Of all groups and organisations, these seem to change the most rapidly. This information was accurate when entered but our apologies in advance if any of this data is no longer valid (send us an e-mail if you spot an error - thanks !)

The term cult television covers a variety of TV programmes which by now should have lapsed into oblivion but in fact refuse to die. Many are science fiction, such as the inevitable Doctor Who and Star Trek but the genre also includes camp comedy classics like The Avengers, Batman and The Addams Family.

Many fanzines, books and conventions cater for the cult television enthusiasts and many favourite programmes are appearing once more on sell-through video.

The pioneers in the cult TV field were the Wider Television Access group who campaigned tirelessly for many years to have classics of the small screen shown again. They published an admirable magazine Prime Time and held screenings of old TV shows on the South Bank. All this is in the past now but it can be argued that they were instrumental in making cult television respectable. Their legacy remains in the regular screenings of rare archive television programmes by the British Film Institute, again on London's South Bank - details on request from BFI, Dept. MEM, South Bank, London, SE1 8TL (020-7815 1374).

ON THE INTERNET

• Cult TV and Telly Breakaway
• Cult TV Festival: www.CultTV.org
• Cult TV Magazine: www.CultTV.net
• UK TV/Film/Media Events Diary: www.ConUKopia.com

Fan Clubs for Cult Film and TV

• ALIENS - See British Aliens Fan Club
• AVENGERS, The - See Stay Tuned
• BRITISH ALIENS FAN CLUB - Box 11, Liskeard, Cornwall, PL14 6YL.
• DOCTOR WHO Appreciation Society - Box 3, Mountsorrel, Leicester, LE12 7SY.
• FANDERSON (the official Gerry Anderson Appreciation Society) - Box 93, Wakefield, Yorks., WF1 1XJ.
• GIANT'S LOG (The Land of the Giants Appreciation Society) - PO Box 349, Bedford MK40 2ZR, UK
• IDIC STAR TREK CLUB - 5 Letter Daill, Cairnbaan, Lochgilphead, Argyll, PA31 8SX.
• INTERESTING CULT COMEDY CLUB - 9 Narrow Lane, Halesowen, West Midlands, B62 9ND.
• LAND OF THE GIANTS - see Giant's Log.
• OFFICIAL RED DWARF FAN CLUB - 40 Pitford Road, Woodley, Reading, Berks., RG5 4QF.
• PRISONER, The - See Six of One
• PRISONER CELL BLOCK H - 21 Burlington Mews, Churchfield Road, London, W3 6AZ.
• RED DWARF FAN CLUB - Box 29, Hitchin, Herts., SG24 9TG. (See also Official Red Dwarf Fan Club.)
• SIX OF ONE - Box 60, Harrogate, Yorks., HG1 2TP.
• STAR TREK BSFR International Star Trek Club - 55 Kildare Road, Knowle, Bristol, BS4 1PR.
• OFFICIAL STAR TREK FAN CLUB of the UK - OSTFCUK, The Old Barn, Jericho Farm, Worton, Cassington, Oxford, OX8 1EB.
• STAY TUNED (authorised fan club for The Avengers) - 114 Dartmouth Street, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs., ST6 1HE.
• ZZ9 PLURAL Z ALPHA (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Appreciation Society) - Web site: www.zz9.org

Note: these addresses are published in good faith but the compiler holds no brief for their standing or the quality of the service they provide.

This list was compiled some time ago so it is likely that some details have changed. Updated information welcomed.

Magazines

• EPI-LOG (USA, sold at Forbidden Planet). Episode and cast guides for British and American telefantasy series. EPI-LOG JOURNAL is a sister publication covering broader topics to do with sci-fi, fantasy and adventure television in considerable detail. Both publications may also be ordered direct from Epi-Log, Box 1322, Dunlap, TN 37327, USA by post or fax. Fax line for orders only, not letters, +1 615 949 4443. Credit cards taken but only for orders of $20 and over.
• FILMFAX, Box 1900, Evanston, IL 60204, USA. Sold at Forbidden Planet). Retrospective articles on films, stars and TV series of the past.
• LISFAN (USA). Fanzine for Lost in Space people, sold by Forbidden Planet.
• PAPERBACK, PULP & COMIC COLLECTOR, Zardoz Books, 20 Whitecroft, Dilton Marsh, Westbury, Wilts., BA13 4DJ (01373-865371).
• PSYCHOTRONIC VIDEO (USA, sold at Forbidden Planet). Concentrates on the weird stuff.
• TIMESCREEN. A Web Magazine available at www.the-mausoleum-club.org.uk/timescreen/Index Page/index.html Excellent coverage of British telefantasy series.
• TV ZONE (UK, bookstand magazine and also available on subscription from Visual Imagination Ltd, Box 371, London, SW14 8JL). Glossy colour monthly that covers the British telefantasy scene extremely well.
• VIDEO WATCHDOG, Box 5283, Cincinatti, OH 45205-0283, USA. Sold at Forbidden Planet and Tower Records. 'The Perfectionist's Guide to Fantastic Video'. Comparable to Filmfax but generally concentrating on newer material.

Must-have books and other resources

• AVENGERLAND. See the web site at http://theavengers.tv/AVENGERLAND/index.html
• CULT TV by John Javna. St Martin's Press (New York). American paperback widely sold in UK, subtitled 'A Viewer's Guide to the Shows America Can' Live Without!!'. Mainly American in content but a few British shows are included. Well illustrated, with lots of catch-phrases, surprising facts and other minutiae (I mustn't call it trivia!).
• FANTASTIC TELEVISION by Gary Gerani with Paul H. Schulman. Titan Books. Mildly anglicised version of an American original covering the story of sci-fi the unusual and the fantastic on television from the 50s to the 70s. Similar to Javna's book above but more specifically telefantasy. Richly illustrated with episode-by-episode synopses for many series.

Specialist dealers

• ENGALE MARKETING, 332 Lytham Road, Blackpool, Lancs., FY4 1DW (01253-400321 24 hours). Cult TV books, calendars, etc., by mail order.
• John FITTON, 1 Orchard Way, Hensall, Goole, North Humberside, DN14 0RT. Sci-fi and fantasy books, videos, models, etc. by post. Free catalogue.
• FORBIDDEN PLANET carries a wide range of books, magazines and video tapes, with branches at several locations in Britain:
  
  Forbidden Planet, 29 Sydney Street, Brighton, Sussex, BN1 4EP (01273-687620).
  Forbidden Planet, 60 Burleigh Street, Cambridge, CB1 1DJ (01223-301666).
  Forbidden Planet, 5 Duke Street, Cardiff, CF1 2AY (01222-228885).
  Forbidden Planet, 36 Dawson Street, Dublin 2 (01-710688).
  Forbidden Planet, 3 Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH1 2QZ (0131-225 8613).
  Forbidden Planet, 168 Buchanan Street, Glasgow, G1 2LW (0141-331 1215).
  Forbidden Planet, 71 New Oxford Street, London, WC1A 1DG (020-7836 4179, 020-7379 6042).
  Forbidden Planet, 59 Grainger Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 5JE.
  Forbidden Planet, 129 Middle Walk, Broadmarsh Centre, Nottingham, NG1 7LN.
  Forbidden Planet (mail order), 71 New Oxford Street, London, WC1A 1DG (020-7497 2150).
  
  
• HAZELDENE ENTERTAINMENT, Hazeldene, George Street, Wordsley, Stourbridge, West Midlands, DY8 5YN. Mail order supplier of cult TV tapes and nostalgia radio programmes, catalogue free.
• K-9 BOOKS, 88-92 Chapel Street, Salford, Manchester.
• The LAST PICTURE SHOW, 40 The Lanes, The Oasis, Meadowhall Centre, Sheffield, S9 1EP (0742-569604). Movie and TV memorabilia, magazines, videos, books and stills. Open seven days a week.
• MEGA CITY, Inverness Street, Camden Town, London, NW1. Books, comics and magazines, similar range to Forbidden Planet. Mail order.
• NEW WORLDS, 22 West Parade, Lincoln, LN1 1JT (01522-530069). Sci-fi and fantasy books and mags. Closed Wednesdays and Sundays.
• NUEARTH, 4 Davygate Centre, York, YO1 2SU (01904-611461). Huge stocks of sci-fi, fantasy, horror and film books and collectibles. Mail order catalogues free. Also attend major fan conventions.
• SHEFFIELD SPACE CENTRE, 33 The Wicker, Sheffield, S3 8HS (0114-275 8905. Sci-fi and telefantasy material, retail and mail order. Closed Wednesdays and Sundays.
• STAR TOYS II, 21 Mansfield Road, Nottingham (0115-985 9916). Magazines, kits, collectibles.

Conventions and collectors' fairs

• BABCOM CHRISTMAS STAR TREK SPECIAL, Wembley Arena, Organised by Stargazer Productions International Ltd., 4 Aspenwood House, Ipsley Street, Redditch, B98 7AR (01527-65655).
• BIRMINGHAM COMIC, CARD & SCI-FI MART, held from time to time in Birmingham. Organiser is on 0378-864775.
• CAMBRIDGESHIRE FANTASY FAIR (Fair Promotions, 01480-216372). Held in May at Peterborough - demonstrations, merchandise sales, etc..
• CONCORDE British Star Trek Conventions, 138 Crosslands, Stantonbury, Milton Keynes, MK14 6DF. A weekend of video presentations, guest talks, panels, parties, games, quizzes, autograph sessions, auctions, dealers’ room and more.
• CULT TV, Box 1701, Peterborough, PE1 1EX. Appreciation weekend held in October at Caister - parties, video screenings, merchandise sales, etc..
• DOCTOR WHO THE AUCTION, 3 Daneway Gardens, Leiston, Suffolk, IP16 4XA. Auctions (with displays and personal appearances) held in Cheshunt, Herts..
• EASTERCON, the British National Science Fiction Convention. These conventions are held annually at Easter at various locations throughout Britain. Eastercons are open to all who are interested in Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction or Fantasy in print, cinema and television forms. Details for 2004 & 2005 are:
  Concourse - 2004 Eastercon (55th British National Science Fiction Convention), Winter Gardens Blackpool. See www.eastercon.com/concourse for further details.
  Paragon2 - 2005 Eastercon (56th British National Science Fiction Convention), Hanover International, Hinckley, Leicestershire. See www.paragon2.org.uk for further details.
• INFINITY science fiction convention. Held in Cardiff. Enquiries to Infinity, Swn Y Nant, 12 Stuart Street, Treherbert, Treorchy, CF42 5PR.
• LIGHTSPEED convention for fans of Star Trek TNG and DS9. 16 Bramwell Street, Eastwood, Rotherham, Yorks., S65 1RZ. Held in September in Leeds.
• MAIDSTONE COMIC, FILM AND SCI-FI COLLECTORS FAIR, (Showmasters International, 01992-637135).
• MEMORABILIA ROADSHOW AND FAIRS, Birmingham NEC, Glasgow City Halls, Manchester at Bowler's, Trafford Park. (Made in Heaven, 216 Kristinasand Way, Letchworth, Herts., SG6 1TU 01462-683965, 0860-355620).
• MILTON KEYNES COMIC, FILM AND SCI-FI COLLECTORS FAIR, (Showmasters International, 01992-637135).
• PANOPTICON, organised by Domnitemporal Services Ltd, Box 357, London, SW19 8BT. Official Doctor Who convention and exhibition, arranged annually and often sells out well in advance.
• PRESS GANG, 18 Prescot Road, Ormskirk, Lancs., L39 4TQ. Held in October in Liverpool and presented by the Liverpool Society of Cult Television and Breakfast at Czar's magazine. Interviews, autographs, classic episode screenings.
• SOL, the British Start Trek Convention, 39 Dersingham Avenue, Manor Park, London, E12 5QF. Held in May in Blackpool. Film shows, workshops, competitions, dealers' rooms, etc..
• TREK DWARF, annual Star Trek and Red Dwarf Convention held in Leicester.Trek Dwarf, 47 Marsham, Orton Goldhay, Peterborough, PE2 5RN.
• WARP TWO, 69 Merlin Crescent, Edgware, Middx., HA8 6JB. British Star Trek Conventions, held for four days in May at the Cardiff International Arena.
• WESTMINSTER COMIC, FILM AND SCI-FI COLLECTORS FAIR, (Showmasters International, 01992-637135).
• WHO'S 7. Annual Blake's 7 and Doctor Who Convention held in London. Who's 7, 131 Norman Road, Leytonstone, London, E11 4RJ.

There are many other conventions, generally advertised in the fanzines and in TV Zone. Many of them are excellent but others suffer from poor publicity and continuity from one year to another.

Screenings

• KALEIDOSCOPE, Dudley, West Midlands. Kaleidoscope has been organising screenings of classic British television since 1988 to critical acclaim. All proceeds go to charity. The screenings include a mixture of action, adventure and telefantasy rarities together with the occasional oddity. Events take place periodically in central Birmingham. For further information send SAE to Kaleidoscope, 93 Old Park Road, Dudley, West Midlands, DY1 3NE.
• NATIONAL FILM THEATRE (BFI), South Bank, London, SE1 8TL (020-7815 1374). Regular seasons of old television programmes, not just cult classics.

Organisations

• ALIEN NATION APPRECIATION SOCIETY, 110 Richmond Street, Coventry, CV2 4HY (tel/fax 024-7645 9526).
• ALPHA QUADRANT STAR TREK CLUB, Box 8966, Great Barr, Birmingham, B43 5ST.
• HORIZON - BLAKE’S SEVEN APPRECIATION SOCIETY, Miss Cathy Sterry, 8 Woodstock Mews, West Leigh, Swindon, Wilts., SN5 7AS.
• SOUTH YORKSHIRE TELEFANTASIA, 27 Wickersley Road, Broom, Rotherham, Yorks., (01709-378689 or 0114-255 5735). Lively intelligent forum for appreciation and discussion of the best of British television and radio from the 1950s to the 1990s.

Internet-based organisations