Codename: Icarus

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Very British Futures

Gareth Preston

33 episodes

2 days ago

Enthusiastic, informed analysis of British television's most interesting science fiction series. From cult favourites like "The Tripods" to obscurities such as "The Uninvited". Each episode, host Gareth Preston is joined by special guests to discuss a show, celebrating its ideas, achievements and sometimes its mistakes. Visit our website at https://westlakefilms.uk/verybritishfutures/ Follow us on Twitter @futuresvery Visit our Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/verybritishfuturespodcast/ Visit uk.bookshop.org/shop/verybritishfutures for books relating to the podcast and its contributors

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Codename: Icarus

Very British Futures

55 minutes 28 seconds

2 weeks ago

Codename: Icarus

Welcome to Very British Futures, the podcast that dives deep into the hidden vaults of British science fiction television, uncovering the bold, the bizarre, and the brilliant. Hosted by Gareth Preston. Today we’re decoding a 80’s cold war thriller with a cerebral twist: the 1981 BBC teen drama Codename: Icarus.

Martin Smith may seem like a typical Northern teenager but he might be the next Einstein. An offer from the mysterious Icarus Foundation for gifted children seems like his golden ticket but soon Martin and his friend Susan suspect that the school is a front for something much more sinister.

Part spy story, part psychological mystery, and part techno-thriller, Codename: Icarus dared to ask what mighthappen if the brightest minds of tomorrow were weaponised today. With its moody visuals, strong cast, and a plot that spirals from boarding school corridors to global conspiracy, it’s a series that still resonates with viewers who like their sci-fi served with a dose of paranoia and intellect.

Joining me to dissect this enigmatic gem are two brilliant minds of our own: Kara Dennison, writer and pop culture analyst with a keen eye for British genre television, and Nicky Smalley, sci-fi enthusiast whose love for vintage drama runs deep. Together, they’ll explore the show’s themes, its place in the BBC’s legacy of ambitious children’s programming, and why Codename: Icarus deserves a place in the best of genre television.

So flex your keyboard skills, adjust your frequency, and prepare to enter a world where genius is dangerous and nothing is quite what it seems. Let’s begin.

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Find out more about Gareth Preston and the podcast atgarethpreston.blog

Read more about Kara Dennison on her blogkaradennison.blogspot.com

Kara at Crunchy Roll TV

Learn more about Codename: Icarus from these excellentarticles:
https://www.curiousbritishtelly.co.uk/2015/10/codename-icarus.html

https://ayearinthecountry.co.uk/codename-icarus-hidden-teatime-cold-war-intrigues-wanderings-23-26/

https://www.the-medium-is-not-enough.com/2010/02/lost_gems_codename_icarus_1981.php