UK, 29 July 1970-29 November 1972
3 series, 46 episodes, average 25m
colour
mono, English
A British television fantasy series. Of the 46 episodes originally transmitted, 26 are missing completely and a further three exist only in non-broadcast formats.
Premise
Tarot is a telepathic stage magician whose abilities were more genuine than those supposedly possessed by most of his ilk. Together with assistants Sam, a reformed ex-con, and the orphaned telepath Lulli, Tarot does battle with all manner of bizarre villains, calling on the arcane expertise of Mr Sweet, the tweed suited motorcyclist who ran an antiquarian bookshop.
Credits
Regular Crew
Created by: Trevor Preston
Thames Television
Produced by: Pamela Lonsdale (series 1 and 2), John Russell (series 3)
Theme Song Tarot by: Andrew Bown, Trevor Preston
Performed by: Andrew Bown
Magical Advisor: Ali Bongo
Regular Cast
Michael MacKenzie (Tarot) (series 1-3)
Tony Selby (Sam) (series 1-2)
Judy Loe (Lulli) (series 1-2)
Donald Layne-Smith (Mr Sweet) (series 1-3)
Petra Markham (Mikki) (series 3)
Roy Holder (Chas) (series 3)
Fred the Owl (Ozymandias) (series 1-3)
Episodes
Series One (1970)
One and One and One are Four (29 July 1970-12 August 1970)
Written by: Trevor Preston
Directed by: John Russell
Guest Cast: Hildegarde Neil (Madame Midnight), Michael Standing (Teddy Talk), Frederick Peisley (Professor Ekdorf), David Prowse (Kal), Tony Caunter (Six), Daphne Heard (Ma Epps), Bruce Boa (Mr America), Jan Conrad (Mr Russia)
The Mind Robbers (19 August 1970-19 August 1970)
Written by: William Emms
Directed by: Michael Currer-Briggs
Guest Cast: Vernon Dobtcheff (Senor Zandor), Michael Wynne (Fat Boy), Sheelah Wilcox (Miss Jelicoe), Geoffrey Lumsden (Sir William), Terry Walsh (Castor), Alan Chuntz (Pollux)
Now You See It, Now You Don't (16 September 1970-23 September 1970)
Written by: Don Houghton
Directed by: John Russell
Guest Cast: Christopher Benjamin (Falk), Kevin Stoney (bank manager), Tim Curry (cashier), Ray Barron (Macready), Alan Tucker (Gaston), Billy Cornelius (guard)
The Smile (30 September 1970-21 October 1970)
Written by: Trevor Preston
Directed by: Michael Currer-Briggs
Guest Cast: Willoughby Goddard (Tun-Ju), Dorothy Reynolds (Mrs Kite), John Barron (Bartlett Bonnington), Reg Lye (digger farmer), Patrick McAlinney (Sir Patrick Landau), Diana King (Lady Landau), Tom Gan (Japanese bodyguard)
Series Two (1971)
Seven Serpents, Sulphur and Salt (4 August 1971-21 July 1971)
Written by: Trevor Preston
Directed by: Pamela Lonsdale
Guest Cast: Russell Hunter (Mr Stabs), Harriet Harper (Polandi), Ian Trigger (Luko), Jack Woolgar (Charlie Postle), Llewellyn Rees (Mr Christopher)
Joker (11 August 1971-25 August 1971)
Written by: P.J. Hammond
Directed by: John Russell
Guest Cast: Dermot Tuohy (Uncle Harry), Carmen Munroe (the queen), Roy Holder (the jack), Walter Sparrow (the king), George Waring (the headmaster), Sheila Raynor (the headmistress), Lorna Heilbron (Miss Pascoe)
Nightmare Gas (1 September 1971-15 September 1971)
Written by: Don Houghton
Directed by: Ronald Marriott
Guest Cast: Isobel Black (Thalia), Jonathan Newth (Dalbiac), Laurence Carter (Dr Winthrop), Lewis Wilson (police sergeant), Alan Chuntz (trooper)
The Eye of Ra (22 September 1971-13 October 1971)
Written by: Michael Winder
Directed by: John Russell
Guest Cast: Oscar Quitak (Ceribraun), Edward Jewesbury (Mr Quince), Nicholas Smith (Fredericks), Charles Morgan (computer)
Series Three (1972)
The Meddlers (19 July 1972-2 August 1972)
Written by: P.J. Hammond
Directed by: John Russell
Guest Cast: Barry Lineham (Mockers), Paul Dawkins (Dove), Michael Standing (Spoon), Norma West (chauffeuse), Stefan Kalipha (Drum)
The Power of Atep (9 August 1972-30 August 1972)
Written by: Victor Pemberton
Directed by: Nicholas Ferguson
Guest Cast: Sebastian Graham-Jones (John Pentacle), Michael Mulcaster (high priest), Michael Rose (tramp), Joe Dunlop (Fergus Wilson)
Peacock Pie (6 September 1972-20 September 1972)
Written by: P.J. Hammond
Directed by: John Russell
Guest Cast: Brian Wilde (Mr Peacock), Jenny McCracken (young Mrs MacFadyean), Dorothy Frere (Mrs Macfadyean), Valerie Van Ost (manageress)
Mama Doc (27 September 1972-11 October 1972)
Written by: Maggie Allen
Directed by: Nicholas Ferguson
Guest Cast: Pat Nye (Mama Doc), Michael Mundell (Bobby), Robert Grange (Professor Dorian), Wendy Hamilton (Posy Peagram), Ivor Roberts (Dr MacDonald)
Sisters Deadly (18 October 1972-1 November 1972)
Written by: Victor Pemberton
Directed by: Darrol Blake
Guest Cast: Henrietta Rudkin (Mathilda Edginton), Bartlett Mullins (postmaster), Sylvia Coleridge (Letty Edgington), James Bree (the major)
The Beautiful People (8 November 1972-29 November 1972)
Written by: P.J. Hammond
Directed by: Vic Hughes
Guest Cast: Susan Glanville (Dee), Vivian Heilbron (Emm), Edward Hammond (Jay), Kathleen Sainsbury (elderly woman)
Alternative Titles
Tarot – working title
Links
The character of Mr Stabs, seen in the story Seven Serpents, Sulpher and Salt, turned up again in the Shadows (1975-1978) episode Dutch Schlitz's Shoes (1975) and in episode of Dramarama (1983-1989), Mr Stabs (1984).
References
Periodicals
- Dreamwatch no.28 p.41 – article
- Empire no.218 (August 2007) p.155 – illustrated DVD review (At home/TV: Ace of Wands by Kim Newman)
- Starburst no.103 (March 1987) pp.29-33 – illustrated article (Ace of Wands by Paul Mount)
- TV Zone no.218 (August 2007) p.90 – illustrated DVD review (On the Shelf… by Keith Topping)
Books
- The BFI Companion to Horror p.17 – short article
- The Complete Directory to Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Television Series pp.1-2 – credits, episode guide
- Encyclopedia of Television Science Fiction (3rd Edition) pp.3-6 – credits, episode guide
- Guinness Television Encyclopedia p.8 – review
- Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Film and Television Credits Supplement through 1987 pp.647-648 – credits
