M is for... Men In Black

Ever since the proliferation of UFO reports in the late 1940's, there have been associated claims of visitations by mysterious "Men in Black" (MiB). These individuals often approach the witnesses to UFO encounters and intimidate them into remaining silent about what they have seen. This can be through gentle persuasion, or outright threat.

They never disclose who they are or who they work for. Many assume they belong to a secretive branch of the military or government security services, but their sometimes odd behaviour has led some to believe that they are of extra-terrestrial origin themselves.

Sarah Jane Smith encountered a trio of MiB - led by an agent known as Mr Dread. They were guarding a dimensionally transcendental vault hidden within an abandoned hospital building in West London. The MiB were actually complex androids, servants of the Alliance of Shades, armed with built-in weaponry. They also had the power to wipe people's memories.

The Alliance used the vault to secure in stasis any alien artefacts which had found their way to Earth. This included a Veil spaceship, which contained the last remnants of the species.

The Veil Androvax, previously encountered by Sarah and her young friends, escaped captivity and sought out the vault when he learned that he was dying, so that his people might be freed to establish a new home.

Clyde Langer tricked two of the MiB into destroying each other. Sarah was then able to talk Mr Dread into freeing the Veil ship. He sacrificed his battery-life to open the vault and teleport the spaceship into orbit.

Played by: Angus Wright (Mr Dread). Appearances: SJA 4.2 The Vault of Secrets (2010).

• The Men in Black had earlier featured in the Tenth Doctor animation Dreamland, where Mr Dread was voiced by Peter McGuiness.
• Angus Wright has voiced Magnus Greel for Big Finish.
• The first recorded instance of witness intimidation by MiB was in 1947, when Harold Dahl claimed they turned up at his home one night and warned him not to discuss a UFO sighting he had in Washington State - known as the Maury Island Incident. John Keel (The Mothman Prophecies) thought them supernatural or demonic beings rather than government agents.