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Out of the Unknown 1965

★ 7.1/10 · 8 votes Sci-Fi & FantasyDrama 4 seasons · 49 eps Ended
Quick answer

What is Out of the Unknown?

Out of the Unknown is a British television anthology drama series produced by the BBC and broadcast on BBC2. Spanning four series between 1965 and 1971, the program featured dramatizations of various short stories.

Type
TV series
Year
1965
Status
Ended
Episodes
49
Runtime
50 minutes
First aired
Oct 4, 1965
Last aired
Jun 30, 1971
Original language
EN
Origin
GB
Networks
BBC Two
Genres
Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama
Updated
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Overview

Out of the Unknown is a British television anthology drama series produced by the BBC and broadcast on BBC2. Spanning four series between 1965 and 1971, the program featured dramatizations of various short stories. While some material was created specifically for the series, the majority of the episodes were adaptations of previously published works. During the first three years of production, the series focused exclusively on science fiction. However, this genre was abandoned in the final year in favor of horror and fantasy themes. As was standard procedure for the BBC at the time, a number of episodes were wiped during the early 1970s. This archival practice resulted in the loss of several installments from the original broadcast run. The series remains a notable example of mid-century British television production, reflecting the evolving genre preferences of the era through its transition from science fiction to horror and fantasy storytelling. Its historical significance is underscored by the subsequent preservation efforts regarding the remaining available episodes from its four-year tenure on air.

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Should you watch it?

“Explore classic science fiction short story adaptations in this British television anthology series.”

Reasons to watch
  • features adaptations of published science fiction short stories
  • produced by the BBC across four series
Keep in mind
  • a number of episodes were wiped during the early 1970s
  • the final year abandoned science fiction in favour of horror and fantasy

Watch it if you enjoy classic television anthologies featuring science fiction drama.

The series shifts from science fiction to horror and fantasy in its final year.

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Episode guide

Season 1 · 12 episodes
Season 2 · 13 episodes
Season 3 · 13 episodes
Season 4 · 11 episodes

Frequently asked questions

What is Out of the Unknown?

It is a British television science fiction anthology drama series produced by the BBC.

When was it broadcast?

It was broadcast on BBC2 in four series between 1965 and 1971.

What were the episodes based on?

Each episode was a dramatisation of a science fiction short story, with most being adaptations of already published works.

Did the series change genres?

Yes, the first three years were exclusively science fiction, but that genre was abandoned in the final year in favour of horror and fantasy.

Do all episodes still exist?

No, a number of episodes were wiped during the early 1970s as was standard procedure at the time.