pub: DVD: Fremantle/Revelation PAR 61233. 380 minutes. Price: £39.99 (UK). Stars: Elizabeth Adare, Nicholas Young, Misako Toba, Nigel Rhodes and Philip Gilbert with Burt Kwouk, Michael Sheard, Nicholas Lyndhurst. Hilary Minster & Christian Rodska amongst many others.

check out website: www.revfilms.com and www.mvc.co.uk

My thanks to Revelation for letting me loose on their MVC exclusive release of the final three seasons of 'The Tomorrow People' in its box set.


Let's run through the seasons and, as customary, we have the introduction of a new Tomorrow Person, oriental Hsui Tai (actress Misako Toba) in season 6, who believes herself to be a re-born goddess until she unwittingly breaks out and links into Mike Bell, who is having gliding lessons in 'The Lost Gods'.

'Hitler's Last Secret' reveals young Nazis who've had their ageing process halted getting ready to release their boss back on the world again. It includes a significant appearance by a very young Nicholas Lyndhurst. 'The Thargon Menace' shows what happens with a close encounter of the third kind on a Pacific island ran by dictator Papa Min who sees it as a means to rule the Earth.



Compared to previous seasons, the number of episodes were less but also had more stories. The fact there had also been a fire at the studios and the 'Lab' had to be redesigned with a more table-like Tim might have contributed to this. Nevertheless, there is an obvious change in budget and a lot going on.

Season 6 introduces Andrew Forbes, a young Scots boy with a perchance to generating illusions who is helping out his father's hotel by creating a headless ghost and a kelpie in the Loch in 'Castle Of Fear'.

The follow-up story, 'Achilles Heel' introduces a couple aliens (actors Minster and Rodska) visiting Scotland to seek out an element that annuls the Tomorrow People's abilities throughout the galaxy. 'The Living Skins' is a reminder not to wear shell suits before there were ever invented. These bubble suits take over the wearers in a subtle form of invasion, at least in the civilised world, even if it looks like an invasion of the Tango bubbles.

The final season is devoted to a single story, 'War Of The Empires' where the Solar system becomes a battleground for a war between the aforementioned Thargons and the Sorsons. It's interesting to note that Mike Holoway in the commentary describes them as 'Knob-heads' but more to do with door knobs than any phallic-looking imagery you might have when you see these aliens. The deep south born US President makes Bush look conventional in comparison to whom he draws alliances with here.

Saying that, it's an odd predicament that with such a promising story that this was the last of the original 'Tomorrow People' stories. Of historical note, the space vehicles were made by Martin Bowker and although not significantly dirtied down might have been in preparation for the recently fallen 'Space: 1999', especially as the console from 'UFO's Moonbase also makes a brief appearance.

As commented previously, what makes this DVDs even more fun is the voice-over commentaries led by Peter Vaughn-Clark as he introduces Nick Young (who really should be adding becoming a director with his knowledge to his other duties of running an actors agent firm), Mike Holoway (who's still a musician/singer) and Nigel Rhodes (who plays with a band and played Andrew Forbes).

This gang really gets into the swing of things here. Was there none of them who didn't embark on a musical career, even if they failed like PVC?! There was a comment on the PVC being a lookalike for David Cassidy and none of them picked up on Mike Holoway being a Jack Wild lookalike. Just goes to show that such and what thoughts went through producers' heads back in the 70s.

No doubt if you've been following my reviews of this TV series on DVD, you'll be adding these to complete your set. The way 'The Tomorrow People' is structured means you could fall into any season and pick up what's going on anyway. If you do get hooked, don't forget to see the earlier seasons. With an interesting commentary to go with a standard viewing, this seasons are worth their money.

GF Willmetts