What were my parents thinking by letting me watch ‘Armchair Thriller’ as the winter of 1978 entered it’s death throes?! I’m sure many thirty-something adults now ask themselves this question.
The scenario is relatively familiar to those haunted by ‘that’ comfy white armchair; it’s 8:30pm and the infamous Thames ident had fallen under the spell of darkness. The eerie music and startling visual the perfect embryo for a nightmare. All of this before the main story had even started!
‘Rachel In Danger’ was the first jaunt into the twilight world of failed sleep attempts and imagery from the evening’s earlier viewing replaying over and over again in one's mind. My brother had already told me some time earlier that my parents weren’t really my parents. Instead, he informed me, they were alien ‘replacements’, and my real parents had been spirited off somewhere. Were they bundled up somewhere in the attic just like Rachel’s father…?? I was eight years old and scared witless, yet I had a morbid fascination for more of the macabre that would be delivered every Tuesday and Thursday evening.
Thirty years later and, with the benefit of hindsight, I realise I witnessed something very special. An age of television that is, sadly, gone forever.
Much has been written about the series on the internet, but the definitive word (and pictures!) has to be The Black Nun's excellent site. Click here to go there.
The main purpose of this site is to make available an article produced by TV Times magazine to coincide with the first episode of ‘Rachel In Danger’. The article ‘sets the scene’ for the story and can be accessed below, along with the evening’s schedule for the first episode. Both articles are in PDF format.
Click here for TV Times 'Episode Minus One' article.
Click here for TV Times listing for 21st February 1978.
The first two Armchair Thriller stories; ‘Rachel In Danger’ and ‘A Dog’s Ransom’ are now available officially from Network. Click here to visit their site.
This is a fan site set up for other fans of the series. If any individual or organisation believes that copyright infringement has taken place I will gladly remove the offending material. I am not connected with Thames Television, Fremantle or Network in any way, shape or form.
I can be contacted via the e-mail link below and welcome correspondence with other fans of the show.