''The Mad Death'' is a television serial made by
BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: ''BBC Alba'') is a division of the BBC and the main public broadcaster in Scotland.
It is one of the four BBC national regions, together with the BBC English Regions, BBC Cymru Wales and BBC Northern Ireland. I ...
. It was filmed in 1981 and transmitted 2 years later in 1983.
Plot
The three-part series examined the effects of an outbreak of
rabies
Rabies is a viral disease that causes encephalitis in humans and other mammals. Early symptoms can include fever and tingling at the site of exposure. These symptoms are followed by one or more of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, vi ...
in the United Kingdom and was noted for its occasionally chilling content.
Production
The music for the opening titles consisted of a voice whispering the first four lines of ''
All Things Bright and Beautiful'' over a montage of animals' faces, distorted by a rippling water effect, symbolising the hydrophobia caused by rabies.
The episodes were filmed around Scotland including inside East Kilbride Shopping Centre.
The series has only ever been repeated once on BBC television, in 1985, although it was later shown on UK Gold in the 1990s. An edited version was made to film length and released on a VHS in the mid-'80s. It was released uncut on DVD on 7 May 2018.
Cast
*
Richard Heffer
Richard Heffer (born 28 July 1946 in Cambridge) is a British actor, best known for his roles on television in the 1970s and 1980s. His film career included appearances in ''Women in Love'' (1969), '' Waterloo'' (1970), ''Penny Gold'' (1973), ''Th ...
as Michael Hilliard
*
Barbara Kellerman as Dr. Ann Maitland
*
Richard Morant
Richard Morant (30 October 1945 – 9 November 2011) was an English actor.
Biography
Morant was born in Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire. His father was the Shakespearean actor Philip Morant (1909–1993). His sister is the actress Angela M ...
as Johnny Dalry
*
Ed Bishop
George Victor Bishop (11 June 1932 – 8 June 2005), known professionally as Ed Bishop or sometimes Edward Bishop, was an American actor. He was known for playing Commander Ed Straker in ''UFO'', Captain Blue in ''Captain Scarlet and the Myste ...
as Tom Siegler
*Valerie Holliman as Norma Siegler
*Debbi Blythe as Jane Stoddard
*
Brenda Bruce as Miss Stonecroft
*
Jimmy Logan
James Allan Short, OBE, FRSAMD (4 April 1928 – 13 April 2001), known professionally as Jimmy Logan, was a Scottish performer, theatrical producer, impresario and director.
Family
Logan was born in Dennistoun, Glasgow, a member of a famil ...
as Bill Stanton
*
Paul Brooke as Bob Nicol
Releases
The Mad Death was released on DVD in 2018 by Simply Media.
External links
*
*
* http://www.startrader.co.uk/Action%20TV/guide80s/maddeath.htm
* http://ufoseries.com/films/maddeath.html
TV Cream
1983 Scottish television series debuts
1983 Scottish television series endings
BBC television dramas
1980s British television miniseries
BBC Scotland television shows
Films about viral outbreaks
1980s British drama television series
Television shows about viral outbreaks
Rabies in popular culture
English-language television shows
1980s Scottish television series
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