Pat Pilcher
AMIDST THE NOISE and hype surrounding Christmas, Instagram and all other things sci-fi and tech related, Thunderbirds creator, Gerry Anderson passed away, aged 83.
Known for his pioneering work with models and puppetry, Anderson was television producer of kids science fiction series Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and UFO.
Anderson was diagnosed with dementia in 2010 and more recently his condition worsened. Having decided to move into a care home, he moved there in October.
Anderson’s death comes as a severe blow for science fiction fans, many of whom (this writer included) had grown up on a diet of Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, Space 1999 and UFO.
Anderson had been said to have been keen on remaking some of his earlier work and this had seen him working as a consultant on a Hollywood remake of his 1969 series UFO.
Despite his illness, Andersen also took on the role of celebrity ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society.
Here’s hoping some of his work is remade so another generation of sci-fi fandom can get another dose of Thunderbirds goodness. Rest in Peace, Gerry. PAT PILCHER
Going by the comments on Facebook and Twitter, heaps of people loved Gerry Anderson’s shows. I have to admit to never seeing the appeal. At school, if someone wanted to “razz” a dweeb, they referred to him as ‘Joe 90’, or one other of Anderson’s characters, often mimicking the shaky puppet look (remember the visible wires?) Maybe I just didn’t have enough imagination to appreciate their futuristic appeal!
Oh Gaz – Ya big grinch! TB3 is go!