There’s a brand new episode of Very British Futures out there now, tackling another of British TV most famous SF series – Sapphire and Steel.
When Sapphire & Steel first aired on ITV in July 1979, it didn’t so much arrive as materialize—mysterious, minimalist, and utterly unlike anything else on television. Created by Peter J. Hammond, who had written for Ace of Wands and Shadows but had mostly worked on conventional fare like Z-Cars and Crossroads, the series was born from a desire to explore the fragility of time and the eerie consequences of its disruption. Originally titled The Time Menders, the show was inspired by Hammond’s stay in a supposedly haunted castle, and that ghostly DNA runs deep through every frame.
The premise? Two interdimensional operatives—Sapphire (Joanna Lumley) and Steel (David McCallum)—are dispatched to locations where time has gone awry. Their mission: to repair temporal anomalies caused by emotional trauma, historical residue, or supernatural interference. Sapphire & Steel thrived on atmosphere, ambiguity, and a creeping sense of dread. Its low-budget sets and sparse exposition only heightened the sense of unease, making it feel more like a stage play trapped in a dream.
Over the course of its 34 episodes, spread across six “assignments,” the series built a cult following. Viewers were captivated by its refusal to explain itself. Who were Sapphire and Steel, really? Were they aliens? Angels? Elements? The show never said. And that was the point. It trusted its audience to lean into the mystery.
Hammond wrote all but one of the stories (Assignment Five was written by Don Houghton and Anthony Read) maintaining a consistent tone of surrealism and existential horror. The show’s stirring theme music by Cyril Ornadel and its stark visual style added to its otherworldly feel. Despite—or perhaps because of—its cryptic nature, Sapphire & Steel left a lasting impression on British sci-fi, influencing later works like Torchwood and Inside No. 9.
In my latest episode of Very British Futures, I’m joined by Dr Steve Exton (The Extonmoss Experiment) and Mark Stalker to revisit this haunting classic. We explore its legacy, its most chilling moments, and why it still resonates decades later. They are both highly educated and knowledgeable and great fans like myself and had some fascinating ideas. Our conversation went on for nearly two and half hours and editing it has been a real challenge. Maybe if this episode is popular enough I’ll released an extended cut? Whether you’re a longtime fan or a curious newcomer, this episode is your invitation to step into the time corridor.
You can listen to the episode on Spotify, Apple, Goodpods, Audible, Youtube and most good podcast apps. Or listen to it here.
With thanks to:
Sapphire & Steel – Wikipedia
Temporal Echoes – Horkan
The Phantom Frame 