1.8 /10 1 Votes
Number of episodes 1 | 18% Rotten Tomatoes Created by Andrea Cornwell Initial release 8 October 2009 Produced by Andrea Cornwell | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Starring Alexander ArmstrongMartin Freeman Similar Margery and Gladys, I Just Want to Kiss You, Round About Five, The All Together, Call Register | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Micro men formerly syntax era trailer
Micro Men, working title Syntax Era is a one-off BBC drama television show set in the late 1970s and the early-mid 1980s, about the rise of the British home computer market. It focuses on the rivalry between Sir Clive Sinclair (played by Alexander Armstrong), who developed the ZX Spectrum, and Chris Curry (played by Martin Freeman), the man behind the BBC Micro.
Contents
Plot
The drama is centred on two of the leading players and their respective companies in the home computer market of the late 1970s and early 80s focusing on the race to become the provider of a home computer for the BBC's programming for schools. Certain parts of the drama are based on historical fact whilst others are dramatisation and a version of events at the time.
Production and release
The programme was created by independent production company Darlow Smithson and was written by Tony Saint, directed by Saul Metzstein and produced by Andrea Cornwell. It was produced as a BBC Drama, shot in the UK, with some scenes shot in and around the colleges of Cambridge on 15 July 2009. Computers were supplied by The Centre for Computing History, then in Haverhill. They also supplied other technical props, including the Sinclair C5, and Jason Fitzpatrick, director of the museum, played the part of David Johnson-Davies.
The programme's working title was Syntax Era.
The programme's opening title theme is "Pulstar" from the 1976 album Albedo 0.39 by Vangelis.
It was first shown on the UK channel BBC Four on 8 October 2009.
Cameo appearances
Sophie Wilson, part of the Acorn development team (as Roger Wilson), played the part of the pub landlady calling time (around 1h 21m).
Chris Serle and Ian McNaught-Davis also make cameo appearances through use of stock footage from The Computer Programme which was woven into certain scenes.
Jim Westwood can be seen reading a magazine behind Martin Freeman in WH Smith.
Reaction
When asked about the show in an interview for The Independent Clive Sinclair replied "It was a travesty of the truth. It just had no bearing on the truth. It was terrible."
