The Omega Factor
A 1979 BBC Scotland series about psychic conspiracies.
The Omega Factor (stylised as The Ωmega Factor) is a BBC Scotland television series from 1979. Jack Gerson created it, George Gallaccio produced it, and it aired for ten weekly episodes from 13 June to 15 August. The story centres on journalist Tom Crane, played by James Hazeldine, who has latent psychic abilities. These powers attract the notice of Department 7, a secret government unit operating on a need-to-know basis that studies paranormal events and human mental potential. The phenomena it explores include hypnosis, brainwashing, ESP, telekinesis, poltergeists, out-of-body experiences, and spiritual possession.
Crane joins Department 7 to track down Edward Drexel (Cyril Luckham), a powerful rogue psychic he believes caused the car crash that killed Crane’s wife, though Drexel is not actually responsible. His work with the department and his own gift lead him to suspect a conspiracy by a shadowy group called Omega, which aims to take over the world through mind control. Key department members are physicist Dr Anne Reynolds (Louise Jameson), an old friend of Crane’s wife, and the secretive head, psychiatrist Dr Roy Martindale (John Carlisle). Most episodes feature the impulsive, driven Crane clashing with the cautious Martindale, while Anne, who falls for Crane, is caught between them professionally but not romantically with Martindale. Subplots develop across the series, including Crane’s hunt for Drexel, his growing suspicions about Omega, and his evolving relationship with Anne.
Only one series of ten episodes was made. BBC Scotland filmed on location in Edinburgh, using landmarks like the Royal Mile, Holyrood Park, and Edinburgh Zoo, with studio work done in Glasgow. Unlike most BBC programmes of the time, the series used film for exteriors rather than videotape. Recurring guest star Natasha Gerson is the creator’s daughter; for the 2006 DVD release, she said she auditioned under a false name so the casting agent wouldn’t know the connection. The series was originally planned for thirteen episodes, but the production was cut to ten to allow more money per episode and maintain quality. A novel by Jack Gerson, closely following the series plot, was published alongside the series.
- Type
- Television series
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Network
- BBC Scotland
- Episodes
- 10
- Original run
- 13 June – 15 August 1979
- Creator
- Jack Gerson
- Producer
- George Gallaccio
Lore & Background
The Omega Factor centres on journalist Tom Crane (James Hazeldine), whose latent psychic abilities attract the attention of Department 7, a secret government organisation that investigates paranormal phenomena including hypnosis, brainwashing, extra-sensory perception, telekinesis, poltergeist activity, out-of-body experiences, and spiritual possession. Crane joins the department to find Edward Drexel (Cyril Luckham), a rogue psychic he believes caused his wife's death in a car crash, though Drexel is not actually responsible. Department 7 includes physicist Dr Anne Reynolds (Louise Jameson), an old friend of Crane's wife, and the secretive head Dr Roy Martindale (John Carlisle). The series follows Crane's driven, impetuous nature clashing with Martindale's caution, while Anne becomes romantically involved with Crane only.
The series was produced by BBC Scotland an
Reader's Guide
The Omega Factor is significant for its early blend of science fiction, horror, and thriller elements, focusing on shadowy government departments and conspiracies for world domination—themes that later echoed in the 1990s series The X-Files. The chemistry between James Hazeldine and Louise Jameson's characters was also noted as influential. The series attracted criticism from public moralist Mary Whitehouse, who called the episode 'Powers of Darkness' 'thoroughly evil' for depicting the supernatural and a man burning to death. Although the final episode resolved several subplots, it raised more issues and ended ambiguously, suggesting a second season was anticipated. The series was released on DVD in Region 2 in 2005 and Region 1 in 2006. In 2015, Big Finish Productions began a series of audio plays set 30 years after the TV events, with Louise Jameson reprising her role as Anne Reynolds and John Dorney playing Tom Crane's son, Adam Dean. Three series of audio plays were released through 2018.
Did You Know?
- Recurring guest star Natasha Gerson is the daughter of the show's creator Jack Gerson; she auditioned under an assumed name so the casting agent was unaware of the relationship.
- The series was originally allotted thirteen episodes but was scaled back to ten to maintain quality and allow more money per episode.
- The series was shot almost entirely on videotape, unlike most BBC programmes of the day which used film for exteriors.
- Public moralist Mary Whitehouse described the episode 'Powers of Darkness' as 'thoroughly evil'.
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