The Quatermass Conclusion (1979) - episode three excerpt - Titupy Bumpity

The Quatermass Conclusion is set in a world where everything has gone to hell. Chaos on the streets, no government can keep order. All over the world, groups of young people are joining the strange cult of the 'Planet People', and gathering at ancient mystic spots. Rolling blackouts, violence, trash TV.

When Quatermass and his group arrive at the television station for takeover, they interrupt the production of a bizarre programme. 'Tit Up Your Bumpity', the director whines, is 'what used to be called a family show'. The Director is a cameo by Tudor Davies, who choreographed the dance sequences in the series. He obviously finds great fun in the role, chain-smoking, wearing his shiny shades and flat cap in the control room, uttering statements like "Vivien and Caroline are really doing nothing with their bums. I want them to really swing em, you know, like they do in the canteen". Awesome.

Nigel Kneale manages to weave into the story many contemporary concerns of the late 1970s, including the crapness of tv titillation, moral degeneration, the hippy movement. He has definitely entered his "grumpy old man" phase of his writing career, much ire and cynicism is directed at young people.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• quatermass
• science fiction
• itv
• television
• tudor davies
• john mills

[straker2]

Kneale revisits the satire of Year of the Sex Olympics! Titupy Bumpity show! LOL! The slime ball Director trying to make it out to be wholesome family viewing when it's blatantly moronic titilation is typical of Kneale's take on pop culture. I like Quatermass's disdainful reaction to it all.

Ade

[claratee]

heh thanks for the text correction there. I changed the title to reflect it.

[TashkentFox]

Kneale correctly predicted the state of British television in future, he simply assumed it would degrade a lot faster than it did.

[DavyTom71]

Fans of Quatermass might like to know that I am currently uploading my the 1979 Quatermass TV series on my YouTube channel.  Episode 1 is currently available to watch, with further episodes to come

[neocoders]

Dr. Ruth would say it's perfectly natural. I would prefer to be harvested, personally.

[ijdonaldson]

No, you're all wrong. This is definitely a Lady Gaga video.

[sadako24]

Funny how if this scene was shown today in the new Docto Who, fans would be heavily complaining about there being too much 'gay-agenda'