Whoops Apocalypse
Whoops Apocalypse is a British satirical television sitcom comprising six episodes, written by Andrew Marshall and David Renwick and broadcast on ITV from March to April 1982.[1][2] The series centers on U.S. President Johnny Cyclops, portrayed amid a re-election campaign fraught with international crises, including dealings with Soviet Russia, a deposed Shah of Iran, a stolen quark bomb that accidentally obliterates Israel, and terrorist threats, all escalating through diplomatic incompetence and military miscalculations to precipitate nuclear apocalypse.[1][3] Produced by Humphrey Barclay and directed by John Reardon, it employs black humor to critique political leadership and superpower brinkmanship during the Cold War era.[1] Featuring John Barron as the hapless President Cyclops, the cast includes Barry Morse as his fanatical security advisor "The Deacon," Richard Griffiths, Geoffrey Palmer, Peter Jones, and Alexei Sayle, with John Cleese appearing as a terrorist.[1][2] The program's cynical exaggeration of real-world tensions, such as U.S. election-year posturing and Middle East interventions, underscores themes of unintended catastrophe from technological hubris and ideological zealotry.[4][1] Its influence extended to a 1986 cinematic adaptation directed by Tom Bussmann, which retained the core satirical premise but featured a new cast including Loretta Swit as the first female U.S. President.[5][2]Television Series
Development and Production
Whoops Apocalypse was conceived and scripted by comedy writers Andrew Marshall and David Renwick as a satirical examination of global brinkmanship and political folly in the nuclear era.[6] The duo, known for prior collaborative works like surreal spoofs, drew on contemporary tensions such as Cold War escalations to structure the series around escalating diplomatic blunders leading to apocalypse.[7] London Weekend Television (LWT) handled production for ITV, with Humphrey Barclay serving as producer.[1] Filmed as a studio-based comedy in color, the series comprised six 30-minute episodes, emphasizing scripted dialogue and performer-driven satire over extensive location shoots.[1][2] The program debuted on ITV on March 14, 1982, airing weekly during a period of heightened public anxiety over nuclear proliferation, though specific commissioning details beyond LWT's initiative remain undocumented in primary production records.[2][8]Episode Summaries
Episode 1: "Road to Jerusalem" (14 March 1982)The episode opens during an election year amid heightened nuclear tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. U.S. President Johnny Cyclops, facing low popularity, devises a strategy to bolster Western economic stability through aggressive foreign policy maneuvers.[9][10] Episode 2: "Autumn Cannibalism" (21 March 1982)
President Cyclops initiates a covert operation to reinstall the brother of the deceased Shah of Iran to reclaim U.S. influence in the Middle East. Concurrently, a new prime minister assumes power in the United Kingdom, complicating transatlantic alliances.[9][10] Episode 3: "How to Get Rid of It" (28 March 1982)
The Soviet Politburo convenes and resolves to incorporate Britain into the Soviet sphere following the reduction of U.S. defense commitments to the nation. This decision escalates geopolitical frictions.[9][10] Episode 4: "Lucifer and the Lord" (4 April 1982)
CIA operative Grodd, held captive by the KGB, attempts an unsuccessful rescue of key figures known as the Hoppers. Meanwhile, the Shah, stranded on a ferry, establishes a clandestine radio connection with Grodd via CIA channels.[9][10] Episode 5: "The Violet Hour" (11 April 1982)
President Cyclops recuperates in a hospital from injuries, facing potential brain surgery as advised by his aide, the Deacon. Russian forces consolidate control over Iran, prompting internal deliberations within the U.S. administration, including considerations by aide Dave to assassinate British Prime Minister Kevin Pork.[9][10] Episode 6: "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun" (18 April 1982)
A U.S. operational error results in the detonation of a Quark Bomb that obliterates Israel. To evade accountability, American leadership attributes the incident to Soviet aggression and issues threats of retaliation.[9][10]
Cast and Characters
The television series Whoops Apocalypse featured an ensemble of British actors in recurring roles as world leaders, advisors, and officials whose incompetence drives the plot toward nuclear catastrophe. Barry Morse portrayed U.S. President Johnny Cyclops, the central figure whose erratic decisions escalate international tensions.[2] [11] John Barron played The Deacon, Cyclops's sycophantic presidential advisor.[2] [11] Ed Bishop appeared as Jay Garrick, the American newscaster providing on-the-ground reporting.[2] [11] Additional prominent cast members included Richard Griffiths as Soviet Premier Dubienkin, Alexei Sayle as Commissar Solzhenitsyn, and Bruce Montague as Shah Mashiq Rassim of a Middle Eastern nation.[2] [11] Geoffrey Palmer portrayed the British Foreign Secretary, while Peter Jones played Kevin Pork, a media figure.[11] Guest appearances featured actors such as John Cleese as the French leader Lacrobat.[12]| Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Barry Morse | President Johnny Cyclops [2] [11] |
| John Barron | The Deacon [2] [11] |
| Ed Bishop | Jay Garrick [2] [11] |
| Richard Griffiths | Premier Dubienkin [2] [11] |
| Alexei Sayle | Commissar Solzhenitsyn [11] |
| Bruce Montague | Shah Mashiq Rassim [2] |
| Geoffrey Palmer | Foreign Secretary [11] |
| Peter Jones | Kevin Pork [11] |