The Secret Service

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

Posted on by Parker

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.

UPDATED: Let’s make it an Annual Affair!

Posted on by Parker

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.

Will you win the FAB Challenge?

Posted on by Parker

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.

 

UK: Anderson series now available free on ITV X

Posted on by Parker

Many of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s classic productions are now available, free of charge, on ITV’s new streaming service ITV X. Anderson programmes owned by ITV are usually free of commercials on the platform.

All episodes are available of Supercar, Thunderbirds (including the crowdsourced ‘anniversary episodes’, Captain Scarlet And The Mysterons, The Secret Service, UFO, The Protectors, Space:1999, Terrahawks and New Captain Scarlet.

For some reason, only selected episodes are available of Stingray and Joe 90, whilst Fireball XL5 isn’t there at all! Curiously, only selected episodes of ITV’s own 2015 reboot Thunderbirds Are Go are available.

ITV X is free to view, with most of the above content available ad-free too. There’s a free seven-day trial of the subscription Premium service (normally £5.99 a month) which offers even more content, all ad-free, with access to additional content over on BritBox.

 

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

Posted on by 1266 Nick Williams

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.

Supermarionation voice artist Gary Files on The Secret Service Annual

Posted on by 1266 Nick Williams

Gary Files recently received his copy of our exclusive The Secret Service Annual at home in Australia and wrote to say:

“What a splendid job you have all done. The Secret Service Annual will be here for my daughter and grandchild when I cash in my chips! It has pride of place on my library shelves, or will have when I’ve read it again!”

The actor and Supermarionation voice artist (Thunderbird 6‘s Black Phantom/Captain Foster, Captain Scarlet And The Mysterons‘ Captain Magenta, The Secret Service’s Matthew and UFO’s Phil Wade) went on to recollect:

“When I got my copy of The Secret Service Annual I was tickled pink! There we all were doing our parts in those perky episodes with dear Stanley Unwin. And what memories it’s layout brought back to me.

“For many years now I have been carrying around with me, from country to country, a copy of something I bought for 7 old pence way back in 1967, some time after I had started working for Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and their Century 21 company as one of the wonderful voice team. It was a newspaper called Century 21- Adventures in the 21st century!

“Also listed was this information: “Universe Edition 140, Dateline September 23rd 2067”. And so much of it was laid out very much like The Secret Service Annual. What a great souvenir to have for fans of Gerry’s animation to complete the series of annuals that Fanderson members have collected over the years.

“Two other coincidences occurred to me: September is my birthday month and I actually bought the paper on 23rd of September 1967.

“So, if you are a fan of Gerry, and all of us who had the pleasure of working for him – this is a great addition to add to your collection.

“Cheers to you all in Britain from us in Oz during this awful Covid time.”

Gary Files.

Christmas TV – not EastEnders again!

Posted on by 1266 Nick Williams

At a loss for some quality seasonal television from the broadcasters this Christmas? Why not dig out the TVTimes special that we mailed with FAB last year (and again recently for new members)?

Surround yourself with some treats and a little something to wash it all down, then feast out all day on the very best seasonal Gerry and Sylvia Anderson entertainment (and remember, Stingray A Christmas To Remember is just one of the many programmes now available in high definition).

PS – Obviously, but just in case anyone thought otherwise, in the supplement the 40th Anniversary Quiz closed on 31st January 2021, and Six-Five Special offers were valid until 14th February 2021!

UK: Colossal toy auction on 13th October

Posted on by 1266 Nick Williams

On 16th October 2021 Vectis, the UK’s leading specialist toy auctioneer, will be holding an auction of over 660 lots, including many Anderson items. The entire collection includes many die-cast toys which will evoke strong memories for many Fanderson members.

It’s the first 63 lots that are sure to be of particular interest as they include:

J Rosenthal Thunderbird 2

Cecil Coleman The Hood puppet

Fairylite Lady Penelope

Berwick Thunderbirds uniform

Dekker Lady Penelope play suit

Marx Thunderbirds bagatelle

JR21 SPV

Century 21 Toys Joe 90 car

There are also some more goodies sprinkled later in the catalogue, such as lots 1255, 1399, 1480 and 1481. There’s oodles of nostalgia in the entire auction catalogue, which you can see here.

Vectis are based in Thornaby, Teesside. We’d be very interested to hear from any club member who’s thinking of attending the auction. If that’s you, please email us at fanderson.org.uk@outlook.com as soon as possible.

 

 

 

More Anderson items at auction

Posted on by 1266 Nick Williams

Ewbank’s, the Surrey auction house responsible for the auction of items from Terrahawks, Dick Spanner and Space Police in November, held an auction of entertainment, memorabilia and movie props on 27th May, which including some more Anderson items.

Probably of most interest was Lot 248, a reproduction Joe McClaine puppet. Made by Century 21 sculptor John Brown in the early 1970s using the original moulds, the puppet is in full vintage costume on stand with plaque, with head and hands made of cast resin with glass eyes and real hair, approximately 17” high on stand. Hammer price £1,100.

Lot 245 was a set of 11 replica Thunderbirds heads made by Lee Allwood of Brian, Hank and Bruce from The Shadows (Thunderbirds Are Go), Hassan Ali (Desperate Intruder), Nicky (Give Or Take A Million), Rick O Shea and Loman (Ricochet), Hector McGill, Culp the Boatman and Mrs Files (Attack Of The Alligators), Lovegrove (Vault Of Death), each approximately 5×3.5×4”. Hammer price £100.

Lot 246 was a scale wooden table from the 1969 series The Secret Service. Hammer price £460.

Lot 247 was a decayed and rebuilt puppet head of Kate Kestrel used in the production of Terrahawks. Hammer price £75.

You can view the complete auction catalogue (nearly 500 items!) using this link.