In the city of Sheffield, young couple Ruth Beckett and Jimmy Kemp discover that Ruth is pregnant. But as they contemplate telling their parents and their plans to marry, something far more greater is threatening to change their lives and the people of Sheffield. For an international crisis is developing after the Soviet Union invades northern Iran in response to an American-backed coup in the country. When the conflict escalates, Sheffield and the lives of the people there is devastated when a atomic bomb is dropped on them...
Starring Karen Meagher, Reece Dinsdale, Rita May, David Brierly, Nicholas Lane, Jane Hazlegrove, Henry Moxon, June Broughton, Sylvia Stoker, Harry Beety, Ruth Holden, Ashley Barker, Michael O'Hagen, Phil Rose, Steve Halliwell, Brian Grellis, Peter Faulkner, Anthony Collin, Michael Ely, Sharon Baylis, David Stutt, Phil Askham, Anna Seymour, Fiona Rook, Christine Buckley, Joe Belcher, Victoria O'Keefe, Lee Daley and Marcus Lund among the cast. This was originally broadcast on September 23rd 1984 and was a controversial but memorable drama about Cold War Tensions in the 1980's. It was written by Barry Hines and directed by Mick Jackson, who apparently did not get on during the making of the drama. This is from a repeat on BBC4 that I recorded recently due to the fact it is rarely shown and someone might be looking out for it. It has a cast of (then) mainly unknowns, including a screen debut for Jane Hazlegrove, who would later find fame in Coronation Street (both in 1985 and now), Casualty (2006-16) and Making Out (1989-91). And yes, that really is Zak Dingle (aka Steve Halliwell) as one of the council officials in a far more intelligent role than he was ever given in Emmerdale. It takes it's time before the bomb actually drops, but that only adds to the tension. But while it makes for harrowing viewing at times, it also leaves open a host of unanswered questions. For example: why Sheffield? What had the Communist Soviet Union got against snooker? Is it because the game involves potting so many reds? Your guess is as good as mine and the only humour you may find watching this. You have been warned...