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This Quatermass II audio drama has been adapted from the British science fiction serial, originally broadcast by BBC Television in the autumn of 1955. It is the second in the Quatermass series by writer Nigel Kneale, and the oldest of those serials to survive in its entirety in the BBC archives.

The serial sees Professor Bernard Quatermass of the British Experimental Rocket Group being asked to examine strange meteorite showers. His investigations lead to his uncovering a conspiracy involving alien infiltration at the highest levels of the British government. As even some of Quatermass's closest colleagues fall victim to the alien influence, he is forced to use his own unsafe rocket prototype, which recently caused a nuclear disaster at an Australian testing range, to prevent the aliens from taking over mankind.

Apart from the location scenes the shows were broadcast live. Reginald Tate, who was to have played the title role, collapsed and died on 23 August 1955, aged 58. This was less than a month before the shooting of the location filming for Quatermass II began, and necessitated the casting of a replacement lead actor at short notice; John Robinson was chosen to fill the part. Robinson was uncomfortable about taking over from Tate, and had difficulty in learning some of the technical dialogue he was required to deliver.

Cast:
Quatermass ... John Robinson
Quatermass's chief assistant Dr Leo Pugh ... Hugh Griffith
Paula Quatermass ... Monica Grey
Dillon ... John Stone
MP Vincent Broadhead ... Rupert Davies
The Journalist ... Roger Delgado
The Tramp ... Wilfrid Brambell
Frankie ... Melvyn Hayes

1. Episode 1 (63.4Mb)
2. Episode 2 (60.3Mb)
3. Episode 3 (61.6Mb)
4. Episode 4 (58.2Mb)
5. Episode 5 (63Mb)
6. Episode 6 (65.8Mb)

MP3 files hosted by archive.org.