UFO

After spending most of the 1960s dangling their various cast members from bits of string, Gerry & Sylvia Anderson along with producer Reg Hill entered the 1970s with their first live action TV series, 'UFO'.

Over the course of one series we follow the trials and tribulations of SHADO (Supreme Headquarters Alien Defence Organisation), a covert agency under the control of Commander Edward Straker (Ed Bishop) that is the planet's primary source of defence against organ harvesting aliens.  

Behind Barry Gray's killer theme tune is the Anderson's deliberate attempt to move away from the kid focussed television that they were known for by incorporating more mature topics into the episodes that often feel like a cumbersome distraction from the whole alien invasion thing but, beyond that, we get lots of fabulously retro-futurist design, typically implausible vehicles and a moonbase populated by silver suited ladies wearing purple wigs for no, easily discernable reason.

It's all a bit of a mess, albeit an occasionally entertaining one, but 'UFO' is perhaps most keenly remembered for being the catalyst - via an abandoned second series - for the Anderson's next series, 'Space 1999', oh, and for the wigs.

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