June 23rd 1972 – Fantastical TV & Radio For The Coming Week

It wasn’t a good time for lovers of the fantastical where the UK’s TV and radio schedules were concerned. But in week beginning Saturday June 24th, there were a few highlights to be found in the London-area listings, most of which were aimed at younger viewers. These then were the bright lights, albeit of varying intensity, for the next seven days.

Saturday 24th June

BBC1 – 5.45pm – Doctor Who: The Time Monster (6/6)

(From the Radio Times: “The Master’s rashness brings about the destruction of Atlantis and the Doctor’s compassion nearly brings about the destruction of the Universe”.)

Sunday 25th June

PICK OF THE WEEK – BBC Radio 3 – 9.35 – Ideas In Science Fiction

Squirrelled away in the London Weekend Television schedules on Sundays were often a clutch of fantastical repeats. At 1.15 this afternoon was a 1964 Stingray episode, while at 4.10, Catweazle: The Wogle Stone from 1971 was reshown.

Monday 26th June

BBC1 – 9.20 – Doomwatch: Waiting For A Knighthood

(From the Radio Times: “What we have isn’t ours to bespoil and pillage. We hold it in trust .. not just for our children but for future generations of mankind”.)

Not strictly fantastical, but most certainly fantastical-adjacent, BBC2’s Horizon documentary at 9.20pm tonight was a repeat about the discovery of the Crab Nebula.

Tuesday 27th June

BBC1 – 4.50pm – Magic Roundabout

Wednesday 28th June

BBC1 – 7.25 – Star Trek: Court Martial (Originally shown in USA, 1967, & in UK, 1970.)

(Radio Times: “In the aftermath of a violent storm, Captain Kirk is charged with causing the death of a missing officer through cowardice; but as the investigation proceeds, a more sinister motive merges.”)

Thursday 29th June

ITV – 11.30pm – The Avengers: Invasion Of The Earthmen (Originally aired Jan 1969)

Friday 30th June

Radio One – 10.00pm – Sounds Of The Seventies: John Peel

On a slow day for the fantastical that was almost over, the 23rd track played by John Peel on tonight’s show was Roxy Music’s Remake/Remodel from the band’s first album. (I recall hearing Roxy’s first few singles in 1972 and thinking they must have been created by a band from the future. Heaven only knows what I would concluded if I’d heard the first album at that time.)