Author: Parker

Thunderbirds coins from The Westminster Collection

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Thunderbirds 50p coins launched

The Westminster Collection, a leading UK distributor of collectable stamps and coins, has launched a series of Thunderbirds 50p coins. Illustrated by acclaimed comic book artist Lee Sullivan, these brand-new coins have been officially approved by Buckingham Palace to mark the 60th anniversary of Thunderbirds — making them the world’s first 50p coins to feature the legendary vehicles of International Rescue.

The range starts with uncirculated 5-coin set for £37.50, to a painted set of the coins for £75, or a painted Thunderbird 2 in presentation box for £75 too. Or, if you have £375 to spare, you can choose to have your painted set of coins in a presentation box!

Space and Earth-based adventures in July’s FAB offer

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Space and Earth-based adventures in July’s great offer on the club’s FAB magazine.

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 June, we’ve got a wide spectrum of articles featuring Doppelgänger, The Protectors and Terrahawks.

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”. Since we started these monthly offers in January, quite a few issues have sold through. Get your order in now as stock on many issues is quite low – don’t miss out!

Buy any five or more issues of FAB magazine that contain Doppelgänger, The Protectors or Terrahawks content (conveniently, you can see them all by clicking here, here and here) in one transaction, apply the coupon code FAB-JULY-MIX at checkout, and you’ll get a whopping 50% off those issues.

Updated: SIG – Scalextric is green!

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UPDATE 1/7/25 – Pre-order your SPV and SPC now!

Will Spectrum agents beat Parker around your race track?

The popularity of last year’s FAB 1 model has encouraged Scalextric to expand their range with two new slot-racing cars from Captain Scarlet And The Mysterons – the SPV and SPC.

Expected this autumn (but available to pre-order now) the Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle (SPV) and Spectrum Patrol Car (SPC) will be exciting additions to anyone’s Scalextric slot-car hobby. We’ve yet to even see pre-production versions but, if their work on FAB 1 is anything to go by, there will loads of happy Scarlet fans later this year. Let’s hope that at least some of the cars will come out of their boxes and take a spin around a track occasionally!

FAB Book Of Free Gifts… with a free gift!

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Lucky for some – our 13th FAB Book Of… comes with its own free gift – a reproduction Captain Scarlet file from TV21!

The FAB Book Of… series has been incredibly popular since the book of Dinky toys started it way back in 2010.

Now, we’re delighted that the 13th book is being added to the series – the FAB Book Of… Free Gifts And Promotions. This new 60-page book takes a look at all the wonderful gifts that were given away in comics such as TV21, Lady Penelope and Countdown. For many of us, this will be our only chance to see some of these items – as giveaways, many weren’t designed to last for long, or were simply thrown away after a short while. This book features not just the gifts themselves but also the comics they were offered in, as well as advertising in other publications.

Our new book comes with a free gift of its own – a reproduction of the Captain Scarlet file originally given away with TV21 issue 155.

Click here to order your copy now!

Don’t forget, although Sweet Cigarette Cards Volume 2 has sold out, we still have 11 other titles in the series available. Buy any three or more in the same transaction (excluding FAB Book Of Free Gift And Promotions) and you’ll get 20% off! And we still have stock of FAB Books binders to keep your books safely in.

Free weekend celebrating The Art Of Thunderbirds

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Free weekend celebrating the art and design of Thunderbirds

As a follow-up to last year’s very successful Thunderbirds Memories Weekend, Slough Museum is staging another free weekend for fans of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s landmark series, filmed just up the road on the Slough Trading Estate. The Art Of Thunderbirds will feature artwork, models and puppets showcasing the groundbreaking visual design created for the series.

The Art Of Thunderbirds will be open 10:00-16:00 at Slough Museum, 72 Buckingham Avenue, Slough, SL1 4PN on 7th and 8th June 2025. For more information please contact info@sloughmuseum.co.uk

[UPDATED] Growing up with Thunderbirds

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Dee Anderson is embarking on a tour of the UK, sharing her memories of ‘growing up with Thunderbirds‘

As the daughter of Sylvia and Gerry Anderson, Dee Anderson, lived and breathed the magic of Thunderbirds and all the other Supermarionation programmes as a child. In this show, Dee presents a heartfelt tribute to the boundless imagination and thrilling adventures that defined a generation.

Gerry and Sylvia’s extraordinary legacy comes to life on stage like never before, inviting you into the world of a child who grew up with Thunderbirds. In her words “It was simply FAB!”

Dates/venues being added as confirmed and tickets become available:

London, 12th May Phoenix Arts Club
Great Yarmouth, 25th July St George’s Theatre
New Milton, Hampshire, 30th August Forest Arts Centre
London, 30th November The Cinema Museum
Aldershot, TBA West End Centre

Cromford Mills Comic Con 2025

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Fanderson is delighted to, once again, be able to meet fans of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s work at this year’s event at Cromford Mills on Sunday 10th August.

The event promises an intergalactic display of models, props, puppets and costumes from classic sci-fi productions of Gerry Anderson, Doctor Who, Harry Potter, Blake’s 7, Star Trek, Stranger Things, Star Wars… and beyond! Fans of all ages are encouraged to dress up for our cosplay competition and explore the site showing off their creations. Don’t miss the chance to browse amazing stalls selling everything from comics and toys to replica props and clothing. There will also be photo opportunities, gaming, activities, Lego® displays, and much much more. It’s sure to be out of this world and a great day for the entire family!

Special guest including Brian Blessed (Space:1999‘s Dr Cabot Rowland and Mentor) and Hattie Hayridge (Red Dwarf).

Click here for more information and ticket booking info, as they become available.

Come along to the Fanderson table and say “hello”!

Below photos are from previous events at Cromford Mills.

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 announces 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