The Stranger began life as a six-part radio series, broadcast on the BBC Home Service from December 1963.

[3] This was written by New Zealand-born author G.K. Saunders and starred David Spenser as "The Stranger", Adam Suisse.

The Australian TV version followed four months later, again scripted by Saunders, produced by Storry Walton and directed by Gil Brealey, with production design by Geoffrey Wedlock.

The series starred leading stage and radio actor Ron Haddrick as "The Stranger"; the children were played by Janice Dinnen and Bill Levis as Jean and Bernard (Bernie) Walsh and Michael Thomas as their friend Peter Cannon.

The series was made with cooperation from the CSIRO with pivotal scenes shot on location at the Parkes Observatory and the facility's radio telescope featured in the iconic opening title sequence.