Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Dominic Sandbrook continues his exploration of science fiction by looking at its obsession with alien invasion, from all-out assault to sinister hidden threats.

Dominic Sandbrook continues his exploration of the most innovative and imaginative of all genres with a look at science fiction's fascination with aliens. But what if we don't meet aliens in space and instead they come to earth - to conquer us?

Dominic and leading writers and film-makers look at science fiction's obsession with alien invasion, from all-out assault to sinister hidden threats, and how it has reflected real-life anxieties - whether they be the challenge to Victorian imperial power of HG Wells's War of the Worlds, the Cold War-era paranoia of Invasion of the Body Snatchers or more recent concerns about racism and immigration in District 9.

And we celebrate the most famous alien invaders of all - the Daleks.

Among the contributors are David Tennant and Steven Moffat (Doctor Who), Richard Dreyfuss (Close Encounters of the Third Kind), director Roland Emmerich (Independence Day) and special effects maestros Phil Tippett (Jurassic Park) and Doug Trumbull (Close Encounters).

59 minutes

Last on

Mon 28 Nov 2022 00:40
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Four

More episodes

Previous

Space

Next

Robots

See all episodes from Tomorrow's Worlds: The Unearthly History of Science Fiction

Clips

See all clips from Invasion (2)

Music Played

  • Luke Richards

    Morning of the Attack

  • John Williams, Boston Pops Orchestra

    Jurassic Park Theme

  • John Williams

    Journey to The Island

  • Paul Bateman, City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra

    Flying

  • Mark Snow

    The X Files

Credits

Presenter Dominic Sandbrook
Series Producer John Das
Series Producer Ben Southwell
Executive Producer Michael Poole
Participant David Tennant
Participant Steven Moffat
Participant Richard Dreyfuss
Participant Roland Emmerich
Participant Phil Tippett
Participant Douglas Trumbull

Broadcasts