Series synopsis
The Tomorrow People is a British drama sci-fi & fantasy television series that premiered on ITV1 on April 30, 1973. It ended on February 19, 1979. It was created by Roger Damon Price. It stars Nicholas Young, Peter Vaughan-Clarke, Sammie Winmill and Stephen Salmon.
Born to human parents, an apparently normal child might at some point between childhood and late adolescence experience a process called 'breaking out' and develop special paranormal abilities. These abilities include psychic powers such as telepathy, telekinesis, and teleportation. However, their psychological make-up prevents them from intentionally killing others.
Premise
Born to human parents, an apparently normal child might at some point between childhood and late adolescence experience a process called 'breaking out' and develop special paranormal abilities. These abilities include psychic powers such as telepathy, telekinesis, and teleportation. However, their psychological make-up prevents them from intentionally killing others.
Premise: Different is dangerous.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Nicholas Young as John
- Peter Vaughan-Clarke as Stephen
- Sammie Winmill as Carol
- Stephen Salmon as Kenny
- Philip Gilbert as Tim / Timus / Tikno (voice)
- Michael Standing as Ginge
- Elizabeth Adare as Elizabeth
- Christopher Chittell as Chris
Guest cast
- Patricia Denys as Mrs. Jameson
- David Cann as Chaircreature
- Francis de Wolff as Jedikiah
- Ian Barritt as Policeman
Episodes
This series spans 9 seasons with 71 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 3 | ||
| Season 1 | 13 | April 30, 1973 | May 5, 2014 |
| Season 2 | 13 | February 4, 1974 | May 6, 1974 |
| Season 3 | 13 | February 26, 1975 | May 21, 1975 |
| Season 4 | 7 | January 28, 1976 | March 10, 1976 |
| Season 5 | 6 | February 28, 1977 | April 4, 1977 |
| Season 6 | 6 | May 15, 1978 | June 26, 1978 |
| Season 7 | 6 | October 9, 1978 | November 13, 1978 |
| Season 8 | 4 | January 29, 1979 | February 19, 1979 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Nicholas Young Interview | |
| 4 | Nigel Rhodes Interview | |
| 5 | Jackie Clark Interview |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Slaves of Jedikiah (1) Adolescent Stephen Jameson doesn't know it but he's about to break out, and several other special teenagers, as well as two thugs, hope to find him when or before he does. |
April 30, 1973 |
| 2 |
The Slaves of Jedikiah (2) Stephen has been abducted from the hospital by Ginge and Lefty, who take him to the mysterious Jedikiah. John, Carol and Kenny attempt to locate him and get him safely back to the lab. |
May 7, 1973 |
| 3 |
The Slaves of Jedikiah (3) In the Tomorrow lab, Jedikiah lays in wait to catch Tomorrow People like flies in his web of technology. |
May 14, 1973 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Blue and the Green, Part 1: An Apple for the Teacher John and Stephen find themselves with two mysteries to investigate - the possibility that Stephen's new teacher Elizabeth M'Bondo is a Tomorrow Person and some worryingly accurate paintings of alien planets. |
February 4, 1974 |
| 2 |
The Blue and the Green, Part 2: The Changing Picture John and Stephen follow Liz into hyperspace, where they manage to rescue her and return her to the lab. Convinced of their story, she agrees to help them investigate the paintings, which seem to induce violence in those around them. |
February 11, 1974 |
| 3 |
The Blue and the Green, Part 3: The Trojan Horse John and Stephen rescue Liz from the youths and find out about the second painting. John buys it from a man who turns out to be Robert's grandfather and takes it back to the lab, only to find out it may be a trap. |
February 18, 1974 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Secret Weapon, Part 1: Lost & Found John, Liz and Stephen sense the break out of a new Tomorrow Person, Tyso Boswell. Unknown to them, however, he has already come to the attention of Professor Cawston, who introduces him to the mysterious Colonel Masters. |
February 26, 1975 |
| 2 |
Secret Weapon, Part 2: Not Quite a Sleeping Beauty Cawston agrees to help the Tomorrow People find Tyso by introducing Stephen to Masters; however, as soon as Masters takes Stephen away, John and Liz lose contact with him. |
March 5, 1975 |
| 3 |
Secret Weapon, Part 3: Whose Side Are You On, Professor? Masters is now aware of the Tomorrow People's existence and is determined to harness their powers. He tries to recruit Cawston to his cause, revealing the true fate of Stephen and Tyso. |
March 12, 1975 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
One Law, Part 1: One Law for the Poor John, Liz, Stephen and Tyso return to Earth to see if any more Tomorrow People have broken out in their absence. They sense the presence of another telepath, Mike Bell, and decide to leave him to break out in his own time. Unfortunately, his abilities have already attracted the attention of some criminals. |
January 28, 1976 |
| 2 |
One Law, Part 2: Another for the Rich Lord Dunning takes Mike's family prisoner in order to force him to use his powers in his service. Meanwhile, John, Liz and Stephen attempt to discover his whereabouts by interrogating Slow and Two Tone. |
February 4, 1976 |
| 3 |
One Law, Part 3: Which Prohibits Them Equally from Stealing Bread John, Liz and Stephen are able to secure Mike's release but are unable to prosecute Dunning without revealing the Tomorrow People's existence. However, Mike goes to Dunning and offers him a partnership. |
February 11, 1976 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Dirtiest Business, Part 1: A Spy is Born After an attack on the lab by the SIS, Mike tries to help a girl who may become a Tomorrow Person escape from the KGB. |
February 28, 1977 |
| 2 |
The Dirtiest Business, Part 2: A Spy Dies... John, Liz and Mike try to save the Russian girl from both the British SIS and the Russian KGB, with mixed success. |
March 7, 1977 |
| 3 |
A Much Needed Holiday, Part 1: Spilled Porridge After the death of Pavla, the Tomorrow People decide to go on holiday, so Timus sends them to do an archeological dig on the planet Galia. There they run across two escaped slave boys. |
March 14, 1977 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Lost Gods, Part 1: Flight of Fancy During solo flights in John's glider, Mike's mind connects strongly with an emerging Tomorrow Person, a sacrificial priestess in an Asian temple. |
May 15, 1978 |
| 2 |
The Lost Gods, Part 2: Life Before Death Mike finds himself transported to the temple in the middle of Hsui Tai's sacrifice. There he is hailed as the god Kishnu... and scheduled to be sacrificed alongside Hsui Tai. |
May 22, 1978 |
| 3 |
Hitler's Last Secret, Part 1: Men Like Rats Adolf Hitler's genetically engineered 40 year plan for world domination unfolds prematurely. |
June 5, 1978 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Castle of Fear, Part 1: Ghosts and Monsters The Tomorrow People all have dreams about a headless Highlander and suspect a new Tomorrow Person is breaking out; This is Andrew Forbes, a boy with the power to create illusions, but his father is far from pleased with his new abilities. |
October 9, 1978 |
| 2 |
Castle of Fear, Part 2: Fighting Spirit To calm Andrew down, John must play him at his own game. |
October 9, 1978 |
| 3 |
Achilles Heel, Part 1: A Room at the Inn A pair of odd aliens arrive on Earth with the purpose of mining a rare mineral, which can suppress telepathic powers. |
October 23, 1978 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
War of the Empires, Part 1: Close Encounter Liz has travelled to the Trig to join Timus in negotiating a peace between the Sorsons and the Thargons. |
January 29, 1979 |
| 2 |
War of the Empires, Part 2: Contact! John and Mike manage to evade the crossfire as the Thargon ship is destroyed. The Sorsons land on Earth where Vishishnu contacts the President about an alliance. |
February 5, 1979 |
| 3 |
War of the Empires, Part 3: Standing Alone Andrew heads to the White House and manages to rescue Mike and Hsui Tai. On hearing that John is being held by the Federation, the trio decide to steal a Sorson ship to rescue him. |
February 12, 1979 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | ITV1 |
|---|---|
| First aired | April 30, 1973 |
| Last aired | February 19, 1979 |
| Runtime | 30 minutes |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Monday at 21:00:00 |