bruce Beeby, David Kossoff, David Jacobs, John Cazabon. |
Episode 18
The sphere arrives at Lacus Solis (the Martian capital), and the flying doctor reveals the Martian plan to invade the Earth in 1986. Frank, flying in Freighter 1, hears the soporific noise and his freighter crashes. First broadcast: 3 January 1955. Original Story by Charles Chilton. Cast: Andrew Faulds, Guy Kingsley Poynter, Bruce Beeby, David Kossoff, David Jacobs, John Cazabon. |
Episode 19
Doc and Lemmy overpower the flying doctor, and escape in the sphere with Mitch, who recovers from his 'conditioning' but can only remember being two weeks away from reaching Mars. Jet is contacted by Webster, a man trying to return to Earth, and learns more about the Martians. First broadcast: 10 January 1955. Original Story by Charles Chilton. Cast: Andrew Faulds, Guy Kingsley Poynter, Bruce Beeby, David Kossoff, David Jacobs, John Cazabon. |
Episode 20
The Discovery crew are fully reunited at last, and thanks to advice from Webster, Mitch completes his recovery. Jet, Lemmy and Webster try to rescue Frank, but they fail, and Webster is injured and dies. The crew return to Discovery at Polar Base and take off for home, escaping a pursuing fleet of spheres. Their news of the upcoming Martian invasion is passed to Earth, causing a great commotion. First broadcast: 17 January 1955. Original Story by Charles Chilton. Cast: Andrew Faulds, Guy Kingsley Poynter, Bruce Beeby, David Kossoff, David Jacobs, John Cazabon. |