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.

Presented In Supercolorisation

Network has announced a new two-disc Blu-ray Disc set of colourised Gerry and Sylvia Anderson productions, coming on 12th December 2022.

The first disc of the Presented In Supercolorisation set includes Four Feather Falls First Train Through, Supercar Pirate Plunder and Supercar “Take One”, Fireball XL5 The Sun Temple, The Granatoid Tanks and A Day In The Life Of A Space General in colourised high-definition!

Most of these episodes are available again on disc two, along with other programmes, as part of two compilation features previously seen on watch.networkonair.com:

  • You’ve Never Seen These! – Professor Matthew Matic and Dr Horatio Beaker co-host 2021’s online compilation showcasing the colourisations of Pirate Plunder and The Granatoid Tanks, alongside restorations of Stingray Treasure Down Below and an edition of Anderson super-rarity You’ve Never Seen This.
  • Space City Specials – featuring another edition of You’ve Never Seen This, 2022’s special online compilation also showcases colourisations of First Train Through and The Sun Temple, all linked together by Robert the Robot!

The set is completed by a 16-page booklet featuring frames from the colourised episodes next to outline versions to colour.

Priced at £35, the set is available to pre-order now.

Celebrate Fireball’s 60th with Network

Network have a special free evening planned to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Fireball XL5!

Join Network On Air from 18:50 BST on Friday 28th October for an evening hosted by everyone’s favourite automaton – Robert the robot.

The evening will include the restored version of Planet 46 (first shown on this day six decades ago in (ATV London, Ulster, Scottish, Westward and Channel ITV regions) alongside brand-new colourisations of Fireball‘s The Sun Temple and Four Feather Fall‘s First Train Through, and another edition of Gerry Anderson’s ‘lost’ factual series from 1955: You’ve Never Seen This!… and… much more!

UK: Anderson series now free-to-view on ITV Hub

Having long been available to view in the UK on Britbox, many of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s classic productions are now available on the ITV Hub.

Fans can now watch Supercar, Fireball XL5 (selected episodes), Stingray, Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet And The Mysterons, Joe 90 (selected episodes), The Secret Service, UFO, The Protectors and Space:1999. ITV’s own Thunderbirds Are Go reimagining is available too, along with the crowdsourced Thunderbirds anniversary episodes.

All are available free to view and ad-free, once the programme itself starts. Watching fully ad-free costs £3.99/month or £39.99/year, but there’s a free 7-day trial available (surely long enough for any die-hard fan to binge-watch the whole lot!).

Click on the link to go to the ITV Hub.

Network’s August BOGOF now on!

The UK’s top cult TV and film home video label, Network, has another ‘buy one, get one free’ offer this weekend!

Until 16:00 on Wednesday 31st August if you buy one of the 100 selected titles on DVD, you get another free (cheapest item will be free).

Fanderson members will be mostly interested in Fireball XL5, Space:1999Space Precinct, Supercar and Terrahawks. However, those looking for something a little left-field might enjoy Space:1999 co-stars Barry Morse and Catherine Schell supporting Gene Barry in The Adventurer!

You can see all titles in the promotion here.

35% off Network Blu-ray Discs

Network are offering 35% off a selection of their high definition titles on Blu-ray Disc in their 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 GeneralCaptain Scarlet And The MysteronsJoe 90Space:1999 Year OneTerrahawks, New Captain Scarlet and (yes, we know it’s not an Anderson producion!) Space Patrol.

The promotion ends at 16:00 on Monday 6th June, so go shopping now by clicking this link to see all titles in Network’s HD35 promotion.