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EAGLE: THE SPACE AGE WEEKLY (320kbs-m4a/65mb/28mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 8th May 2021
Sir Tim Rice explores the lasting appeal of British magazine Eagle and the impact of its flagship character Dan Dare.
Eagle ran in two main incarnations between 1950 and 1994. Dan Dare, often referred to as "Biggles in space", is regarded in some circles as the greatest British science fiction hero of the 20th century
In this feature we chart the influences behind the comic, and explore the life of its creator Marcus Morris, a fascinating man who began the publication because of his concern over 'horrific' US comics which presented 'disturbing' storylines which he felt 'corrupted British youth'.
The programme reveals how Dan Dare was originally envisaged as a space chaplain before becoming the popular astronaut. It also examines the work of illustrator Frank Hampson who introduced technology years ahead of its time. Hampson knew the Space Age was on its way while serving in the Second World War and seeing the German VI rockets. He made the Dan Dare strips as realistic as possible by dressing his team in spacesuits and uniforms, basing the look of the fictional characters on his colleagues.
We reveal how the stories had educational value and, along with Dan Dare, we look at other Eagle offerings including Shakespeare's plays and the Greek myths which ran as comic strips.
Featuring contributions from author Philip Pullman, Sally Morris the daughter of Eagle Creator Marcus and Eagle Society member David Britton.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2010.
DAN DARE: PRISONERS OF SPACE (320kbs-m4a/195mb/1hr25mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 18th, 25th January & 1st February 2020
Dan Dare, Digby and Peabody have overcome The Mekon’s ruthless robots and staved-off an attack by a rogue human scientist – Blasco - in cahoots with the fearsome Vora. Now, even though there has been no sign of the evil Mekon anywhere in the solar system for some time, Dare is wary.
Based on the Eagle comic strip 'Dan Dare' created in 1950 by the Reverend Marcus Morris and Frank Hampson.
Dan Dare ... Ed Stoppard
Digby ... Geoff McGivern
Professor Peabody ... Heida Reed
Sir Hubert ... Michael Cochrane
The Mekon ... Raad Rawi
Major Stranks ... Robert G. Slade
Cadet ‘Flamer’ Spry ... Noof McEwan
Sondar ... Bijan Daneshmand
Treen Captain ... Alistair Lock
On-board Computer ... Dianne Weller
Original music: Imran Ahmad
Dramatised by Colin Brake from an original story by Frank Hampson.
Produced and directed by Andrew Mark Sewell.
Made by B7 Media
DAN DARE: PRISONERS OF SPACE - 1. EPISODE 1 (320kbs-m4a/67mb/29mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 18th January 2020
All seems well until unexplained spaceship disappearances near Venus, an Astral Academy student accidently launching a prototype spacecraft and a purpose designed floating prison all indicate that The Mekon has embarked on his latest scheme to defeat his nemesis.
DAN DARE: PRISONERS OF SPACE - 2. EPISODE 2 (320kbs-m4a/68mb/29mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 25th January 2020
Dan Dare, Professor Peabody and Major Stranks arrive at the XQY03 space station to rescue Digby and Spry from The Mekon.
DAN DARE: PRISONERS OF SPACE - 3. EPISODE 3 (320kbs-m4a/60mb/26mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 1st February 2020
Despite being imprisoned in his own impregnable cell, The Mekon throws down one last challenge to Dan Dare.
DAN DARE: OPERATION SATURN (320kbs-m4a/136mb/59mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 4th & 11th January 2020
It’s a year since Dan Dare, Lieutenant Digby and Professor Jocelyn Peabody helped rid the Earth of The Mekon’s army of ruthless robots, although the evil alien is still at large.
When The Nautilus, an experimental ship that disappeared a decade previously, suddenly reappears in orbit around the Moon, they are sent to investigate. The clues point to Saturn being involved in some way, but the new threat to Earth comes from far closer to home.
Based on the Eagle comic strip 'Dan Dare' created in 1950 by the Reverend Marcus Morris and Frank Hampson.
Dan Dare ... Ed Stoppard
Digby ... Geoff McGivern
Professor Peabody ... Heida Reed
Sondar ... Bijan Daneshmand
Sir Hubert ... Michael Cochrane
Blasco ... Jonathan Rhodes
The Vora ... Nicholas Briggs
Flight Control ... Diane Spencer
Maxwell ... Fiona McAlpine
On-Board Computer ... Dianne Weller
Original music: Imran Ahmad
Dramatised by Patrick Chapman from an original story by Frank Hampson.
Produced and directed by Andrew Mark Sewell.
Made by B7 Media
DAN DARE: OPERATION SATURN - 1. EPISODE 1 (320kbs-m4a/68mb/29mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 4th January 2020
When a ship lost a decade earlier reappears in orbit around the Moon, Dare, Digby and Peabody investigate.
DAN DARE: OPERATION SATURN - 2. EPISODE 2 (320kbs-m4a/69mb/30mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 11th January 2020
Dan Dare realises where the new embittered threat to Earth is coming from.
DAN DARE: REIGN OF THE ROBOTS (320kbs-m4a/161mb/1hr10mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 21st & 28th December 2019
Dan Dare, Lieutenant Digby and the Eagle Corporation’s Professor Jocelyn Peabody finally return to Earth after battling The Mekon on Venus. Landing in a seemingly deserted central London, they establish that, with the date being 24th June 2045, they have lost ten years.
With limited resources, Dare, Digby and Peabody set about liberating the Earth from an army of ruthless robots. The task becomes more desperate than ever when they discover the alien force behind the invasion.
More adventures based on the Eagle comic strip 'Dan Dare' created in 1950 by the Reverend Marcus Morris and Frank Hampson.
Original music: Imran Ahmad
Dramatised by Simon Guerrier from an original story by Frank Hampson.
Director: Andrew Mark Sewell.
Made by B7 Media
DAN DARE: REIGN OF THE ROBOTS - 1. EPISODE 1 (320kbs-m4a/80mb/35mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 21st December 2019
Dan Dare ... Ed Stoppard
Digby ... Geoff McGivern
Professor Peabody ... Heida Reed
The Mekon ... Raad Rawi
George Bryan ... Dean Harris
On-board Computer ... Dianne Weller
DAN DARE: REIGN OF THE ROBOTS - 2. EPISODE 2 (320kbs-m4a/81mb/35mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 28th December 2019
Dan Dare ... Ed Stoppard
Digby ... Geoff McGivern
Professor Peabody ... Heida Reed
The Mekon ... Raad Rawi
Sir Hubert ... Michael Cochrane
Eko ... Amy Humphreys
On-board Computer ... Dianne Weller
DAN DARE: MAROONED ON MERCURY - 1. EPISODE 1 (320kbs-m4a/77mb/33mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 2nd September 2018
On their journey Earthwards, Dare and the crew of the Anastasia rally to the assistance of an old ally...
Adventures based on the Eagle comic strip 'Dan Dare' created in 1950 by the Reverend Marcus Morris and Frank Hampson.
Starring Ed Stoppard as Dan Dare, Geoff McGivern as Digby, Heida Reed as Professor Peabody, Raad Rawi as the Mekon, Bijan Daneshmand as Sondar, Kelly Burke as Ergolux, Dianne Weller as the On-Board Computer, Nicholas Briggs as Garlock and Alistair Lock as Crewman Galloway.
Dramatised by Marc Platt.
Director: Andrew Mark Sewell.
Made by B7.
DAN DARE: MAROONED ON MERCURY - 2. EPISODE 2 (320kbs-m4a/74mb/32mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 9th September 2018
Dan Dare and the Anastasia crew assist allies old and new to thwart the evil Mekon, who plots revenge on Venus.
Adventures based on the Eagle comic strip 'Dan Dare' created in 1950 by the Reverend Marcus Morris and Frank Hampson.
Starring Ed Stoppard as Dan Dare, Geoff McGivern as Digby, Heida Reed as Professor Peabody, Raad Rawi as the Mekon, Bijan Daneshmand as Sondar, Kelly Burke as Ergolux, Dianne Weller as the On-Board Computer, Nicholas Briggs as Garlock and Alistair Lock as Crewman Galloway.
Dramatised by Marc Platt.
Director: Andrew Mark Sewell.
Made by B7.
DAN DARE: THE RED MOON MYSTERY - 1. EPISODE 1 (320kbs-m4a/77mb/33mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 19th August 2018
Infected by the evil Mekon's virus and unable to return to Earth, Dan Dare and the crew of the Anastasia are ordered to the desolate planet of Mars...
Adventures based on the Eagle comic strip 'Dan Dare' created in 1950 by the Reverend Marcus Morris and Frank Hampson.
Starring Ed Stoppard as Dan Dare, Geoff McGivern as Digby, Heida Reed as Professor Peabody, Michael Cochrane as Sir Hubert, Marcus Morris as the Creator, Dianne Weller as the On-board Computer. Hugh Fraser as Ivor Dare, Jake Maskall as Sgt Scott, Jalleh Alizadeh as Corp Dajani, Greg Keith as Dr Harlan Stoll, Diane Spencer as the Teacher and Ryan Sewell as Flamer Spry.
Dramatised by James Swallow.
Director: Andrew Mark Sewell.
Made by B7.
DAN DARE: THE RED MOON MYSTERY - 2. EPISODE 2 (320kbs-m4a/68mb/30mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 26th August 2018
Dare and the crew of the Anastasia skip dimensions - and uncover a peril that could wipe out all life on Earth.
Adventures based on the Eagle comic strip 'Dan Dare' created in 1950 by the Reverend Marcus Morris and Frank Hampson.
Starring Ed Stoppard as Dan Dare, Geoff McGivern as Digby, Heida Reed as Professor Peabody, Michael Cochrane as Sir Hubert, Marcus Morris as the Creator, Dianne Weller as the On-board Computer. Hugh Fraser as Ivor Dare, Jake Maskall as Sgt Scott, Jalleh Alizadeh as Corp Dajani, Greg Keith as Dr Harlan Stoll, Diane Spencer as the Teacher and Ryan Sewell as Flamer Spry.
Dramatised by James Swallow.
Director: Andrew Mark Sewell.
Made by B7.
DAN DARE: THE VOYAGE TO VENUS - 1. EPISODE 1 (320kbs-m4a/71mb/31mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 5th August 2018
Dashing test pilot, Dan Dare, is selected to fly the Anastasia - a new experimental spacecraft using alien technology - on its maiden voyage to Venus. The mission is to make first contact with the mysterious civilisation that sent the technological secrets to Earth...
Adventures based on the Eagle comic strip 'Dan Dare' created in 1950 by the Reverend Marcus Morris and Frank Hampson.
Starring Ed Stoppard as Dan Dare, Geoff McGivern as Digby, Heida Reed as Professor Peabody, Raad Rawi as the Mekon, Bijan Daneshmand as Sondar, Amber Aga as Treen General, David O'Mahony as the Flight Engineer, Kelly Burke as Flight Control, and Dianne Weller as the On-board Computer.
Dramatised by Richard Kurti and Bev Doyle.
Director: Andrew Mark Sewell.
Made by B7.
DAN DARE: THE VOYAGE TO VENUS - 2. EPISODE 2 (320kbs-m4a/86mb/37mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 12th August 2018
Arriving at Venus. will brilliant test pilot, Dan Dare, be able to hold his own against a cunning new enemy?
Adventures based on the Eagle comic strip 'Dan Dare' created in 1950 by the Reverend Marcus Morris and Frank Hampson.
Concluding episode starring Ed Stoppard as Dan Dare, Geoff McGivern as Digby, Heida Reed as Professor Peabody, Raad Rawi as the Mekon, Bijan Daneshmand as Sondar, Amber Aga as Treen General, David O'Mahony as the Flight Engineer, Kelly Burke as Flight Control, and Dianne Weller as the On-board Computer.
Dramatised by Richard Kurti and Bev Doyle.
Director: Andrew Mark Sewell.
Made by B7.