

Codename Icarus
Codename Icarus is a five-part British television serial produced by the BBC. Combinijg elements of teen drama and Cold War era conspiracy thriller, young prodigy Martin Smith is recruited by the mysterious Icarus Foundation, a shadowy organisation that exploits gifted children to develop advanced weapons, including a 'quark bomb'. The serial was broadcast twice-weekly, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 8-9 December, 15-16 December, and 22 December. It is well remembered for being intelligent and hard-hitting, respectful of its young audience, and tackling complex themes, primarily the militarisation of science.
Cast
Barry Angel
Martin Smith
Jack Galloway
Andy Rutherford

Philip Locke
John Doll

Peter Cellier
Sir Hugh Francis

Debbie Farrington
Sue Kleiner

John Malcolm
Edward Froelich
Geoffrey Collins
Peter Farley

Gorden Kaye
Frank Broadhurst
Steven Mann
Barry Smith
Seasons
Young prodigy Martin Smith is recruited by the mysterious Icarus Foundation, a shadowy organisation that exploits gifted children to develop advanced weapons, including a 'quark bomb'.

E1Part 1
Dec 8, 1981
Royal Navy missile tests are failing mysteriously. Martin Smith, a maths prodigy at a school unable to recognise his talents, is noticed by the Icarus Foundation via his secretive use of the school computer to research pure mathematics.

E2Part 2
Dec 9, 1981
Martin tries to settle in at Falcon Lee with its bizarre teaching methods, tutors, pupils and games. Meanwhile, British intelligence realise that child prodigies may be doing the research that no one else is doing.

E3Part 3
Dec 15, 1981
Falcon Lee turns up the pressure on Martin and British intelligence is warned off investigating them. Martin and Sue begin to understand that the challenges set for them by John Doll are pieces of a bigger puzzle they can't see.

E4Part 4
Dec 16, 1981
British intelligence infiltrates Falcon Lee and Martin tries to leave but his mental conditioning stops him. Martin's family become concerned about his lack of communication and his brother tries to contact him.

E5Part 5
Dec 22, 1981
British intelligence springs Martin and Sue from Falcon Lee. It becomes apparent that Falcon Lee has friends in high places with school across the globe. The head of Icarus makes one last attempt to tempt Martin back.
Videos
Storyline
Codename Icarus is a five-part British television serial produced by the BBC. Combinijg elements of teen drama and Cold War era conspiracy thriller, young prodigy Martin Smith is recruited by the mysterious Icarus Foundation, a shadowy organisation that exploits gifted children to develop advanced weapons, including a 'quark bomb'. The serial was broadcast twice-weekly, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 8-9 December, 15-16 December, and 22 December. It is well remembered for being intelligent and hard-hitting, respectful of its young audience, and tackling complex themes, primarily the militarisation of science.
Recommended

The Pretender
1996

The Mysterious Benedict Society
2021

The New Avengers
1976

S.W.A.T.
1975

The Thundermans: Undercover
2025

Reilly: Ace of Spies
1983

MacGyver
2016

M.I. High
2007

The Bionic Woman
1976

Free Rein
2017

Scarecrow and Mrs. King
1983

Nowhere Boys
2013
More Like This

School Friends
2023

Polyethylene Terephthalate
2023

The Stolen Girl
2025

Senpai, This Can't Be Love!
2022
High Value Target

3 Will Be Free
2019

Crime Diaries: Night Out
2019

Washington: Behind Closed Doors
1977

Nicholas Nickleby
1977

Ultraviolet
1998

G.B.H.
1991

Sinchronicity
2006