Fans of Captain Scarlet and World War Two romance fiction will be interested to know that actress Liz Morgan has published her first novel! Set in Vichy France at the start of the armistice with Germany, ‘For Catherine’ tells the story of two ill-matched lovers: French resistance fighter and a German officer.
Known to fans as the voice behind Destiny and Rhapsody Angel in Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, Liz also has a background in teaching English and Drama, and has written two other books about France.
TV and radio presenter Chris Evans has launched a year-long fundraising campaign that aims to raise one million pounds for Breast Cancer Care with the help of FAB 1!
Lady Penelope’s famous car (a bespoke pink Rolls-Royce Ghost) will be driven by Evans and other celebrities in a point-to-point journey from Land’s End to John O’Groats. Evans will share the driving duties with Gary Barlow, Professor Brian Cox and James May, with pitstops in Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow en-route.
The FAB1 Million project aims to raise funds by making FAB1 available for hire on a daily basis to fans, with all proceeds going to Breast Cancer Care. Standard charges are £5,000 inc VAT for a standard day and £7,500 inc VAT for a premium day, supplied with a full tank of fuel and professional chauffeur. FAB1 is ready to hit the road anywhere its passengers desire to go in the UK!
Additional premium packages will also be auctioned via the website, www.FAB1million.co.uk. in which the purchaser will secure tickets to an exclusive event as well as their FAB1 chauffeur-driven experience. These incredible packages include high -profile entertainment and sporting events such as Glorious Goodwood, The Silverstone Grand Prix, The Festival Of Speed, Britain’s Got Talent The Final, The Brit Awards and Royal Ascot.
The Rolls Royce to be used for the campaign has been meticulously prepared, explained Jolyon Nash, Director of Sales and Marketing, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.
“The interior hosts hand-embroidered pink ribbons on each headrest, a rear-seat fridge and accents of Blushing Pink leather as well as sumptuous lambswool carpets and FAB1 treadplates. Door umbrellas feature pink handles and trim, while the exterior is beautifully offset by a silver satin bonnet and finished with an up-lit Spirit of Ecstasy to brighten each and every special occasion.”
FAB1 can be booked by calling the FAB1 Million booking line on 020 7960 3482, or you can find out more information by visiting www.FAB1million.co.uk
Additional fundraising activities will allow supporters to enter a competition and have a chance of winning FAB1 for a day by donating £5 to Breast Cancer Care. All you need to do is text FAB to 83222. Text entry to the draw costs 50p, plus the standard network rate. For full prize draw terms & conditions visit the website.
After the 833.3 mile drive across the UK, FAB1 will return to London where it will become the centrepiece of a window display in Harrods for one week, where FAB1 Million representatives will be on hand to answer any questions and take booking enquiries for the car.
Also in the Harrods FAB1 window display will be a very special contribution from Jamie Anderson – the son of the legendary Gerry Anderson. To sit alongside a replica Parker puppet owned by Gerry Anderson, Jamie is unveiling a Chris Evans-inspired Parker puppet (sculpted and built by Duncan Willis) created specially to celebrate the campaign.
Chris Evans said: “You can hire the most famous Rolls-Royce in the world as the icing on the cake to whatever special event you are attending or celebrating knowing that you are donating to a very worthy cause in the process. It’s a win win situation. So, if you can, do. FAB1 awaits your mission wherever you are and whatever you’re up to. 5-4-3-2-1! FAB1 Million is go!!!”
The front cover of FAB 74 says it all. The latest issue of Fanderson’s club magazine is dedicated to celebrating the many worlds of Gerry Anderson. Our 30-page tribute to one of Britain’s most prolific and innovative film and television producers is something you definitely don’t want to miss.
Decade by decade, series by series, we examine the many highs and lows of Gerry’s life, with memories from some of the key people from his career.
Most UK-based Fanderson members should have received their copy by around April 10th, but if you’re not yet a member then there’s never been a better time to join.
Silva Screen has announced the release of a special edition 7″ EP of Barry Gray music based on the design of the original TV21 mini albums.
The release marks Record Store Day 2013, which takes place on 20th April this year, and includes tracks from Fireball XL5, Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and Joe 90, as well as “Dangerous Game”, the signature tune played by the Cass Carnaby Five in the famous Thunderbirds episode, The Cham-Cham. Limited to 1,500 copies and containing a special poster, this is an amazing collectible not to be missed by any Gerry Anderson fan !
The disc will only be available from record shops on the 20th of April. However, a small number will be held back for sale on the Silva Screen website two weeks later on Friday 3rd May at 10am.
In news that will be hugely exciting to all fans, the new official Gerry Anderson website has been launched to promote the revival of the producer’s unfinished projects.
Jamie said: “As evidenced by the sheer volume of entertainment that Dad managed to put out over his lengthy career – he was a pretty prolific creative. Over the last 20 years he put together a number of fantastic projects, with several of those being developed since 2005. Sadly he wasn’t well enough to see them through, but it’s important to me that we get them out there. They’ve all got the Anderson magic. There are four of those projects that we’re working on and developing right now.”
“None are what I would call reimaginings. There’s one book and TV project that he was working on for 2 years that, for me, takes all the best elements of an Anderson show and elegantly puts them into a brand new setting. I’m really excited about that one. The others are new but all true to the Anderson spirit.”
A new 90-minute documentary about the making of Space Precinct premiered at the Prince Charles Cinema in central London on Wednesday 13th March. The screening of Space Precinct Legacy was followed by a question and answer session hosted by the director Paul Cotrulia and series composer Crispin Merrell, who also scored an original soundtrack for the documentary. Featuring in-depth interviews with key members of the production team, Space Precinct Legacy provided a fascinating and at times controversial insight into the political, financial and creative tensions at play behind the scenes of the series.
“I think some people were shocked about how brutally honest the documentary is” said Cotrulia. “It doesn’t pretend that Space Precinct was Gerry Anderson’s best series and we reveal some shocking secrets about the making of it. I think when people see the documentary they’ll be more forgiving of some of the series flaws.”
Nevertheless, after watching the documentary it is easy to see why Cotrulia describes himself as a “hardcore Space Precinct fan”.
“It was an incredible honour to meet with and interview some of the makers of Gerry Anderson’s unique, yet under-appreciated series. I think his vision or concept for the series was brilliant even if it didn’t reach its full potential on screen.”
“I can’t tell you how exciting it was to sit in a cinema with some of those very filmmakers and Jamie Anderson and watch the documentary.”
According to Cotrulia, a decision is going to be made very shortly about the future of Space Precinct. “There is a very strong possibility of a Space Precinct reboot movie and Jamie Anderson could be involved,” he explained. “However that can only happen if the documentary is successful.”
Wow – this all sounds pretty exciting! So if you want to know the real, warts-and-all story of the making of one of Gerry Anderson’s most ambitious series and keep alive the possibility of a remake, you know what to do!
Fans of Gerry Anderson attended a Q&A session about the producer’s life and work at the National Space Centre in Leicester on Saturday 10th March.
Hosted by Gerry’s son Jamie, the panel included Terrahawks puppeteer Judy Preece, New Captain Scarlet director Mark Woollard, writer Phil Ford and visual and special effects artist Richard Gregory.
The talk proved to be both highly entertaining and insightful, with the best question – concerning Gerry Anderson’s ‘darker side’ – meriting a prize of a signed first day cover of the Genius of Gerry Anderson stamps, signed by the man himself.
The talk ended with Jamie revealing an exciting teaser trailer for a new Gerry Anderson ‘legacy’ production. Watch this space for more details in the coming weeks!
The talk formed part of BritSciFi, a now annual event at the National Space Centre in Leicester. This year’s event was held in honour of Gerry, and fundraising activities were devoted to his chosen charity, the Alzheimer’s Society.
Other highlights of the weekend for fans included talks with Prentis Hancock and Pam Rose about their time on Space:1999, plus Anderson Alley, a separate section of the event devoted to a wide range of props and models. Fanderson also had a table and we had a great time meeting some old faces as well as some new members!
With just a couple of days to go before the premiere of the Space Precinct Legacy documentary, we thought we’d share this fascinating trailer to whet your appetite!
The premiere takes place at the Prince Charles Cinema in London on March 13th and will be followed by a Q&A session involving composer Crispin Merrell and other members of the cast and crew.
Tickets for the premiere can be booked online here.
The 90-minute documentary includes interviews and never-before-seen behind the scenes material and goes on sale on Blu-Ray DVD from April 1st.
Issue 15 of the high-respected Andersonic fanzine is now available for Gerry Anderson fans to buy online. The latest issue includes:
Tony Harding interview – Century 21’s Effects Assistant on Captain Scarlet, Joe 90, Secret Service and UFO
Tony Roper Interview – Sound Editor from Captain Scarlet up to UFO
Stingray/ Treasure Down Below – a look at the original script of this early colour episode written by Dennis Spooner
Gerry Anderson Tributes – following the passing of Gerry Anderson, writers recall what Gerry’s work has meant to them
RAF Cosford Event review – a look back at the ‘Flights of Fantasy’ exhibition last November
UFO/The Responsibility Seat – a review of an underrated UFO episode
Paperback Writers – a look at the current range of Thunderbirds novels, including interviews with writers Joan Marie Verba & Anthony Taylor, plus illustrator Steve Kyte
Strip Story – a look at an individual comic strip story to see what makes it tick. This issue: Countdown’s ‘Return of the Rock Snakes’
Order your copy today from www.andersonic.co.uk – price £2.45 including UK postage!
Issue 15 of the high-respected Andersonic fanzine is now available for Gerry Anderson fans to buy online. The latest issue includes: