30 October

On 30 October, 1938, Orson Welles and the Mercury Theatre performed an adaptation of H. G. Wells' The War of the Worlds on CBS Radio. The broadcast caused nationwide panic across the United States of America. Although calm soon settled as America realised it was only a play, unknown to the public some elements of the production were based on actual events. (AUDIO: Invaders from Mars)

Behind the scenes

 * 1912 - Actor Preston Lockwood was born.
 * 1914 - Actress Anna Wing was born.
 * 1954 - Actor Chris MacDonnell was born.
 * 1965 - "Death of a Spy" was first broadcast on BBC1.
 * 1965 - Part four of COMIC: Enter: The Go-Ray was released.
 * 1978 - Writer Brian Hayles died.
 * 1979 - Actor Graham Ashley died.
 * 1997 - Doctor Who creator Sydney Newman died.
 * 1999 - Actor Cavan Kendall died.