UFO: The Vault

EPISODE 21 - THE MAN WHO CAME BACK

"It was just one of those inexplicable moments. Like walking over a grave."

Written by Terence Feely

Directed by David Lane

Filming Schedule: Wednesday, 17th – Monday, 29th June 1970

Original UK Airdate: Wednesday, 3rd February 1971 (ATV)

Tech; SID, Moonbase

Cast; Straker, Foster, Lake, Barry, Ayshea, Jackson

Additional cast; 

Colonel Craig Collins Derren Nesbitt Colonel John Grey Gary Raymond Sir Esmond Roland Culver Miss Holland Lois Maxwell Moonbase Doctor Robert Grange SHADO Operative Anouska Hempel Moonbase Operative Andrea Allen Hospital Doctor David Savile Housekeeper Nancy Nevinson Porter Fred Real Chauffeur Mike Stevens Nurse Rona Newton-John

My overall rating; 10/10

The filming for the episode took place at Ashridge Farm, Ley Hill, near Chesham (Buckinghamshire), Studio Lot, Pinewood Studios, Pinewood Road, Iver Heath (Buckinghamshire) Neptune House, BBC Elstree Studios, Eldon Avenue, Borehamwood (Hertfordshire) and MGM Borehamwood Studios, Elstree Way, Borehamwood. The name of Collins was also reused in the opening episode of Space: 1999 - Breakaway, who is under the influence of magnetic radiations. Earlier tracks from Joe 90's Colonel McClaine are reused as well as tracks from the Thunderbirds episode End Of The Road and the feature film Thunderbirds Are Go. The shot of the rocket was reused footage from Doppelganger. Derren Nesbitt also starred in Doctor Who: Marco Polo (1964 as Tegana), The Prisoner (as Number 2 in It's Your Funeral), The Protectors (in the episodes Talkdown and Disappearing Trick), Gideon's Way, The Saint, Emergency Ward-10, Danger Man, Armchair Theatre, Bergerac and The Courtroom. 

Gary Raymond starred in Scarlett, The Cedar Tree, Harriet's Back In Town, The Doctors, The Persuaders, Dombey and Son and The Black Brigand. Roland Culver has starred in many films and TV series, films included James Bond's Thunderball and shows like The Pallisers, The Word, A Question Of Guilt, Tales Of The Unexpected and The Old Men At The Zoo. Lois Maxwell returns as Miss Holland whilst Robert Grange was in Coronation Street, House Of Caradus, Ace Of Wonders, Crossroads and Man At The Top. Anouska Hempel makes her first appearance in the series whilst Andrea Allen with Andrea Allen returning one more time to the series. David Savile was also in three Doctor Who stories; The War Games (1969). The Claws Of Axos (1971) and The Five Doctors (1983) as well as The Doctors, Warship, Drummonds, Gems, Poirot, Kinsey, Casualty and Anglo Saxon Attitudes. Nancy Nevinson was in The Doctors, The Newcomers, Starr and Company, Emergency Ward 10, Starr and Company and as the voices of characters in The Adventures Of Twizzle as Twizzle and as the Narrator - which Gerry Anderson directed. 

Fred Real has credits such as Gideon's Way, Danger Man, Ghost Squad, The Four Just Men and The Invisible Man. Mike Stevens appeared in movies like Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi and an abundance of TV shows such as Doctor Who in The Myth Makers (1965), Terror Of The Autons and The Mind Of Evil (both 1971) and The Curse Of Peladon (1972) and also The Protectors (Blockbuster as P.C), Space: 1999 (as Main Mission Operative), Moonbase 3, The Champions, The Avengers, The Saint, The Baron, Gideon's Way and Adam Adamant Lives. Finally, Rona Newton John was also in Homicide, The Adventurer, The Benny Hill Show, The Gold Robbers and Orson Welles' Great Mysteries.

Fantastic! Loved the relationship dynamic (or rather the hate) shared between Collins and Grey, where the plot mostly focuses on. And the part when Straker and Collins launch back up into space to replace SID and seeing that ship was fabulous. It was a very dark ending with the dead Collins floating out into space into blackness for aliens to get him. And I loved the tracks reuses from Thunderbirds too! Oh man, we've still got another incredible five episodes to crack...