Michael Seely

Back in the day, I was horrified by Paddy Kingsland adding that horrible *modern* guitar sound during Logopolis 4 (I was 10!). This new blasphemy has made me drop my tea and cyberbiscuits.

I always thought it was an egg! The Beethoven business always went down well in my Dad's eyes.

'The Plastic Eaters', the first episode of Doomwatch, was broadcast on this day in 1970. Created by Kit Pedler and Gerry Davis (who wrote this opening installment) the series ran for a total of 38 episodes (including one untransmitted ep - 'Sex and Violence').

Clever!

Although the shop is now closed, the site will not be deleted for a few months. If you missed out on Drama in the Lab (R.3) and Swizzlewick (Taste & Decency), get in touch. Alas, Message from the Stars (A for Andromeda) is almost sold out.

And special gratitude for the shares and kind comments in recent times. Much appreciated.

The shop will remain open until tomorrow night now thanks to a request. Many thanks to those of you who picked up copies this week.

Gentle reminder...

A shortlived publishing house but some immensely valuable work on the more intriguing corners of lost television drama. They're all worth owning.

The Saturday Morning Press shop will be closing at the end of the month and the associated email address will also eventually disappear. The Substack will continue - I'm in the middle of The Monsters, another lost BBC serial. A monster may turn up - eventually. shop.saturdaymorningpress.co.uk

Get in quick and order these excellent books if you haven't already.

Thank you to everyone who supported the range. I'm still going to get that book about Compact out there one day...

The Saturday Morning Press shop will be closing at the end of the month and the associated email address will also eventually disappear. The Substack will continue - I'm in the middle of The Monsters, another lost BBC serial. A monster may turn up - eventually. shop.saturdaymorningpress.co.uk

Beware of the Leopard.

The Doctor Who Dinosaur Book, by Terrance Dicks and George Underwood

A long, long post on The Doctor Who Dinosaur Book by Terrance Dicks and illustrated by George Underwood (who I spoke to): 0tralala.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-...

First post of 2026 takes us back to November 1962 and BBC-tv shows Episode 1 of The Monsters, set in and around Lake Kingswater where monsters of different types are gathering, some of whom may have a sympathetic hearing following the recent Cuban missile crisis... Link⬇️

The Monsters Episode 1 Presenting the first episode from this lost four part BBC-tv serial shown on Thursday 8 November 1962 at 8pm.

And here it is... michaelseely.substack.com/p/the-monste...

First post of 2026 takes us back to November 1962 and BBC-tv shows Episode 1 of The Monsters, set in and around Lake Kingswater where monsters of different types are gathering, some of whom may have a sympathetic hearing following the recent Cuban missile crisis... Link⬇️

There are only so many cardigans a man needs in his life.

At least this means you can pronounce the name proper.

Our special Christmas episode is now available wherever you get your podcasts. A video version of this episode will be out early next week.

Loved this cover simply for the set detail. Love that space ship.

Fascinating stuff and glad I'm not the only one who enjoys Voice from the Past. I always find Le Grand's final moments very affecting. And 'Fosteresque' pauses. Might catch on?

The bus services are very good in that part of Norfolk.

On SubStack, a behind the scenes look at the lost BBC 1962 sci-fi serial The Monsters, directed by Mervyn 'One Shot Per Scene' Pinfield. In the shadow of Quatermass but on the road to Doctor Who. It will be serialised starting soon, but in the meantime, how to annoy writers... Link below.

Quite right. Thanks for the pointer.

Monsters at the BBC In 1962 the BBC transmitted The Monsters, now lost. Originally planned to follow A For Andromeda, the writing of the serial was not smooth and victim to the ever changing needs of the planners.

michaelseely.substack.com/p/monsters-a...

On SubStack, a behind the scenes look at the lost BBC 1962 sci-fi serial The Monsters, directed by Mervyn 'One Shot Per Scene' Pinfield. In the shadow of Quatermass but on the road to Doctor Who. It will be serialised starting soon, but in the meantime, how to annoy writers... Link below.

Michael has an amazing ability to dig out TV stuff that’s so obscure I often think he’s making it up. I’d barely heard of The Big Pull before reading this, and I’d never heard of The Monsters which he’s also covering. Do check out his work.

Thank you John. I first heard of these reading the First Doctor Handbook all those years ago! They stuck in the mind.