Q.E.D. (quod erat demonstrandum, Latin for "that which was to be demonstrated") was the name of a series of BBC popular science documentary films which aired in the United Kingdom from 1982 to 1999. Running in a half-hour peak-time slot on the BBC's primary mass-audience channel BBC1, the series had a more populist and general interest agenda than the long-running Horizon series which aired on the more specialist channel BBC2. Horizon could often be difficult for a scientific novice, requiring a modicum of background knowledge beyond the reaches of many viewers, so Q.E.D. was a more approachable way of introducing scientific stories.
| Alternative Titles | |
| First Air Date: | 1982-04-06 |
| Last Air Date: | 1999-04-12 |
| Number of Episodes: | 210 |
| Number of Seasons: | 20 |
| Genres: | Documentary |
| Status: | Ended |
| Networks: | $BBC One |
| Casts: |
OK, so yes - it's a shameless rip off of the "Prisoner of Zenda" but as that is a pretty solid story, this isn't as dreadful as it might have been. Anthony Dexter takes on the double role as "Capt. Delargo" and "King Lorenzo". When the latter is injured by a backfiring shotgun, his distant cousin has to step in and help keep the ship on an even keel whilst the "Princess Theresa" (Jody Lawrence) arrives for a betrothal ceremony, The king's cousin "Ramón" (Anthony Quinn) is clearly the man behind the plotting - and you just know he isn't going to stop now! It has a few, minor, deviations from the better established story but otherwise it's a dead ringer. Baxter is dapper enough, and the thing looks grand and sumptuous, but there is more gel in Quinn's hair than between the two stars and the ending sees the most sedate sword fight I think I have ever seen. The production is really basic - the opening few scenes with a back-lit screen as they nod and sway on their non-existent horses does raise a smile. I didn't hate it, but it did make me appreciate Messrs. Fairbanks and Granger an whole lot more.
