McGann's War of the Worlds

Paul McGann narrates "War Of The Worlds - The Real Story" on the UK National Geographic Channel, Sunday 13th November at 22.00, Monday 14th November at 21.00 and Friday 18th November 16.00. "Paul McGann (the eighth Doctor) is to narrate the history of what happened when Orson Welles broadcast a spoof alien invasion programme on US radio. On October 30, 1938, Orson Welles put on a dramatic, very well acted radio play that put the nation into a perilous frenzy. And so began the biggest controversy of the decade as millions of Americans shrieked in terror as to what they thought was the World coming to an end! It changed how we approached radio and television forever. An industry was also born including movies (Tom Cruise), books and Jeff Wayne’s seminal album (narrated by Richard Burton). In this one-hour long special, Jeff Wayne talks about the phenomenon that terrified a nation and that inspired his recording. Also popular commentator, Mark Webster delivers his revealing insights into the radio production that shocked the world. This programme examines the frailty of the World in 1938, its real horrors, and the fallout of Welles popularity in which he never recovered. The real horror of the 1930’s only escalated with this broadcast. The World was about to enter into a new phase of terror in which the War Of The Worlds Mercury Theatre broadcast was simply the metaphor of what was to come – World War II and the rise of the Third Reich. This programme explains much of the hysteria caused by this broadcast, the scandal that followed, and the question of whether it could ever happened again." (Thanks to Marc Ollington)