Woah! I can’t believe it! One of the programs from the BBC that scared me more than anything else as a child (hey, I was only 8!) is being released on video next month. The BBC adaptation of John Wyndham’s classic novel “Day of the Triffids”, out on 4th April and available from Amazon for £9.74. (Incidentally, buying it from that link will earn me commission which will go to my movie making enterprises - but more of that later.)

Unlike the 1962 movie version with Howard Keel and Janette Scott, this adaptation is much more faithful to the original book. Like all pre-CGI BBC productions (and I’m thinking Blakes 7 and Dr Who mainly) this suffered from budgetary constraints and will probably look a bit dated and cheap these days. I don’t know - I haven’t seen it in over 20 years. It’s never been repeated to my knowledge - certainly not more than once.

But I never forgot the shuffling plants and their incessant clicking, the blind people wandering the streets or the post-apocalyptic visions of London. This was proper, intelligent sci-fi and even if you don’t buy it, you should watch it once just to see a classic bit of 80’s UK TV history. (Of course, it’ll probably turn out to be shite and I will retract this statement if that is indeed the case).