For consistency's sake Thames ITTL will be the same as IOTL

Cosgrove-Hall and Euston are major players in this ITV setup.
 
"Sky were out to hurt us, that was clear. Not only on price but on launch. They were determined to launch by February 1988 and we were still looking at an April 1990 start. The fact that they were pricing themselves at £99 and we were aiming for £150 also gave us headaches. We had a decision to make. Rush things and try to beat Sky or keep on progress and come on the air when we said we would do. In business first is first and second is nowhere

ASG 1990

Sky's launch was a real shock to us. We were in the process of designing all new content for BSB. We thought that we would be able to make the first impact. We were wrong

Greg Dyke 2005
 
Chapter Three: You're in the Army Now

UNIT:Main Cast

Brigadier Angela Reynolds: Judi Dench
Captain Mark Fisher: Paul McGann
Sgt James "Jock" Wallace: James Cosmo
Dr Rachel Jones: Carmen Munro

Writer: Brian Clemens
Executive Producer: John Nathan-Turner

6x45 minute episodes 6.30 to 7.15 on Saturday Evenings BBC 1

TX dates 23rd Nov to 28th Dec 1985

Synopsis

UNIT's remit had been expanded from its initial investigative form. It now acts as a scientific Military police force who are charged with stopping environmental and genetic criminal activities.

The UNIT of the 1980's is a very different organisation from its genesis of the 60's and 70's. The world has become a more dangerous place, not just from extra-terrestrial threats but also from earthbound concerns.

Nuclear energy, terrorism, East-West relations and bio-weapons pose threats to the world and UNIT has been enhanced to cope.

Whilst still controlled by the Military UNIT is staffed by medical professions and socio-political experts to look not just at why threats occur but also how to prevent or nullify.

Operating over 4 terrains, land, sea, air and lunar this version of UNIT is seen as Earth's first line of defence.
 
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Brigadier Angela Reynolds
Aged 48
Rank, Commanding Officer, UNIT

Brigadier Reynolds is the third CO of UNIT and its first female leader. Educated at Oxford and Sandhurst Reynolds worked her way up through the army starting her career in military intelligence and serving in NATO before becoming UNIT chief in 1985

Highly regarded by her peers Reynolds is not to be underestimated. Her gentle voice and smooth manner hide a very sharp intellect and directness. Anyone who crosses her irrespective of rank and position risks her ire.

In many ways a career woman Reynolds has devoted her life to the army. Very little is known about her early years and anyone who asks is deflected with ease.
She regards UNIT as her "family" and feels the loss of any member deeply.

Captain Mark Fisher
Ages 29
Rank, Second in Command, UNIT

Captain Fisher is a man who history is marinated in the army. A third generation soldier the Sorbonne educated Fisher is very much the aristocrat of the team. Very capable and vocal he is somewhat nieve and immature and regularly clashes with Reynolds over issues although more often then not her experience shines through.

Sgt Major James "Jock" Macallister
Aged 43
Rank, Field Commander

Jock is a soldier's soldier. Tough, grizzled and tenacious. Born and raised in Glasgow, he joined the army at 17 and has served across the world. He's seen battle and knows its effects on people. His privates respect him because he stands with them and would rather risk his life then see anyone else killed.

Dr Rachel Jones
Age 51
Rank, Chief Medical Officer

Jones is not just a qualified GP but also a leading diagnostician. Born to West Indian parents who came over on the Windrush Jones has fought not just sexism and racism but also fought successfully to ensure that diagnostic medicine is practiced across the UK. Regarded as slightly fanatical about the health of her colleagues she has been know to enter barracks and even showers to carpet a soldier who has missed a checkup.
 
Brigadier Angela Reynolds: Judi Dench
Captain Mark Fisher: Paul McGann
Sgt James "Jock" Wallace: James Cosmo
Dr Rachel Jones: Carmen Munro
Like the Cast.

UNIT's remit had been expanded from its initial investigative form. It now acts as a scientific Military police force who are charged with stopping environmental and genetic criminal activities.
That sound like a remake of Doomwatch more then UNIT.
 
Doomwatch-ish but with a bit more military grunt.
You have to be careful not to be too much Doomwatch-ish.
Also you need to avoid doing a clone of either Man from Uncle or The Avengers (Steed and Mrs. Peel,)
A good model for the show might be the Latter Show "Bugs" especially the latter two season were they work for the Ministry of Weapons.
 
Typical Saturday Night Television on BBC 1 and ITV in Autumn 1985

BBC1
5.10 News
5.20 Dr Who
6.05 Roy Castle's Generation Game
6.55 Movie
8.55 News
9.15 Match of The Day

ITV

5.30 News
5.45 The A-Team
6.45 Match Game (ATV)
7.45 Comedy
8.15 Movie
10.00 News
10.15 Frost On Saturday(ABC)
 
Chapter Four: A Sporting Chance

"Sports on TV in the mid 80's was in the doldrums. Football was in a trough. The ban following Heysel had an horrible effect on us. Without regular European matches we lost a lot of revenue. The World Cup provided a bit of relief but it was just a pinprick. Yes the BBC had Match of The Day but they also were affected. Darts was another issue. The antics of some of the players such as Eric Bristow led to viewers turning off. Then there was wrestling..."

Greg Dyke 2005
 
Whilst Judie Dench is in the correct age group, she would’ve gained her commission in the regular army as 2nd Lieutenant in the early to mid 50’s. Whilst that’s possible as part of the WRAC.
In the early ‘70s the Greenfinches were out on mobile patrols but were unarmed.
The WRAC did have the rank of Brigadier, but that was solely within the remit of the WRAC.
The first female to reach Brigadier on merit as part of the regular army wasn’t until Patricia Purvis in 1997.
In your timescale the only female Brigadier was Helen Meechie, though it was only an administrative/honouree role, though her predecessor was well respected by combat troops.
It might be hard to get a female in the role of UNIT before the 2000’s.
For the role, the experience required would have to served at 2IC at the very least of a force such as 5 Airborne brigade and/or some senior level experience with those nice chaps at Hereford. Having ‘Det’ on your CV would also be a bonus.
All pointing to ‘highly unlikely’ a female running UNIT.
Possibly Edward Woodward as Brigadier Sir Fraser Fairbairn GCB, GC, DSO, DSC, MC. Lt Col Angela Reynolds as 2IC, though even that would hard to push.
 
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Whilst Judie Dench is in the correct age group, she would’ve gained her commission in the regular army as 2nd Lieutenant in the early to mid 50’s. Whilst that’s possible as part of the WRAC.
In the early ‘70s the Greenfinches were out on mobile patrols but were unarmed.
The WRAC did have the rank of Brigadier, but that was solely within the remit of the WRAC.
The first female to reach Brigadier on merit as part of the regular army wasn’t until Patricia Purvis in 1997.
In your timescale the only female Brigadier was Helen Meechie, though it was only an administrative/honouree role, though her predecessor was well respected by combat troops.
It might be hard to get a female in the role of UNIT before the 2000’s.
For the role, the experience required would have to served at 2IC at the very least of a force such as 5 Airborne brigade and/or some senior level experience with those nice chaps at Hereford. Having ‘Det’ on your CV would also be a bonus.
All pointing to ‘highly unlikely’ a female running UNIT.
Possibly Edward Woodward as Brigadier Sir Fraser Fairbairn GCB, GC, DSO, DSC, MC. Lt Col Angela Reynolds as 2IC, though even that would hard to push.

All of this is correct in our timeline, but remember that Doctor Who takes place in a Universe where the British sent Mars Missions in the early 70's and World War Three was on the verge of breaking out at least twice and Britain had a earlier Female Prime Minister. So it likely that The Military is also different and that there were career paths open that were not available in the OTL.
 
All of this is correct in our timeline, but remember that Doctor Who takes place in a Universe where the British sent Mars Missions in the early 70's and World War Three was on the verge of breaking out at least twice and Britain had a earlier Female Prime Minister. So it likely that The Military is also different and that there were career paths open that were not available in the OTL.

Simple enough solution.
 
BBC News 1986

"And finally the sport of professional wrestling is being counted out after 31 years. The likes of Big Daddy and Kendo Nagasaki will not longer be on our screens after ABC announced that they will be stopping coverage later this year. The move comes as part of the company's move to refocus its programming..."

 
"That was horrible. When ABC stopped showing wrestling it was as if we'd been thrown out into the cold. What you have to know is that we weren't on a fixed multi-million dollar contract like now. We were lucky if we were paid 50 dollars a night. I admit I was ready to throw it all in. Then a few months later I got a call from Jim"

Steven Regal talking to Sting 2016
 
would love to have seen this. maybe the Brig could be a guest star here and there (maybe instead of the Brig, a Colonel instead with the Brig being his boss). also the Doctor could show up once or twice a season (have it be a two part episode).
 
ATV Press Release March 1988

Grapple Fans rejoice. Wrestling is coming back to ITV. ATV can today announce a groundbreaking deal which will bring the best of British and American wrestling to our screens.
In an agreement with Joint Promotions in the UK and the US based National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) ATV will broadcast "Wrestleworld" from the Autumn. Presented by UK favourite Kent Walton and highly respected US commentator "The Dean" Gordon Solie Wrestleworld will alternate every week across the Atlantic.

Walton said
"I'm delighted that professional wrestling is coming back to ITV. For over 30 years we have brought fantastic entertainment to British viewers and with the new link with the NWA we can enhance that with the top American stars"

Solie said
"To be asked to provide commentary to the great British public is a singular honour for me. I have long admired British wrestling and to be able to reach out to the fans across the Atlantic is something I am looking forward to with great relish"
 
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