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Two schoolboys are mystified by strange noises coming
from inside a hill on the moors near where they live. When they decide to
investigate, the hillside opens and out marches an 18th-century drummer
boy. This was the starting point for a five-part mystery with strong
fantasy overtones which graced BBC Children's Television on Wednesdays, in
early 1994. The plot concerned Arthur of the Britons, annoyingly referred
to as 'King Arthur' throughout the serial, who was, according to legend,
resting with his men beneath the moor, to rise again when the country
needed him. Unfortunately, during his exploration of the caverns, the drummer boy, John Cherry, had taken and used an everlasting candle which
was the central key to the timing of Arthur's return. The candle was
supposed to burn all the way down, so releasing its guests from their
'sleep'. Its early removal had started a chain of events that would see
many strange occurrences in the local countryside.
A modest but well-made children's drama from the BBC with
excellent filming and effects, and a pretty credible performance from its
two teenage leads, Earthfasts had all the elements of becoming a
routine affair but for the air of mystery which hung over it, which
eventually saved it from the mundane. By the end of its five-week run it
left most viewers with the impression of time well spent.
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