Guardian of the Abyss (1980)

Guardian of the Abyss was first aired on the ITV network on the 15th of November 1980.

It stars Ray Lonnen, Barbara Ewing, John Carson, Rosalind Landor and Paul Darrow.

It was written by David Fisher and directed by Don Sharp.

Now, if you're a hammerhound of any calibre, you recognise some of those names.

Barbara Ewing from Future Weirdy, Dracula Has Risen From The Grave, John Carson from previous weirdies The Plague Of The Zombies, Taste The Blood Of Dracula, and Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter.

And Rosalind Landor, who played Little Peggy in the greatest film ever made, The Devil Rides Out.

And, to top it all, Don Sharp, the director of previous weirdy Kiss of the Vampire.

Was this one of the reasons I chose this episode? Maybe.

Maybe.

Another reason is that I'm a sucker for black magic bullshit and any occult shenanigans in general.

And if you're a regular listener, you know this, yeah.

This story involves both John Dee and Alistair Crowley, arguably two of the finest peddlers of occult bollocks that ever were.

I have this cognitive dissonance about occultism that I hoover up book after book on the subject, but I'm aware that it's just a device for guys and girls to get sex, money and power.

But unlike organised religions, they do it with a certain style and panache.

These sorcerers asked the question, why be scared of demons when you can conjure one up and make it your bitch? Anyway, this episode opens up with a ceremony.