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The disturbing drama-documentary Threads, which aired on British television in 1984 depicting a massive nuclear bomb attack on a British city and its aftermath, remains one of the scariest programmes ever shown to date. The depiction of a nuclear apocalypse during heightened tension with the Soviet Union, as seen through the lives of two families, is still haunting viewers decades later. Sheffield, the city chosen as the fictional nuclear target, was where the writer, Barry Hines, lived. Sheffield locals who volunteered to act as extras for the TV show were invited to a private viewing before its release but no one was prepared for what they witnessed.
While the fictional accounts of society breaking down through nuclear winter post-attack make for a harrowing viewing, the impact of a nuclear attack on Sheffield was calculated precisely by fictitious accounts of experts. The makers of Threads had also previously worked on the BBC documentary QED: A Guide to Armageddon, which highlights a similar grim picture of very realistic nuclear destruction. The show has become an iconic cult classic, inspiring other fictional accounts of nuclear disasters on television, and is being aired again on the BBC.
Barry Hines, the writer of Threads, cites his main reason for producing the show was to get people thinking and talking about nuclear weapons as many did not possess the information to understand their devastating impact. The show aims to highlight the long-drawn-out suffering most people would have to endure if nuclear war erupts. Not only did Hines and Director Mick Jackson leave viewers questioning the likelihood of nuclear war, but with the harrowing reality of long-term suffering, the show ensured viewers were left feeling extremely disturbed.
Threads has received mixed reviews since it first aired, with some critics applauding the show’s bravery to address such a controversial issue and others questioning the purpose of the programme. A week after Threads aired on television, Did You See, a review programme for television, featured professionals discussing the show; Bruce Kent of Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament felt the post-show should have given spectators more positive direction on what to do in the event of a nuclear disaster.
Charlie Brooker, a writer for Black Mirror, had watched the programme at the age of 13 in 1984, stating “I remember watching Threads and not being able to process what that meant; not understanding how society kept going.” He goes on to add that he “assumed it [nuclear war] was going to happen and I think in the 1980s it did seem like that was going to happen.” In the present day, Threads retains its haunting power despite the significant changes in the world since its initial broadcast
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