Dennis Spooner

Writing

Dennis Spooner

Born September 20, 1932 · Tottenham, London, England, UK

Died September 20, 1986 · aged 53

Dennis Spooner (1 December 1932 – 20 September 1986) was an English television writer and script editor, known primarily for his programmes about fictional spies and his work in children's television in the 1960s. He had long-lasting professional working relationships with a number of other British screenwriters and producers, notably Brian Clemens, Terry Nation, Monty Berman and Richard Harris, w…

Known For

Doctor Who: The Daleks' Master PlanDoctor Who: The Daleks' Master Plan · 1965
Doctor Who: The Daleks' Master Plan
★ 7.91965
MovieScience FictionDrama
In the year 4000, the Daleks conspire to conquer the Solar System. Their scheme involves treachery at the highest levels and a weapon capable of destroying the very fabric of time. Only the Doctor and his friends can prevent catastrophe — and there is no guarantee they will escape with their lives...
Doctor Who: The Reign of TerrorDoctor Who: The Reign of Terror · 1964
Doctor Who: The Reign of Terror
★ 6.71964
MovieScience FictionAction
The TARDIS materialises not far from Paris in 1794 — one of the bloodiest years following the French Revolution of 1789. The travellers become involved with an escape chain rescuing prisoners from the guillotine and get caught up in the machinations of an English undercover spy, James Stirling.
Thunderbirds: Vault of DeathThunderbirds: Vault of Death · 1965
Thunderbirds: Vault of Death
★ 6.01965
MovieTV MovieScience Fiction
When a banker gets trapped in the Bank of England's new vault, International Rescue races to save him, but Parker frets that he will spoil his old cellmate's dream of robbing the bank.
Doctor Who: The Time MeddlerDoctor Who: The Time Meddler · 1965
Doctor Who: The Time Meddler
★ 7.51965
MovieScience FictionAction
In England, 1066, the Doctor confronts a mysterious Monk who is attempting to change history.
Thunderbirds: The Mighty AtomThunderbirds: The Mighty Atom · 1965
Thunderbirds: The Mighty Atom
★ 6.01965
MovieTV MovieScience Fiction
The Hood steals a surveillance robot disguised as a mouse to photograph the inner workings of both a Saharan nuclear power plant and the Thunderbird machines.
Thunderbirds: Day of DisasterThunderbirds: Day of Disaster · 1965
Thunderbirds: Day of Disaster
★ 7.01965
MovieActionAdventure
Brains and Lady Penelope find themselves involved in a rescue mission when the Arlington Bridge collapses, trapping the Martian Space Probe and its engineers in the river bed.
Doctor Who: The ChaseDoctor Who: The Chase · 1965
Doctor Who: The Chase
★ 6.91965
MovieScience FictionDrama
The Doctor and his companions are pursued through time and space by the Daleks on the desert planet Aridius and beyond.
Doctor Who: The RomansDoctor Who: The Romans · 1965
Doctor Who: The Romans
★ 8.01965
MovieScience FictionAdventure
The TARDIS crew take up residence near Rome in 64AD, where Ian and Barbara are kidnapped by slave traders, and the Doctor's imitation of Maximus Pettulian sees him taken to the court of Emperor Nero where he inadvertently plays a part in deciding the course of history...

Filmography

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The ProtectorsThe Protectors · 1972
The Protectors
★ 6.11972
SeriesAction & AdventureCrime
The Protectors is a British television series, an action thriller created by Gerry Anderson. It was Anderson's second TV series using live actors as opposed to electronic marionettes, and also his second to be firmly set in contemporary times. It was also the only Gerry Anderson produced television series that was not of the fantasy or science fiction genres. It was produced by Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment production company. Despite not featuring marionettes or any real science fiction elements, The Protectors became one of Anderson's most popular productions, easily winning a renewal for a second season. A third season was in the planning stages when the show's major sponsor pulled out, forcing its cancellation. The Protectors first aired in 1972 and 1973, and ran to 52 episodes over two series, each 25 minutes long - making it one of the last series of this type to be produced in a half-hour format. It starred Robert Vaughn as Harry Rule, Nyree Dawn Porter as the Contessa Caroline di Contini, and Tony Anholt as Paul Buchet. Episodes often featured prominent guest actors.

Writer

DramaramaDramarama · 1983
Dramarama
★ 7.21983
SeriesSci-Fi & FantasyDrama
Dramarama is the name of a British children's anthology series broadcast on ITV between 1983 and 1989. It tended to feature drama of a science fiction or supernatural bent. The series was created by Anna Home, then head of children's and youth programming at TVS, however production responsibilities were divided amongst most of the regional ITV franchise holders. Thus, each episode was in practice a one-off production with its own cast and crew, up to and including the executive producer. Dramarama was largely a place for new talent to prove themselves and was a launching pad for the likes of Anthony Horowitz, Paul Abbott, Kay Mellor, Janice Hally, Tony Kearney, David Tennant and Ann Marie Di Mambro. It was one of Dennis Spooner's last credits. One of Dramarama's episodes, "Dodger, Bonzo And The Rest", gained so much popularity that it was turned in to its own series the following year. It starred Lee Ross and was based around a large foster home. The episode "Blackbird Singing In The Dead of Night" was developed by Granada into the TV series Children's Ward. It was also repeated for the first time since its original broadcast on 5 January 2013, during CITV's 30th anniversary Old Skool Weekend. The Series 7 episode "Back To Front" – notable for featuring a mirror image of the Yorkshire Television logo card at the end – was repeated on 6 January 2013, again as part of CITV's 30th anniversary Old Skool Weekend.

Writer

Fireball XL5Fireball XL5 · 1962
Fireball XL5
★ 6.41962
SeriesAction & AdventureAnimation
Fireball XL5 is a science fiction-themed children's television show following the missions of spaceship Fireball XL5, commanded by Colonel Steve Zodiac of the World Space Patrol. The show was produced in 1962 by husband and wife team Gerry and Sylvia Anderson through their company APF, in association with ATV for ITC Entertainment. While developing his new show, Anderson thought a brand of motor oil—Castrol XL—had an interesting sound. A phonetic change created the name "Fireball XL", with the "-5" added as the title seemed a bit flat without the numeral. The show featured the Andersons' Supermarionation, a form of puppetry first introduced in Four Feather Falls and Supercar and used again in their subsequent productions such as Stingray and Captain Scarlet. Thirty-nine black and white half-hour episodes of Fireball XL5 were made on 35mm film: all future Anderson series were produced in colour. Several Anderson series have been shown in syndication in the US, but Fireball XL5 is the only Anderson series to have run on a US network. NBC ran the series in its Saturday morning children's block from 1963 through to September 1965. A similar programme often confused with Fireball XL5 is Space Patrol, produced by Gerry Anderson's ex business partner and co-founder of AP Films, Arthur Provis due to a number of similarities and settings.

Writer