[UK] All Fireball XL5 episodes and Century 21 Slough now on ITVX

Although most episodes of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s productions have been available for some time on ITVX, free of charge, inexplicably only two episodes of 1962’s Fireball XL5 have been included. Now that’s been remedied, with all 39 episodes available from today on the streaming service.

Also added to ITVX today is the Century 21 Slough documentary:

On the eve of demolition, the former film studios where Stingray, Captain Scarlet And The Mysterons and Thunderbirds were launched are brought to life one last time. Join original AP Films team members as they say goodbye to the buildings, sharing memories as they tour recreated sets, models, and puppets alongside studio originals.

ITVX is free to view, with most of the Anderson content available ad-free too. There’s a free seven-day trial of the subscription Premium service (normally £5.99 a month/£59.99 a year) which offers even more content, ad-free, from the BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Studio Canal.

Talking Pictures TV’s Noel Cronin awarded BEM

Film producer, editor and founder of Talking Pictures TV, Noel Cronin has been awarded the British Empire Medal in the 2024 New Year Honours, for services to Television Broadcasting.

Talking Pictures TV is a free vintage film and TV channel, and is currently the UK broadcast home of Fireball XL5 and Thunderbirds. It’s available on Freeview/Youview 82, Freesat 306, Sky channel 328 and Virgin 445.

See more on this story at the Watford Observer.

Image: Talking Pictures TV

[UK] The Noble Art of Fireball XL5 on TPTV

Talking Pictures have added The Noble Art of Fireball XL5 to their free Encore streaming service.

In this fascinating 17-minute documentary by Fanderson member Jeff Smart, legendary TV Century 21 and Look-in artist Mike Noble talks about his work on Fireball XL5, Captain Scarlet, Zero X and Space:1999 comic strips, among others.

The programme will also be broadcast on Talking Pictures at 14:40 on Saturday 20th January 2024. Talking Pictures TV is a free vintage film and TV channel available in the UK on Freeview/Youview 82, Freesat 306, Sky channel 328 and Virgin 445.

Don’t forget Jeff’s Talking Thunderbirds series on Encore too! Encore is a free service – watch via the red button on internet-connected Freeview TVs,  or register to gain access to a wealth of classic television and films.

Vote for Talking Pictures TV! (closes 14th November)

Vote now for Talking Pictures TV in the TV Choice Awards!

Talking Pictures TV, the vintage-film and nostalgia television channel founded by producer/editor Noel Cronin, recently made history for the premiere UK networked broadcast of Fireball XL5 as well as bringing back Thunderbirds for the first network broadcast in over two decades! It’s also home of the Talking Thunderbirds series of short interviews with people who worked on Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s 1964 masterpiece.

Talking Pictures TV has been shortlisted for the Favourite Channel/Streaming Service award, where it’s up against BBC iPlayer, Channel 5 and Netflix!

Vote now to show your support for “the smallest show on Earth” – Talking Pictures TV!

Voting closes on 14th November.

UPDATED: Let’s make it an Annual Affair!

UPDATED 23/11/23: Offer extended to end of December


As we prepare our winter mailing to all club members, we can now make remaining stocks of FAB Annual 2023 available to buy, just in time for Christmas.

And to really make it a Christmas to remember, until the end of November December we’ve got two great offers for you:

See all six items here. Just be sure to apply the relevant coupon code at checkout before you pay.


OFFER TERMS AND CONDITIONS (in addition to our standing Ts&Cs)

  • Discount will be applied to items as detailed above in the same transaction.
  • Apply either coupon code AnnualAffair3 or AnnualAffair6 before you pay to get the relevant discount detailed above.
  • Members must apply the coupon code themselves to get the discount. It cannot be applied after you have paid, and we cannot apply it retroactively.
  • This is an online-only offer. It cannot be redeemed via the post.
  • This offer ends on 30th November 2023, though Fanderson reserves the right to close the offer early.

UPDATED: [UK] Fireball XL5 on Talking Pictures TV

UPDATED 31/10/23: Fireball XL5 returns to Talking Pictures TV from 2nd December at 15:00 with The Triads.

UPDATED 18/7/23: Watch again at Tuesday teatime, from 25th July!


Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s 1962 series Fireball XL5 is to be broadcast in the UK on Talking Pictures TV!

This will be the series’ first UK broadcast since 1987, when it had enjoyed a piecemeal run over two years on what was then the wonderful network of local ITV stations. Talking Pictures TV will start their run with Planet 46 on Saturday 3rd June at 14:35. See their schedule for that week here.

Talking Pictures TV is available in the UK on Freeview/Youview 82, Freesat 306, Sky channel 328 and Virgin 445, with a streaming service at www.tptvencore.co.uk

 

UPDATED: Space:1999 items up for auction – 13/14th October

UPDATED 15/10/23: We’ve updated the listing to include hammer prices (in US$).


Heritage Auctions (“The World’s Largest Collectibles Auctioneer”) will be auctioning over 550 items from the film and television science fiction in The Greg Jein Collection on 13-14th October 2023.

The landmark Greg Jein Auction features the collection of the Oscar- and Emmy-nominated miniature-maker who helped create the mothership from Close Encounters Of The Third Kind and worked on most of the Star Trek movies and TV series since 1977. Jein spent decades putting together this unparalleled assemblage, which includes one of the largest collections of Star Trek props, costumes, models and production photos ever offered to the public, from the original series to nearly every big- and small-screen sequel and spinoff that followed. They’re joined by some of the most significant pieces from sci-fi and cinema history, including his mothership maquette. It spans Jein’s beloved 1940s and ’50s serials, including Spy Smasher and Commando Cody: Sky Marshal Of The Universe, to such 1960s TV shows as Batman and Lost In Space to 2001: A Space Odyssey and Star Wars.

Lots likely to be of interest to Fanderson members:

  • 89041: photos from Supercar through to Joe 90 ($9,375)
  • 89429: Altares spaceship from The Day After Tomorrow ($15,000)
  • 89430: Gwent spaceship from The Infernal Machine ($13,750)
  • 89431: John Koenig spacesuit ($13,750)
  • 89432: Dr Helena Russell spacesuit ($13,750)
  • 89433: Moonbase Alpha rocket pack ($5,750)
  • 89434: Moonbase Alpha medical kits ($8,125)
  • 89435: three Moonbase Alpha uniforms ($18,750)
  • 89436: three Moonbase Alpha uniforms ($32,500)
  • 89437: two Moonbase Alpha uniforms plus Dr Helena Russell tunic ($16,250)

 

 

Will you win the FAB Challenge?

Something we’ve been asked for many times over the years is now, thanks to club members Matthew Teevan and Mark Whyte, finally available – the exclusive FAB Challenge card game from Fanderson!

Easy to play, but fiendish to master, FAB Challenge presents 40 of the greatest vehicles from Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s productions in a card game. Accompanying the brand-new vehicle artwork on each card is the FAB Spec & Tech, from which you must choose one item to beat your opponents and seize the hand!

LIMITED TIME INTRODUCTORY OFFER: We know that some members will want to play FAB Challenge with their friends and family, whilst keeping a set pristine (possibly unopened!). So, put two in your basket together and apply the coupon code FABChallenge before you pay and you’ll save £4! This offer will expire on 1st October 2023.

IMPORTANT: Members must apply the coupon code to get the discount. It cannot be applied after you have paid, and we cannot apply it retroactively.


 

[AUS] Supermarionation DVD boxset from ViaVision

Australia’s cult and classic film and television label Via Vision is releasing Supermarionation – The Gerry And Sylvia Anderson Collection on 5th July.

This brings together Via Vision’s previous DVD sets of Fireball XL5, Stingray, Captain Scarlet And The Mysterons and Joe 90 into a 21-disc super-set, currently available to pre-order at AU$99.95.

Though Via Vision’s Fireball XL5 is now out of stock, separate releases for the other three series remain available.

35% off Network Blu-ray Discs

Network are offering 35% off a selection of their high definition titles on Blu-ray Disc in their latest HD35 promotion.

The selection includes loads of classic British TV and film, and for Anderson fans the titles of most interest are likely to be Fireball XL5 A Day In The Life Of A Space General (colourised), Joe 90, UFOUltimate Space:1999Terrahawks, and New Captain Scarlet,

The promotion ends at 16:00 on Tuesday 18th April, so go shopping now by clicking this link to see all titles in Network’s HD35 promotion.