The Omega Factor: Celebrating the fortieth anniversary of an essential cult classic

Broadcast back in 1979, The Omega Factor (starring Louise Jameson and James Hazeldine) has just celebrated its fortieth anniversary. We look back on this cult classic series, one that every Doctor Who fan should check out.

(Image credit: The Omega Factor/BBC.

Image obtained from: BBC Press.)

Forty years ago, cult classic TV series The Omega Factor began. We look back on what made this series so special, and why every Doctor Who fan should check it out.

If you’ve never heard of The Omega Factor, I wouldn’t be surprised. It only lasted for one season back in 1979, and has rarely been repeated.

To be honest, I hadn’t even heard of it at all until Big Finish Productions announced that they would be making audio dramas based on the series. Because I had enjoyed so much from Big Finish already, particularly their Doctor Who output, I decided to look up the series.

The Omega Factor starred James Hazeldine as Tom Crane and Louise Jameson as Dr. Anne Reynolds. (Jameson is likely best known to Doctor Who fans as Fourth Doctor companion Leela.)

Tom Crane is a journalist, who one day discovers that he has very strong psychic abilities. This brings him to the attention of Department 7, a government organisation that specializes in studying the strange and the supernatural. Unfortunately, these powers also bring the attention of darker forces, both supernatural and human…

“Thoroughly evil”

When I was given a DVD of the complete series, my expectations were already high. Seeing a quote from moral crusader Mary Whitehouse on the cover that described the series as “thoroughly evil” was an instant plus. (Whitehouse was heavily critical of how dark, horrific and violent Doctor Who became during Tom Baker’s first three seasons, which of course are three of my favorite seasons in Doctor Who history. So knowing how much she hated The Omega Factor was a strong indication of how much I’d enjoy it.)

The Omega Factor didn’t match my expectations – it exceeded them. While it was of its time in some ways, in many others, it was also ahead of it. Not only did it have a strong sense of atmosphere and some genuinely scary episodes. It was also a series that featured conspiracies and major arcs that kept viewers watching. It’s hard not to think of the series as a natural precursor to The X-Files, which was extremely popular for the same reasons.

Both the performances and the chemistry of the two leads were extremely strong. The series was also set and shot in the gorgeous city of Edinburgh, which was a perfect location for a series like this.

The end of the series did resolve several of the ongoing storylines, but it also left several questions unanswered. So while it worked as a finale, there was definitely the hope that more seasons would be made. Sadly, the series was left as a one season wonder, and a continuation was never made.

Not until Big Finish came along, at least…

John Dorney stars with original lead Louise Jameson in the audio continuation of The Omega Factor.

(Image credit: The Omega Factor/Big Finish Productions.

Image obtained from: Big Finish Productions.)

New life on audio

2015 saw the release of Series One of The Omega Factor on audio. Usually, when Big Finish base a series on a TV property, it would usually be set during the original era of the TV series. For example, with Survivors, the audio series is set in the Seventies, during the time of the original TV episodes.

But The Omega Factor is distinctly different. While it still stars Louise Jameson as Anne Reynolds (who now runs Department 7), the series is set firmly in the modern day. Reynolds also meets Tom Crane’s son, Adam Dean, who discovers that he has psychic powers of his own.

The audio series has been at least as strong as the TV series, and honestly, is one of very few non-Doctor Who related series that has always been a must purchase for me. It’s a highly faithful continuation of the original series, while also taking it in its own direction.

A strong relationship

A real highlight of the series is the relationship between Anne and Adam. Anne feels very responsible for Adam, and there’s a maternal relationship there that you don’t often get in series like this. It’s also very nicely understated, too.

But perhaps the best part of the series is that, like the original TV show, it’s terrifying. It deals with some very dark and horrific themes, and the fourth episode of the first series, The Hollow Earth, is probably one of the scariest stories I’ve ever listened to from Big Finish. So horror fans will certainly find much to enjoy with this series.

Whether on TV or on audio, The Omega Factor is an absolutely brilliant (if sadly rather overlooked) series. Fans of both Doctor Who and The X-Files would surely enjoy it. Happy fortieth anniversary to an essential cult classic.

Have you watched or listened to The Omega Factor? Are you a fan of the series? Let us know in the comments below.