Doomwatch: Winter Angel (1999)

University lecturer Neil Tannahill is drawn into a sinister conspiracy involving secretly-stored Soviet nuclear waste at a remote British nuclear facility after receiving an enigmatic note ... See full summary »

Director:

Roy Battersby

Writers:

Gerry Davis (TV series) (as Gerry Davies), John Howlett

Stars:

Trevor Eve, Amanda Ooms, Philip Stone

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Trevor Eve	...	Neil Tannahill
Amanda Ooms	...	Meg Tannahill
Philip Stone	...	Spencer Quist
Dallas Campbell	...	Hugo Cox
Allie Byrne	...	Teri Riley
Miles Anderson	...	Toby Ross
Steve Toussaint	...	Luke
Bob Sherman	...	Bill Zeiss
Willie Ross	...	Mr Fulton
Ben Crompton	...	Ewan McAllister
John Vine	...	Special Branch Officer
Rob Dixon	...	Security Guard
Christian Rodska	...	Shaston Driver
Rebecca Lamb	...	Plainclothes Woman
Francesca Brown	...	Hannah Tannahill

Storyline

University lecturer Neil Tannahill is drawn into a sinister conspiracy involving secretly-stored Soviet nuclear waste at a remote British nuclear facility after receiving an enigmatic note from legendary atomic scientist and one-time former head of "Doomwatch" (the infamous Scientific watchdog group of the seventies), Dr Spencer Quist.

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Genres:

Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Did You Know?

Trivia

This was the pilot edition of a proposed series of similar-length editions, although costs (a rumoured £1.5 million was spent on "Winter Angel") meant that the future episodes were scrapped. These were to feature storylines based around nanotechnology smuggling, a computer virus with the ability to invade human brains, and protein-based biochips.

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Goofs

The credit "Based on the television series created by Kit Pedler and Gerry Davies" is misspelled: the co-creator's name was Gerry Davis.

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Alternate Versions

The 2011 Boulevard Entertainment DVD release differs from the original Channel 5 broadcast version, and is perhaps a slightly earlier cut: the opening originating credit is "Based on the television series created by Kit Pedlar and Gerry Davies" instead of "Based on the television series created by Kit Pedler and Gerry Davies", and "Special thanks to National Power and Littlebrook Power Station" instead reads "Special thanks to Powergen and Littlebrook Power Station". The DVD also closes with an onscreen credit for Universal which did not feature on transmission.

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Connections

Follows Doomwatch (1970)

User Reviews

Enjoyable

Though not outstanding, this was a decent thriller to get involved with. I suppose it would have been easier for me to understand if I had watched the original series, "Doomwatch". The gist I got, was that the Doomwatch team was a watchdog group watching governments and private industries for illegal and immoral practices.

The leader of the group, though retired is Spencer Quist(Philip Stone) who is the mentor of Neil Tannahill(Trevor Eve) and Toby Ross(Miles Anderson). The story begins in 1999. Quist is retired and Tannahill teaches post-graduate Physics at the local university. As he was drawn into the Doomwatch project, he draws his students into it as well asking for help to decipher cryptic notes from Quist. In another part of England, Ross is working with the Pandora Corporation to develop clean energy. They develop a Black Hole, which goes out of control. Ross is prevented from asking for help by the government and the corporation. He is out of his league and the hole is losing stability. Because the project is so secret, the security forces seek out and kill those who have knowledge of any part of the project. The only ones standing in the way are the members of Doomwatch and a local police officer(John Vine).

When Quist is killed under suspicious circumstances, Tannahill seeks out Ross to find out about the project and forces Ross to accept his help. Between the two Physicists, the hole is brought under control, but will remain in it's current position for the rest of time.

I have discovered that this was supposed to be the pilot of a new series of "Doomwatch" episodes called "Winter Angel". It was a shame it didn't sell, because as I finished watching it, I decided to check to see if there were any other episodes made. I found only the series from 1970, of which several episodes are missing. I then looked to see if anyone had written any books or if the series itself was based on a novel, like so many are. There weren't any novels or novelettes.

This is a disappointment because with the quality of actors involved in the project, it would have been an enjoyable series to watch.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 December 1999 (UK)

Also Known As:

Atomgyilkosság

Filming Locations:

Littlebrook Power Station, Dartford, Kent, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Channel 5 Television, Doomwatch Ltd., Vanson Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Color:

Color