Author: Parker

Bonus Captain Scarlet 7″ vinyl with Electronic Sound magazine

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Accompanying issue 124 Of Electronic Sound magazine is a 7″ vinyl disc of Barry Gray Music

Captain Scarlet’s on the cover and inside the magazine there’s a deep dive into the music of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s sci-fi TV shows, much of it the work of cult British composer Barry Gray. Gerry and Sylvia produced some of the most exciting children’s television of the 1960s and 1970s, and Barry Gray’s music, which was initially orchestral but later increasingly electronic, was crucial to the success of them all. The former RAF pilot was responsible for the sonic magic of both the Andersons’ puppet shows and their live action dramas like UFO and Space:1999.

Accompanying the magazine is a cool white vinyl EP featuring six musical excerpts from three of the Andersons’ shows:

  • side A ‘Spectrum Of Sound’ is dedicated to Captain Scarlet and The Mysterons, starting with the footsteps and gunfire of the opening credits, before sliding into the eerie The Power Of The Mysterons and ending with the memorable main theme.
  • side B has the theme tunes of both Thunderbirds and UFO, plus a dramatic incidental segment from Thunderbirds called Heading For The Sun.

See more and order your magazine and/or disc here.

 

 

NFTS announce the Sylvia Anderson Scholarship

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The UK’s National Film and Television School announces a new scholarship supported by ITV Studios

The National Film and Television School (NFTS) is delighted to announce a new scholarship supported by ITV Studios in memory of the life and work of Sylvia Anderson, co-creator of Thunderbirds and a pioneering force in screen storytelling.

The Sylvia Anderson Scholarship will support students on the NFTS’ world-renowned two year Screenwriting MA, ensuring that the next generation of screenwriters continue to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation. Over the next decade, the scholarship will provide full funding for five students, with the first scholar beginning their training in January 2026.

The newly created scholarship coincides with the landmark 60th anniversary of Thunderbirds in 2025, the iconic series created by Sylvia and Gerry Anderson. Originally airing from 1965, Thunderbirds remains a beloved classic, celebrated for its ground-breaking storytelling and innovative puppetry. In addition to serving as co-creator and co-writer, Anderson was a costume designer and actress, providing the voices for several characters including the legendary Lady Penelope.

Jon Wardle, Director of the NFTS, said: “Sylvia Anderson was an extraordinary storyteller whose creative vision left an indelible mark on British film and television. We are incredibly grateful to ITV Studios for this generous scholarship, which will help nurture emerging screenwriting talent and ensure Sylvia’s legacy continues to inspire new generations of creatives.”

Carolyn McCall, Chief Executive of ITV, added: “Sylvia Anderson’s contribution to the industry is immeasurable. As we celebrate 60 iconic years of Thunderbirds, ITV Studios is proud to support aspiring screenwriters in her memory, helping them develop the skills needed to shape the future of storytelling.”

Sylvia’s daughter, Dee Anderson, said: “I am so proud of my mother Sylvia Anderson for her remarkable achievements as a writer and pioneer for women in film and television. She would be so happy to inspire and support the next generation of creative writers on this ground-breaking course at the NFTS with the help and backing of ITV.”

Applications are now open for the National Film and Television School’s prestigious Screenwriting MA, led by Brian Ward, with the deadline for submissions due to close on 1st May 2025.

Alumni of the Screenwriting MA include Krysty Wilson-Cairns (1917, The Good Nurse), Nathaniel Price (The Outlaws), Malorie Blackman (Noughts And Crosses), Laurie Nunn (Sex Education), Daniel Brierly (Trigger Point), Jess Williams (Grace), France Poletti (Without Sin) and Jessica Sinyard and Shyam Popat (The Jackal). Recent graduates of the MA have been nominated for and have won numerous prestigious awards, including BAFTAs, Royal Television Society Awards, Academy Awards, and Women in Film and Television New Talent Awards. Several alumni have also been named among Screen International’s Stars of Tomorrow.

To apply for the Screenwriting MA and the Sylvia Anderson Scholarship, go to: nfts.co.uk/screenwriting

Thunderbirds are go, go, go, go, go, go!

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Get your fill of Thunderbirds by the beach this summer!

For the fourth year running, Fanderson is the proud sponsor of the Anderson On Film presentations as part of the Southend Film Festival, enabling fans to enjoy Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s work together this summer!

In this digital world it’s easy to watch programmes on your phone, to stream, or even to watch from DVD or Blu-ray Disc. But this summer Anderson fans can share that collective experience of watching programmes (in their original aspect ratio, with original soundtrack) with fellow fans, thanks to the Southend Film Festival!

  • Wednesday 28th May from 19:00:
    • 1967 feature film Thunderbird 6
    • Thunderbirds Sunprobe as a supporting feature
  • Sunday 8th June from 17:00 – four TV versions of Thunderbirds:
    • the 1965 original Thunderbirds The Perils Of Penelope
    • ITC’s much under-rated 1982 adaptation of Scientific Rescue Team Technoboyger – Thunderbirds 2086 UFO
    • ITV and Pukeko Pictures’ 2015 remake Thunderbirds Are Go Falling Skies
    • the Kickstarter-financed Thunderbirds The Abominable Snowman

All programmes are being screened in their original aspect ratios and with the original soundtracks. Event organiser and Fanderson member Mark Joseph is bound to pop a few unexpected surprises into the programmes too!

The popular Southend Film Festival has been running for sixteen years in venues around Southend, Essex. The festival’s patrons are actors Ray Winstone, Vicki Michelle, Phil Davis and Tony Denham, and you can see all about it at www.southendfilmfestival.com.

Fanderson is delighted to be able to support fan-organised events such as this. If you need help or support with your Anderson event, please drop us a line at fanderson.org.uk@outlook.com.

Space:1999 50th anniversary celebration

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Join fans and guests to celebrate Space:1999‘s 50th anniversary in Los Angeles

Hot on the heels of their wildly successful London:1999 event in September, the team behind London:1999 have announced the 2025 event will be in Los Angeles, USA.

Los Angeles:1999 will run 12th to 14th September 2025 at The Hotel Burbank, right in the heart of Hollywood. Celebrity guests announced already include Barbara Bain, Nick Tate, Yasuko Nagazumi, Carla Romanelli, Gianni Garko and Carl Held, with many more to be added.

The schedule is still being formed, but this year’s banquet will be extra-special as it is being held on Barbara Bain’s birthday! The weekend will also feature an “exclusive global broadcast” of Breakaway – The Theatrical Cut to attendees of SpaceCon 7 in Italy. Optional day trips include Hollywood sightseeing on 11th and the Vasquez Rocks on 15th (location for many Star Trek episodes).

Click here to find out more and book your place!

 

 

Take part in a Thunderbirds virtual race

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Join the virtual Thunderbirds race!

Ace Races is offering a range of licensed virtual races in which you’ll get an exclusive Thunderbirds medal on completion, plus the opportunity to buy other official merchandise.

Take part in this special race by choosing either 5km, 10km, half marathon (21km) or marathon (42km) to earn your collectors medal and pin badge in the post. You can complete the distance any way you choose such as walking, running, cycling, rowing, swimming and so much more meaning the whole family can take part! After submitting your results, Ace Races will send your exclusive medal and pin badge to you.

Click here to sign up for a race and see the associated merchandise.

A black and white offer (plus bonus) for April

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Gen up on the early shows with April’s great offer on the club’s FAB magazine.

Thanks to our monthly offers, more members are discovering FAB magazine and telling us “It’s an amazing magazine” or “I never knew how much there is in each issue”.

Although a large number of members have been with Fanderson for years, and so may have received FAB as part of their membership package, there’s a significant number who have joined since. To encourage that latter group to take a punt on ordering some copies, we’ve got a series of monthly discounts focussed on a specific series. For April, we’re turning the clock right back to the early black-and-white shows.

Buy any five or more issues of FAB magazine that contain The Adventures Of Twizzle, Torchy The Battery Boy or Four Feather Falls content (conveniently, you can see them all by clicking on the relevant series tab in the Shop) in one transaction, apply the coupon code FAB-APR-MONOCHROME at checkout, and you’ll get a whopping 50% off those issues.

Plus, as an Easter bonus, issues with UFO, Stingray or Joe 90 content (featured in FAB Monthly offers already) are in the April offer too!

Get shopping now!

Upcoming memorabilia at auction

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Vectis’ upcoming auctions include Anderson memorabilia

Vectis, the specialist collectables auction house, has a couple of upcoming auctions that will be of interest to Fanderson members.

This is just a small selection of what’s on offer. Click on the auction date and name to see the full catalogue, and to register to bid.

 

 

 

Save big on soundtracks this spring

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Get a great deal on some of our exclusive members-only soundtracks!

To celebrate the arrival of spring, we’ve got some great offers on our soundtracks – just for Fanderson members:

  • Put either Supercar or Fireball XL5 in your basket and you’ll get the other title free, plus a free Fireball XL5 sticker
  • Put Stingray 3CD boxset in your basket and you’ll get it a special price (UK £36.50 £27.35, E £40 £30, RW £43 £32.25), plus a free WASP sticker
  • Buy Joe 90 4CD boxset in your basket and you’ll get it a special price (UK £30 £22.50, E £33.50 £25, RW £36.50 £27.35), plus a free WIN sticker

You don’t need to do anything special to get these offers (other than add anything else you want, checkout and pay!). The special prices are already in the Shop and we’ll put any free items in your package when we mail it to you.

These offers are until FAB Express 110 is published this summer, or whilst stocks last (whichever is sooner).

Spring has sprung… here comes FAB Express 109!

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Spring has sprung, and with it comes our spring mailing of FAB Express issue 109 – in the post today!

As well as all the Anderson news and your views, FAB Express 109 takes a FlashBack to Space:1999 Mission Of The Darians and a very special day at Pinewood Studios. The magazine’s been sent to all current club members, and new members will also get it in their welcome package along with issue 108 and FAB Annual 2025.

Whilst we’re at it, don’t forget that we’re running monthly offers on various issues of the old club magazine – FAB. Packed full of articles (much like those in FAB Annual nowadays), you can get a whopping 50% off by buying five or more issues in each offer. Click here for this month’s offer.