In The Unborn, written by Philip “Gangsters” Martin for the Playhouse strand, the always excellent Jack Shepherd plays Colin, a scientist who works at a nuclear research establishment begins to have fearful dreams about the future when his wife Diana (played by Mary Larkin) becomes pregnant. Diana herself becomes very troubled when a fortune teller, Judy Parfitt, tells her that her unborn son has the potential to bring about a nuclear apocalypse.
Philip Martin, looking suspiciously like Reece Shearsmith, introduced the drama from the future.The play began with an intro (from author Philip Martin) that was supposed to be in the future and also ended in the future with the implication that the couple’s now grown up son presses the button that does start a nuclear apocalypse.
Reviewing the drama in The Stage (22 May 1980), Clive Hodgson noted that The Unborn was an odd mixture of Rosemary’s Baby, The China Syndrome and Doctor Who.
Writer: Philip Martin / Production Design: Gavin Davies / Producer: Peter Ansorge / Director: Michael Custance
Cast: Jack Shepherd (Colin), Mary Larkin (Diana), Judy Parfitt (Roma), Granville Saxton (Vincent), Richard Leech (Father Carrow), Suzanne Smith (Faustina), Philip Martin (Narrator and introducer)
UK / BBC Two / 1×60 minute episode / Broadcast 16 May 1980
