 On 12 December 1954, a live adaptation of George Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty-Four", produced by the "Quatermass" team of writer Nigel Kneale and director Rudolph Cartier, achieved the highest television ratings since the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on 2 June 1953.It was so controversial that it was debated in Parliament, and campaigners tried to have the second performance the following Thursday banned.The BBC's Head of Drama Michael Barry refused to concede.