Beam me back Scotty.

Byline: By Joanna Peart 

It's exactly 35 years since the original Star Trek series hit British TV screens. Joanna Peart looks at how it went on to capture generations.

Those who had access to a television set prepared to boldly watch what no one had watched before when Star Trek arrived on-screen in the summer of 1969.

The series centred around the entire crew of the Constellation Class starship USS Enterprise, who spent their days flying across the galaxy leaving an infinite trail of dead ensigns from dangerous missions.

The action man of space, Captain James Tiberius Kirk, played by William Shatner, was a hit with the ladies, and always acted upon his emotions. He was joined on the starship by pointy-eared commander Spock (Leonard Nimoy), an emotionless half-Vulcan alien who always saw the logical point of view, unlike fellow crew member "Bones" McCoy ( the hot tempered doctor famous for phrases like "Dammit Jim, I'm a doctor not an engineer."

The Enterprise set forth on a five-year mission to seek out new life forms and new civilizations.

Evil forces were fought along the way, seen in the very first episode The Man Trap, which featured a monster that could metamorphose into human form, and use its attractive exterior to trick crew members.

Unfortunately women did not fare well aboard the starship in the early years ( communications officer Lt Uhura (Nichelle Nichols) was simply an intergalactic telephonist and other female characters were usually love interests for Captain Kirk.

Famous for showing TV's first inter-racial kiss, Star Trek also boasted special effects that were ingenious for the time ( apart from the cast's tendency to throw themselves backwards and forwards in different directions when the starship was underfire.

By throwing aluminium dust into a beam of light, the effect of dissolving and re-assembling atoms was achieved perfectly. But the first series ( despite being clever and engaging ( was nearly not made.

Originally a pilot called The Cage was shown, but dismissed by American network NBC as "too cerebral."

The second attempt proved more successful, and Star Trek hit America in 1966. The "space-age western" created by Gene Roddenberry aired its last episode in 1969 ( and made its way over to Britain in July the same year.

Broadcast on BBC1 from July until December 1969, Star Trek sparked numerous feature films, an animated show, and four spin-off series.

The creation of the animated series began in 1973, due to increased demand for Star Trek after its run ended in Britain in 1971.

Most of the cast returned to provide the voices for their character, plus a new crew member ( an alien called Lieutenant Arex, voiced by James Doohan.

The animated Star Trek ran for 22 episodes and in 1975 was awarded an Emmy award for Best Children's Series.

Now a multi-million dollar industry of its own, Star Trek appeals to a diverse audience ( both young and old.

Such is the impact of the series that a model of the Starship Enterprise has been displayed at the Smithsonian Institution of American History.

Regular Star Trek conventions are held all over the world, for fans of the series or "Trekkies" to meet other fans and discuss the Star Trek concept, while buying, trading or selling memorabilia.

In 1969, Star Trek was just another show. But today people worship it, aspire to the values of the starship crew, and will remain firm fans long after the last episode is made.

Repeats of the original series, and the spin-offs that followed, continue to delight fans and it is thought that not a day goes by without something Star Trek being shown or sold somewhere around the world.