We all hoped for so much more than just a kid's sci-fi show, we really did want to create a storm but it was a monumental under taking for television in the early eighties and sadly, there was a lack of much needed support at the crucial time. The idea that a single show could take on the might of existing BBC drama's and sci-fi was a challenge to say the least. In a world where cash and viewing figures ruled we were at the mercy of a controller who was at the BBC no longer than it took to make the show. The Tripods is a trilogy that was never realised.

Series one and two were originally broadcast on BBC one on Saturday afternoons. From the original stories by John Christopher, it is the story of three boys, Will and Henry Parker and Jean Paul Delier, known as "Beanpole", who reject the enslavement of aliens who have already taken over the planet. After a long journey they reach a group of free men and set out to destroy the Tripods and their alien masters. The story is one of human triumphs over slavery and domination. The Tripods use a form of mind control called a cap, which renders its wearer passive and uncreative. This causes society to revert to a time similar to that at the turn of the last century or earlier but with echoes of our time mingled in. It is an imaginative and captivating story that was ahead of its time in 1984.

The process of filming The Tripods was a complete joy to be involved in. I was in a world where everyone around me had one common goal. Every effort made by every member of the cast and crew was to the best of their abilities and we worked in an atmosphere that I have never experienced since. I would give everything up to re-live those moments again. Every episode has a special memory, but the scenes after the chateau and in the Vichot vineyard were particularly memorable because of the people involved. Of course blowing up the Tripod was an episode that stands out for me. We spent many weeks on location filming and developed a great strength as a team. One of our locations was Portmerion, the village in which The Prisoner was filmed. We also filmed at Saltwood Castle in Kent the home of Alan Clark MP which was used as the chateau and in the scenes from the tournament.

Most of the appearances by the Tripods themselves were in the form of giant feet made by the special effects department. They were actual size so as I climbed the rocks to place a grenade that topples the Tripod it was easy to picture the Tripod as if it were there. There was also an unplanned advantage to this in that the feet and legs were reflected in Beanpole's glasses giving an amazing effect of realism.

Ceri Seel and John Shackley were really great guys. We got on really well during filming and bonded well, which I can see in our performances, I hope that comes across to others as well.

January 25th of this year saw the launch of a campaign to bring back the show. The main aim is to get the show brought back to our screens this year to celebrate its twentieth anniversary. The idea is that people register to join the BBC iCan web site and then vote to support our campaign and the names are then used similar to a petition to prove that the show is still highly regarded. The campaign page also gives updates on what's happening and details of other web sites that are devoted to the programme. People that do register can also contribute stories that are visible to all visitors to the site. Support so far is remarkable, and I am so pleased to read reports from people in Germany and the USA who have enjoyed the show and wish they were able to get series two on DVD. Which is something else the campaign hopes to achieve.

I believe we are seeing the start of an eighties revival this year and by the summer many more television shows, bands, and forgotten memories will return. Please help us to make The Tripods one of them. I spent two years bringing Henry Parker to life, and the hard efforts of all the actors and the crew should not be forgotten. I hope you will join us in our efforts to bring back the Tripods.