Described as a “religious Laugh-In“, this Sunday evening series from Granada Television had the backing of ITV’s religious advisers.
Episodes used sketches and lighthearted revue to take a lightly satirical look at the moral problems of the day, touching on issues such as racialism, original sin, Heaven and Hell, the family, war and peace, prayer and worship, old age, selling the church, gamblers and gambling, vandalism, and the absurdities of life.
In between the laughs, music was provided by The Settlers.
Mary Whitehouse complained that one episode of the show had used “two bleedings, two bloodies and a bastard.”
After eight episodes, the broadcast of the series was interrupted by the frenzy of the “World Cup 70” telecast on Sunday evenings from Mexico.
Beyond Belief returned after the football for a one-off special (‘War and Peace’) on Sunday 28 June.
The Settlers, Nicolette McKenzie and Anthony Jackson returned for a further six episodes later in the year – airing between 20 September and 25 October 1970 – with new co-stars Carmel Cryan, Mark Eden and Melvyn Hayes.
The Settlers
Carole Allen
Robin Chadwick
Nicolette McKenzie
Anthony Jackson
Hugh Futcher
Carmel Cryan
Mark Eden
Melvyn Hayes
Episodes
Racialism | Selling the Church | Original Sin | Charity | Heaven and Hell | Law and Order | Prayer and Worship | The Family || War and Peace || Homeless People | Marriage | 4/10/70 | Gamblers and Gambling | Old Age | Vandalism
