SYNOPSIS | REVIEW | PRODUCTION NOTES | TRIVIA | PRESS | QUOTES | KIM NEWMAN ARCHIVE | MEDIA

Beasts (1976)

Country of Origin: UK
Dates of Original Broadcast: 16 October 1976 - 20 November 1976 (London ITV area)
Number of Seasons: 1
Total Number of Episodes: 6
Average Episode Running Times: 50 mins
Format:
Colour Format: colour
Sound:

An anthology of six stories based around the supernatural influence of six different animals.

A fantastic and genuinely scary series written by Nigel Kneale, creator of Quatermass and that other deeply disturbing TV offering The Stone Tape (1972). The stories are all of interest, though it's the terrifying During Barty's Party, with its never seen rodent antagonists, that has lingered longest in the memory.

Special Offer (16 October 1976 - London ITV area)
During Barty's Party (23 October 1976 - London ITV area)
Buddyboy (30 October 1976 - London ITV area)
Baby (6 November 1976 - London ITV area)
What Big Eyes (13 November 1976 - London ITV area)
The Dummy (20 November 1976 - London ITV area)

1976
October
16: UK - Special Offer broadcast in London ITV area
22: UK - During Barty's Party broadcast in unknown ITV area
23: UK - During Barty's Party broadcast in London ITV area
29: UK - Buddyboy broadcast in unknown ITV area
30: UK - Buddyboy broadcast in London ITV area

November
5: UK - Baby broadcast in unknown ITV area
6: UK - Baby broadcast in London ITV area
12: UK - What Big Eyes broadcast in unknown ITV area
13: UK - What Big Eyes broadcast in London ITV area
19: UK - The Dummy broadcast in unknown ITV area
20: UK - The Dummy broadcast in London ITV area
26: UK - Special Offer broadcast in unknown ITV area

MAGAZINES

The Scream Factory 17 p.109
review

TV Times 16 - 22 October 1976 pp.2-3, 43
illustrated articles

BOOKS

The Complete Directory to Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Television Series p.105
credits, episode guide

animals; anthologies; the supernatural; shop assistants; supermarkets; humiliation; bullying; psychics; poltergeists; telekinesis; revenge; rats; dogs; cars; radio shows; revenge of nature; dolphins; dolphinariums; pornographers; ghosts; farmhouses; veterinarians; pregnancy; ravens; cats; birds; animals; urns; monsters; curses; charms; animal welfare; animals; timber wolves; pet shops; scientists; evolution; lycanthropy; werewolves; human experiments; fairy tales; stuntmen; monsters; film studios; film-makers; film-making; horror movies; actors; film producers; alcoholism; mental breakdowns; journalists; masks

Last Updated: 1 January, 2009