British Sci-Fi Shows - 22 - Charles Chilton Space Force - The Red Planet

(4.4 stars; 34 reviews)

British Sci-Fi Shows No 22 Journey Into Space - The Red Planet follows the adventures of the crew in their first attempt to reach and explore Mars. Several new characters were introduced, most notably Frank Rogers and James Edward Whitaker, the two original crewmen of the freighter. Chilton took the name Whitaker from a copy of Whitaker's Almanack which was sitting on his desk.

The series is known for its memorable catchphrase, "Orders must be obeyed without question at all times," often repeated by many of the 'conditioned' characters, especially Whitaker. Episode 19 of the series achieved a 17% audience share, surpassing the simultaneous newsreel broadcast on BBC TV, which had a 16% share. This marked the last time a radio show outperformed its TV counterpart.

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.