To Boldly Go Where No Kid Has Gone Before

As for many of my generation, Star Trek, The Original Series, was essential viewing when I was growing up in 1960's Lancashire. The very start of the wailing theme music was enough to bring all other activity in the telly room to a standstill and along with assorted siblings we were all glued to the screen. With the words " These are the voyages...." a reverential hush descended over us as we waited breathlessly for the stardate.

There were many fabulous 'original' episodes and I remember fondly Arena with the trerrifying Lizard Man Gorn, the fluffy aliens in The Trouble With Tribbles, Spock raging with a scythe axe in Amok Time, rock monsters [episode?] and a green band of troublesome minstrels [episode?].

But without doubt my number one was Who Mourns for Adonais, set on world ruled by the Greek God Apollo [or so it seemed!]. Who Mourns appealed to me on many levels: I was fascinated by Greek Mythology and will have recently devoured the Collins [or Hamlyn] book on the very subject. I particularly loved Apollo [and Hermes for that matter] and also giant monsters. So when he grew to a huge size and towered over Kirk and co at his Temple, I was in raptures as only a child can be [the only TV show which similarly excited me in my adult form was The X-Files when it first aired].

As crucial a show as Thunderbirds but for different reasons, Star Trek fed my desire to explore new worlds. It is one of the few programmes Mrs. Moonbase and I both saw and loved back then as kids living in different parts of Europe. What was your favourite series and episode[s] in your neck of the woods?