Chimera (British TV series)

Chimera is a British science-fiction horror drama made by Zenith Productions and Anglia Films for ITV in 1991. It is based on the 1982 novel of the same name about genetic engineering by Stephen Gallagher. Gallagher had previously adapted the novel as a 90 minute dramatised audio drama for BBC Radio 4 in 1985.^[1] The theme music of the TV mini-series was "Roisin Dubh" by Nigel Hess and Chameleon.

Chimera
Written by	Stephen Gallagher
Directed by	Lawrence Gordon Clark
Starring	John Lynch Christine Kavanagh Kenneth Cranham
Theme music composer	"Róisín Dubh" by Chameleon
Composer	Nigel Hess
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
Production
Executive producers	Brenda Reid Archie Tait
Producer	Nick Gillott
Cinematography	Ken Westbury
Editor	Alan Pattillo
Running time	4x60 minutes (TV version) 104 minutes (Movie version)
Production companies	Zenith Entertainment Anglia Films
Original release
Network	ITV
Release	7 July (1991-07-07) – 28 July 1991 (1991-07-28)

Although set in rural Cumbria, filming took place in North Yorkshire with the village of Kettlewell providing the outdoor scenes. The setting for The Jenner Clinic was the nearby Malham Tarn Field Studies Centre, a Grade II listed Georgian country house owned by the National Trust. Studio filming took place at Shepperton Studios in Surrey.^[2]

The series was later re-edited for release in the United States, and retitled Monkey Boy.

Plot

The story focuses upon Chad, a young half-boy, half-chimp, developed by scientists as part of a top secret government operation. However, Chad becomes aggressive, strong and uncontrollable, with the inability to communicate on a human level, escaping from the lab, brutally killing several nurses and scientists in the process. The hunt is on to find and capture Chad before the public encounters this strange and dangerous creation. During Chad's escape, he wrestles with his natural child tendencies after befriending some local children and trying to control his wild primal inner instincts.

Cast

• John Lynch as Peter Carson
• Christine Kavanagh as Alison Wells
• Kenneth Cranham as Hennessey
• Peter Armitage as Sgt. Crichton
• Emer Gillespie as Nurse Tracy Pickford
• Sarah Winman as Julia
• George Costigan as Schaffer
• Pip Torrens as Windeler
• David Calder as Dr. Jenner
• Douglas Mann as Chad
• Paul O'Grady as Social Worker
• Sebastian Shaw as Dr Liawski
• David Neilson Mr Desmond Gaskell.
• Liza Tarbuck Woman on National Express coach.
• Maggie Lane Hotel Landlady
• Dhirendra Cottrell
• Gary Mavers Forester
• Richard Durden Minister
• Pippa Haywood Diane Rhomer
• Vivien Parry Rental manager
• Douglas Mann Chad Chimera

Release

The series originally aired in Britain on ITV from 7 to 28 July 1991. In the United States, it aired on A&E Television Networks.^[3]

A heavily edited version of the series was released on VHS, with the title Monkey Boy, by Prism Entertainment.^[4]

The complete series was released on DVD in the United Kingdom by Revelation Films Ltd in July 2010.^[5]

The series was run for the first time on Forces TV on the 19 and 20 February 2022.

See also

• First Born (TV serial)