If... (TV series)
Encyclopedia
If... is a series of BBC
drama-documentaries
broadcast on BBC Two
from March to April 2004 and December 2004 to January 2005, each of which considers the potentially catastrophic political or social consequences that might arise from current trends in the United Kingdom
. Using a drama with interview
s from experts, then a discussion of the programme with a panel of experts from both sides of an argument. During the show a televote of opinion is cast.
If... The Lights go Out imagined a near-future scenario
in which the UK has become dependent upon import
ed gas
supplies to fuel its power stations, so that a terrorist
incident at a gas plant in Russia
results in Britain suffering a disastrous winter blackout
.
If... Things Don't Get Better imagined a near-future scenario in which the UK has gated communities
where the rich
and poor
are separated by the growing wealth divide. In the story a gated community in London
closed off a road to stop crime in the area.
If... The Generations Fall Out imagined a near-future in the UK where the baby boomer
s and pensioner
s fall out over the growing need to pay the number of pensioners their pension
.
If... Women Ruled The World imagined a scene of where women have the upper hand and men grumble about it, forming a guerrilla organization called "Fathers Fight Back" (based on Fathers 4 Justice
). Using a 21st century dysfunctional family
as an example, the episode focuses on a divorced father, working for Fathers Fight Back, hacking into a live television broadcast from the (female) President of the United States
to spread a message of hope and equality. Meanwhile, his ex-wife uses new cloning/IVF treatments to have a daughter (selected by her) without a father.
If... We Don't Stop Eating is a look at what might happen if the obesity
epidemic went out of control.
If... Cloning Could Cure Us, talks about a fictional story where Dr. Alex Douglas is put on trial for using clone
d stem cell
s older than allowed by law to help a paralysed cliff climber Andrew Holland.
If... We Could Stop The Violence
, talks about a fictional story of a young boy, Liam, who could be genetically
predisposed to violence and the ethics behind the idea of genetic bad behaviour.
If... Drugs Were Legal, talks about a fictional story of the death of two girls (Tanya Williams & Josie Mills) who were taking legal drugs
in a legal nightclub
. The story follows the search for the killers of the two girls. It turns out that the girls were given an unlicensed blend of drugs by an illegal dealer. The drugs were originally made by an anti-drugs campaigner, in an attempt to have drugs recriminilised.
The world is based on the idea that all drugs such as cannabis
, LSD
& ecstasy are legal and heroin are available on the National Health Service
for addicts
.
If... TV Goes Down the Tube, talks about a fictional story of the suicide of a girl Lizzie Alton, on reality TV and how TV is growing as a political tool with worrying close relations between media companies and the government. The story is of the mother Mary Alton, of the suicided daughter, who later uncovers a sinister plot between the media company who had Lizzie as a contestant
and the government at the time.
Background on the show has been provided by the shows lead
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
drama-documentaries
Docudrama
In film, television programming and staged theatre, docudrama is a documentary-style genre that features dramatized re-enactments of actual historical events. As a neologism, the term is often confused with docufiction....
broadcast on BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
from March to April 2004 and December 2004 to January 2005, each of which considers the potentially catastrophic political or social consequences that might arise from current trends in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Using a drama with interview
Interview
An interview is a conversation between two people where questions are asked by the interviewer to obtain information from the interviewee.- Interview as a Method for Qualitative Research:"Definition" -...
s from experts, then a discussion of the programme with a panel of experts from both sides of an argument. During the show a televote of opinion is cast.
If... The Lights go Out
March 10, 2004If... The Lights go Out imagined a near-future scenario
Scenario
A scenario is a synoptical collage of an event or series of actions and events. In the Commedia dell'arte it was an outline of entrances, exits, and action describing the plot of a play that was literally pinned to the back of the scenery...
in which the UK has become dependent upon import
Import
The term import is derived from the conceptual meaning as to bring in the goods and services into the port of a country. The buyer of such goods and services is referred to an "importer" who is based in the country of import whereas the overseas based seller is referred to as an "exporter". Thus...
ed gas
Gas
Gas is one of the three classical states of matter . Near absolute zero, a substance exists as a solid. As heat is added to this substance it melts into a liquid at its melting point , boils into a gas at its boiling point, and if heated high enough would enter a plasma state in which the electrons...
supplies to fuel its power stations, so that a terrorist
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
incident at a gas plant in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
results in Britain suffering a disastrous winter blackout
Power outage
A power outage is a short- or long-term loss of the electric power to an area.There are many causes of power failures in an electricity network...
.
If... Things Don't Get Better
March 17, 2004If... Things Don't Get Better imagined a near-future scenario in which the UK has gated communities
Gated community
In its modern form, a gated community is a form of residential community or housing estate containing strictly-controlled entrances for pedestrians, bicycles, and automobiles, and often characterized by a closed perimeter of walls and fences. Gated communities usually consist of small residential...
where the rich
Wealth
Wealth is the abundance of valuable resources or material possessions. The word wealth is derived from the old English wela, which is from an Indo-European word stem...
and poor
Poor
Poor is an adjective related to a state of poverty, low quality or pity.People with the surname Poor:* Charles Henry Poor, a US Navy officer* Charles Lane Poor, an astronomer* Edward Erie Poor, a vice president of the National Park Bank...
are separated by the growing wealth divide. In the story a gated community in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
closed off a road to stop crime in the area.
If... The Generations Fall Out
March 24, 2004If... The Generations Fall Out imagined a near-future in the UK where the baby boomer
Baby boomer
A baby boomer is a person who was born during the demographic Post-World War II baby boom and who grew up during the period between 1946 and 1964. The term "baby boomer" is sometimes used in a cultural context. Therefore, it is impossible to achieve broad consensus of a precise definition, even...
s and pensioner
Pensioner
In common parlance, a pensioner is a person who has retired, and now collects a pension. This is a term typically used in the United Kingdom and Australia where someone of pensionable age may also be referred to as an 'old age pensioner', or OAP. In the United States, the term retiree is more...
s fall out over the growing need to pay the number of pensioners their pension
Pension
In general, a pension is an arrangement to provide people with an income when they are no longer earning a regular income from employment. Pensions should not be confused with severance pay; the former is paid in regular installments, while the latter is paid in one lump sum.The terms retirement...
.
If... Women Ruled The World
March 31, 2004If... Women Ruled The World imagined a scene of where women have the upper hand and men grumble about it, forming a guerrilla organization called "Fathers Fight Back" (based on Fathers 4 Justice
Fathers 4 Justice
Fathers 4 Justice began as a fathers’ rights organisation in the United Kingdom. It became prominent and frequently discussed in the media following a series of high-visibility stunts and protests often in costume. It was temporarily disbanded in January 2006, following allegations of a plot by...
). Using a 21st century dysfunctional family
Dysfunctional family
A dysfunctional family is a family in which conflict, misbehavior, and often abuse on the part of individual members occur continually and regularly, leading other members to accommodate such actions. Children sometimes grow up in such families with the understanding that such an arrangement is...
as an example, the episode focuses on a divorced father, working for Fathers Fight Back, hacking into a live television broadcast from the (female) President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
to spread a message of hope and equality. Meanwhile, his ex-wife uses new cloning/IVF treatments to have a daughter (selected by her) without a father.
If... We Don't Stop Eating
April 7, 2004If... We Don't Stop Eating is a look at what might happen if the obesity
Obesity
Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems...
epidemic went out of control.
If... Cloning Could Cure Us
December 16, 2004If... Cloning Could Cure Us, talks about a fictional story where Dr. Alex Douglas is put on trial for using clone
Cloning
Cloning in biology is the process of producing similar populations of genetically identical individuals that occurs in nature when organisms such as bacteria, insects or plants reproduce asexually. Cloning in biotechnology refers to processes used to create copies of DNA fragments , cells , or...
d stem cell
Stem cell
This article is about the cell type. For the medical therapy, see Stem Cell TreatmentsStem cells are biological cells found in all multicellular organisms, that can divide and differentiate into diverse specialized cell types and can self-renew to produce more stem cells...
s older than allowed by law to help a paralysed cliff climber Andrew Holland.
If... We Could Stop The Violence
December 22, 2004If... We Could Stop The Violence
Violence
Violence is the use of physical force to apply a state to others contrary to their wishes. violence, while often a stand-alone issue, is often the culmination of other kinds of conflict, e.g...
, talks about a fictional story of a young boy, Liam, who could be genetically
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
predisposed to violence and the ethics behind the idea of genetic bad behaviour.
If... Drugs Were Legal
January 12, 2005If... Drugs Were Legal, talks about a fictional story of the death of two girls (Tanya Williams & Josie Mills) who were taking legal drugs
Narcotic
The term narcotic originally referred medically to any psychoactive compound with any sleep-inducing properties. In the United States of America it has since become associated with opioids, commonly morphine and heroin and their derivatives, such as hydrocodone. The term is, today, imprecisely...
in a legal nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
. The story follows the search for the killers of the two girls. It turns out that the girls were given an unlicensed blend of drugs by an illegal dealer. The drugs were originally made by an anti-drugs campaigner, in an attempt to have drugs recriminilised.
The world is based on the idea that all drugs such as cannabis
Cannabis
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that includes three putative species, Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. These three taxa are indigenous to Central Asia, and South Asia. Cannabis has long been used for fibre , for seed and seed oils, for medicinal purposes, and as a...
, LSD
LSD
Lysergic acid diethylamide, abbreviated LSD or LSD-25, also known as lysergide and colloquially as acid, is a semisynthetic psychedelic drug of the ergoline family, well known for its psychological effects which can include altered thinking processes, closed and open eye visuals, synaesthesia, an...
& ecstasy are legal and heroin are available on the National Health Service
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
for addicts
Substance dependence
The section about substance dependence in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders does not use the word addiction at all. It explains:...
.
If... TV Goes Down the Tube
March 21, 2005If... TV Goes Down the Tube, talks about a fictional story of the suicide of a girl Lizzie Alton, on reality TV and how TV is growing as a political tool with worrying close relations between media companies and the government. The story is of the mother Mary Alton, of the suicided daughter, who later uncovers a sinister plot between the media company who had Lizzie as a contestant
Contestant
A contestant is someone who takes part in a competition, usually a professional competition or a game show on television. The participants competing against each other have to go through rounds...
and the government at the time.
Background on the show has been provided by the shows lead