Umbrella Entertainment is proud to announce the DVD release of Number 96: The Beginning And The Bomb – 40th Anniversary Collection.

In 1972, NUMBER 96 exploded onto screens with a sex bomb called Abigail and then became front page news in 1975 when a bomb blast killed several characters. It was one of the most ground-breaking series in the history of television and, to celebrate its 40th anniversary, see the provocative early episodes that shattered every taboo of the era including nudity, homosexuality and inter-racial romance. Now, 40 years after “the night Australian TV lost its virginity”, see one of those ground-breaking black and white episodes in its entirety along with the colour episode that revealed who the mad bomber was.

The DVD is available from leading suppliers nationally on 10th March 2012 or online at www.umbrellaent.com.au

Selected episodes will be screened at the Australian Film Festival (Star Cinema) at 7pm on the 13th March – and will be followed by a Q&A with creator David Sale and surprise cast members!

The original residents included the virginal Bev (Abigail), gay student Don (Joe Hasham), bisexual boyfriend Bruce (Paul Weingott) and his married lover Maggie Cameron (Bettina Welch). There was Vera (Elaine Lee) being raped by Harry (Norman Yemm) and pregnant Helen (Brioney Behets) discovering her husband in bed with Rose Godolfus (Vivienne Garrett). Hippies were stripping in the laundrette, bikies were running amok and Dorrie Evans (Pat McDonald) was forever snooping around in search of gossip.

For three years, NUMBER 96 was the top rating show in Australia, but with the advent of colour TV, something big was needed. Now you can re-live its gritty beginnings and the jaw-dropping bomb explosion that stopped the nation.