In 1977, a voice claiming to be an alien took over British TV for four minutes

At 5:10 p.m. on Saturday 26 November 1977, viewers in parts of southern England watching an ITN news summary heard the audio mutate into a deep buzz. A distorted voice took over, introducing itself as Vrillon, a representative of the Ashtar Galactic Command, and telling humanity that it had a short time left to put down its weapons and learn to live in peace. Southern Television did not know it had happened until viewers began calling in. Hundreds phoned the station. Over than 50 people in Winchester dialed 999 (The UK equivalent of 911).

A Southern Television spokesman said: "A hoaxer jammed our transmitter in the wilds of North Hampshire by taking another transmitter very close to it." The maximum fine would have been £200.

Vrillon remains at large. 

Previously:

• Someone claiming to be an alien hijacked this 1977 live TV broadcast

• Vrillon Transmission: 1977 pirate TV message from space alien

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