E.S.P. (UFO)

"**E.S.P.**"
"E.S.P."
UFO episode
Episode no.	Episode 6
Directed by	Ken Turner
Written by	Alan Fennell
Editing by	Lee Doig
Production code	15
Original air date	14 September 1970
Guest appearances
	John Stratton as John Croxley; Douglas Wilmer as Dr Brünner; Deborah Stanford as Stella Croxley; Maxwell Shaw as Dr Shroeder; Stanley McGeogh as SHADO guard; Donald Tandy as Gate security;
Episode chronology
← Previous; "A Question of Priorities"	Next →; "Kill Straker!"
	List of episodes

"E.S.P." is the sixth episode aired of the first series of UFO, a 1970 British television science fiction series about an alien invasion of Earth. Alan Fennell wrote the screenplay and it was directed by Ken Turner. The episode was filmed between 23 October and 4 November 1969 and aired on the ATV Midlands network on 21 October 1970. Though shown as the sixth episode, it was actually the fifteenth to have been filmed.^[1]^[2]

The series was created by Gerry Anderson and Sylvia Anderson with Reg Hill, and produced by the Andersons and Lew Grade's Century 21 Productions for Grade's ITC Entertainment company.^[3]

Plot

Returning home after seeing his psychiatrist, John Croxley, a man with very powerful ESP, is stopped by SHADO personnel due to an incoming UFO. The UFO crashes into Croxley's house killing his wife and injuring Col. Foster who was monitoring the UFO from a SHADO mobile.

Foster is taken to hospital and SHADO sends a team to investigate the crash site. Croxley, now under alien influence, is able to read the minds of the SHADO team and learns all about SHADO's operations. Croxley believes that Straker and Freeman caused his wife's death and sets out to kill them.

Foster believes that someone or something is watching him – a response to his mind being read by Croxley. Croxley sends Straker what looks like a film script but is instead a full, detailed description of SHADO's organisation and its operations, including places and times. After visiting Croxley's psychiatrist, Straker and Freeman learn of Croxley's ESP ability and are told to meet Croxley at his ruined house where Croxley, still under alien influence, intends to kill them both.

Foster, who has been told that revisiting the site of his injuries will help his recuperation, also arrives at the house. Although Croxley's ability allows him to be aware of Foster's presence he does not stop Foster, who shoots Croxley just as he is about to kill Straker and Freeman.^[4]

Regular cast

Ed Bishop — Commander Ed Straker
George Sewell — Colonel Alec Freeman
Gabrielle Drake — Lieutenant Gay Ellis
Dolores Mantez — Lieutenant Nina Barry
Keith Alexander —Lieutenant Keith Ford
Norma Ronald — Miss Ealand
Harry Baird — Lieutenant Mark Bradley

Production

Locations included Sara Lee Factory, Slough; Neptune House at ATV Elstree Studios, Borehamwood; and MGM-British Studios, Borehamwood.

Reception

Review website anorakzone.com ranks the episode the third-worst of the series, adding that "it's arguably the cheapest-looking episode of UFO, and does strain credulity." The review also criticises the ending's "corny expositionary dialogue".^[5] John Kenneth Muir comments that "there is nothing in particular wrong with 'E.S.P.'; yet it is never terribly original, or even thought-provoking."^[6]

References

^ "UFO Episode Guide - E.S.P." Fanderson. Archived from the original on 8 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
^ "UFO Characters - E.S.P." SHADO Library. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
^ "Underappreciated TV: UFO". Den of Geek. 4 January 2008. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
^ Bentley, Chris (10 January 2003). The Complete Book of Gerry Anderson's UFO. 978-1903111659. p. 67. ISBN 978-1903111659.
^ "Worst to Best: Gerry Anderson's UFO". anorakzone.com. September 2019. Archived from the original on 18 July 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
^ Muir, John Kenneth (23 July 2019). "UFO: 'E.S.P.'". reflectionsonfilmandtelevision.blogspot.com. Archived from the original on 24 November 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.