A for Andromeda

03/10/1961

Overview

A for Andromeda is a British television science fiction drama serial produced and broadcast by the BBC. Written by cosmologist Fred Hoyle, in conjunction with author and television producer John Elliot, the series aired in seven parts from 3 October to 14 November 1961. In the not-too-distant future of 1970, a mysterious signal from space arrives with instructions to build a powerful super-computer. Once completed, the evice's motives provokes discourse between scientists John Fleming and Madeleine Dawnay as further instructions are to create a living organism, which Dawnay develops. The entity compels lab assistant Christine to commit suicide, and, upon manifestation, adopts her form, now known as Andromeda. The first major role for actress Julie Christie (Christine/Andromeda), only one episode survives, along with extracts from other episodes. It has been remade twice: by RAI in 1972 and by the BBC in 2006. A sequel, The Andromeda Breakthrough, aired in 1962.