''The Tyrant King'' is a six-part children's serial drama directed by

Mike Hodges Michael Tommy Hodges (29 July 1932 – 17 December 2022) was a British screenwriter, film and television director, playwright and novelist. His films as writer/director include ''Get Carter'' (1971), ''Pulp (1972 film), Pulp'' (1972), ''The Te ...

, made by

ABC Weekend TV ABC Television Limited, popularly known as ABC Weekend TV, was a British broadcaster which provided the weekend service in the Midlands and Northern England regions of the Independent Television (ITV) network from 1956 to 1968. It was one of ...

and screened by

Thames Television Thames Television, commonly simplified to just Thames, was a franchise holder for a region of the British ITV television network serving London and surrounding areas from 30 July 1968 until the night of 31 December 1992. Thames Television broa ...

in 1968. Based on the book of the same name by Aylmer Hall, it was adapted for television by

Trevor Preston Trevor Preston (1938–2018) was a British screenwriter."Trevor Preston o ...

. It was notable for its use of a

progressive music Progressive music is music that attempts to expand existing stylistic boundaries associated with specific music genre, genres of music. The word comes from the basic concept of ":wiktionary:progress, progress", which refers to advancements thr ...

soundtrack, including music from

The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for over six decades, they are one of the most popular, influential, and enduring bands of the Album era, rock era. In the early 1960s, the band pione ...

The Moody Blues The Moody Blues were an English rock band formed in Birmingham in May 1964. The band initially consisted of Graeme Edge (drums), Denny Laine (guitar/vocals), Mike Pinder (keyboards/vocals), Ray Thomas (multi-instrumentalist/vocals) and Clint W ...

Cream Cream is a dairy product composed of the higher-fat layer skimmed from the top of milk before homogenization. In un-homogenized milk, the fat, which is less dense, eventually rises to the top. In the industrial production of cream, this proces ...

Pink Floyd Pink Floyd are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1965. Gaining an early following as one of the first British psychedelic music, psychedelic groups, they were distinguished by their extended compositions, sonic experiments ...

, and in particular,

The Nice The Nice were an English progressive rock band active in the late 1960s. They blended rock, jazz and classical music. Keyboardist Keith Emerson, bassist Lee Jackson (bassist), Lee Jackson, guitarist David O'List, and drummer Ian Hague ori ...

, whose song "The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack", from the album of the same name was the title track. The series was shot entirely on film, as opposed to videotape, and almost entirely on location throughout

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

; it served as the pilot project for what became Thames' TV film production unit

Euston Films Euston Films is a British film and television production company. It was originally a subsidiary of Thames Television, and operated from 1971 to 1994, producing various series for Thames, which were screened nationally on the ITV network. Euston ...

Story

The story begins with three children overhearing a mysterious conversation, leading them to follow the clues across the tourist attractions of

Cast

Murray Melvin Murray Melvin (10 August 1932 – 14 April 2023) was an English actor. A member of Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop company, he originated the part of Geoffrey in Shelagh Delaney's play '' A Taste of Honey'', reprising the role in Tony Richa ...

(Uncle Gerry) *

Candace Glendenning Candace Glendenning (born 9 August 1953) is a retired English actress, known for her work in the horror film genre in the 1970s as a "scream queen". She also had a career in British television throughout the late 60s to early 80s. Career Glenden ...

(Charlotte) - credited as Candy Glendenning * Edward McMurray (Bill Hallen) - credited as Eddie McMurray * Kim Fortune (Peter Thorne) *

Philip Madoc Philip Madoc (born Philip Arvon Jones; 5 July 1934 – 5 March 2012) was a Welsh actor. He performed many stage, television, radio and film roles, and was recognised for having a "rich, sonorous voice" and often playing villains and office ...

(Scarface) The credits note that the three juvenile leads are "Pupils of Italia Conti Stage School."

Soundtrack

Tracks include: * The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack (The Nice) * Tantalising Maggie (The Nice) *

Astronomy Domine "Astronomy Domine" (alternative "Astronomy Dominé") is a song by the English rock band Pink Floyd. The song, written and composed by the original vocalist/guitarist Syd Barrett, is the opening track on their debut album, ''The Piper at the Ga ...

(Pink Floyd) * Dr. Livingstone, I Presume (The Moody Blues) * As You Said (Cream) *

A Saucerful of Secrets ''A Saucerful of Secrets'' is the second studio album by the English rock band Pink Floyd, released on 28 June 1968 by Columbia Graphophone Company, EMI Columbia in the UK and in the US by Tower Records (record label), Tower Records. The menta ...

(Pink Floyd) *

She's a Rainbow "She's a Rainbow" is a song by the Rolling Stones and was featured on their 1967 album '' Their Satanic Majesties Request''. via the Digital Library of the University of North Texas. It has been called "the prettiest and most uncharacteristic ...

(The Rolling Stones)

External links

''The Tyrant King'' - The Complete Series / DVD Review
Frank Collins, Saturday, 19 November 2011.
''The Tyrant King'' - The Complete Series / DVD Review
by Tim Worthington. 1960s British children's television series ITV children's television shows Television shows produced by ABC Weekend TV Television series by FremantleMedia Kids & Family British English-language television shows {{UK-kids-tv-prog-stub