British TV's first attempt at a science fiction anthology, Out of This World ran for thirteen episodes on ATV in 1962. Sadly, only one episode survives.

The introductory episode, John Wyndham's 'Dumb Martian' (produced by Sydney Newman), was actually shown as part of ATV's popular 'Armchair Theatre' series (24/06/1962), in order to retain a captive audience for this untried genre, which started the following week.

'Out of This World' was an hour-long series that featured dramatisations of short stories by popular fantasy writers such as Isaac Asimov, Philip K. Dick and Clifford Simak. Terry Nation adapted two scripts as well as writing b>'Botony Bay,' in which a psychiatry student (William Gaunt) discovers that his patients are possessed by aliens. He kills one of them, and in a bitter twist, is committed to the same institution. (See below for an episode guide and synopsis). The series also featured many familiar TV names such as Nigel Stock, Peter Wyngarde, Patrick Allen, Milo O'Shea and Paul Eddington. The series producer was Irene Shubik, who went on to mastermind BBC 2's 'Out of the Unknown' series in 1965. Horror master Boris Karloff introduced each episode and the series proved a great success paving the way for future science fiction series such as 'Doctor Who.'

The only episode that has survived is 'Little Lost Robot,' an adaptation of an Asimov story, the rest (including 'The Dumb Martian') were wiped.

The Yellow Pill (broadcast 30/06/1962): Adapted by Leon Griffiths from a story by Roger Philip Graham.
Starred Nigel Stock, Richard Pasco, Peter Dyneley, Pauline Yates
Psychiatrist John Frame treats a man who claims to come from another time.

Cold Equations (broadcast 14/07/1962): Adapted by Clive Exton from a novella by Tom Goodwin.
Starred Peter Wyngarde, Jane Asher.
A teenager stows away on a rocket, putting the rest of the crew in danger.

Imposter (broadcast 21/07/1962): Adapted by Terry Nation from a story by Philip K. Dick.
Starred John Carson, Glyn Owen, Patrick Allen.
A scientist tries to clear his name after he has been sentenced to death.

Botony Bay (broadcast 28/07/1962): An original story by Terry Nation.
Starred William Gaunt, Julian Glover, Ann Lynn.
A psychiatry student discovers that his patients are possessed by aliens.

Medicine Show (broadcast 04/08/1962): Adapted by Julian Bond from a story by Robert Moore Williams.
Starred Alan MacNaughton, Carl Bernard, Jacqueline Hill.
A doctor's wife is determined to discover how two medicine men are effecting miraculous cures.

Pictures Don't Lie (broadcast 11/08/1962): Adapted by Bruce Stewart from a story by Katherine Maclean.
Starred Milo O'Shea, Judy Cornwell, Reginald Marsh, David Hemmings.
A radio operator picks up signals from an orbiting alien ship.

Vanishing Act (broadcast 18/08/1962): An original story by Richard Waring.
Starred Maurice Denham, Jennifer Wilson, Ivor Dean.
A wannabe magician discovers a box that makes humans disappear. Unfortunately they don't re-appear.

Divided We Fall (broadcast 25/08/1962): Adapted by Leon Griffiths from a story by Raymond F. Jones.
Starred Ronald Radd, Bernard Horsfall, Gerald Harper.
A computer may be giving false readings leading to the arrest of innocent people.

The Dark Star (broadcast 01/09/1962): Adapted by Peter
Hammond from a novel (Ape of London) by Frank Crisp.
Starred William Dextor, Bruce Beeby, Rosemary Miller.
A new disease sweeps across London.

Immigrant (broadcast 08/09/1962): Adapted by Terry Nation from a story by Clifford Simak.
Starred Gary Raymond, Vivienne Drummond, Penelope Lee.
Only the brightest humans are allowed to live on the planet Kimon.

Target Generation (broadcast 15/09/1962): Adapted by Clive Exton from a story by Clifford Simak.
Starred: Dinsdale Landen, Susan Maryott, Paul Eddington, Philip Madoc.
Generations of a forgotten community have lived on board a spaceship for 900 years.

The Tycoons (broadcast 22/09/1962): Adapted by Bruce Stewart from a story by Arthur Sellings.
Starred Geraldine McEwan, Charles Gray, Ronald Fraser.
A taxman gets more than he bargained for when he visits a factory that produces plastic dolls.