R.I.P Gerry Anderson (1929 - 2012)
Gerry Anderson holding Thunderbird 2
Anything can happen in the next half hour!
It's very hard to put into words how much Gerry Anderson contributed to the childhoods of generations of Brits. His TV shows starring puppets fired up our imaginations and gave us iconic characters and moments that stayed with us forever. I think I was the last generation to be affected by him - repeats of his most famous shows were still shown on TV when I was young - and boy, did it stay with me and my siblings. My brother still owns Captain Scarlet bedsheets.
Anderson gave us fantasy. His most famous creations were the Thunderbirds - the Tracy family who ran International Rescue, turning up at scenes of huge disasters in order to save people's lives. They were armed with sky-blue uniforms and amazing vehicles, and the images of these vehicles appearing out of the Tracy's home, Tracy Island, is probably the most iconic thing Anderson created - Thunderbird 2 flattened palm trees as it took off, Thunderbird 1 appearing out of where the swimming pool had been only moments before. It was a show made of adventure and made for merchandise. Lady Penelope, the Tracy's London Agent, a gorgeous blonde with a pink car and a Cockney butler, is often cited as many men's first crush and I spent many hours wishing to be her. She was glamourous and fearless, doing whatever she could to help the Tracys. She, and the show, remain iconic to this day.
"This is the voice of the Mysterons. We know you can hear us, Earth men..."
Whilst Thunderbirds is what he's best remembered for, Anderson also gave us Stingray - about an undersea battle and the organisation that works to keep the seas safe - and Captain Scarlet - the indistructable agent who as an agent of SPECTRUM fought the ex-colleague the always-stubbled and scary Captain Black who worked for the mysterious Mysterons, terrific villains with spooky voices and who we only saw as lights dancing across a scene. It's for these three shows that I'll best remember Gerry Anderson, even now I still sing all three themesongs, as can my husband. And my nightmares were filled with the Thunderbirds' enemy The Hood, who hypnotised with his glowing eyes, and Captain Black. Anderson's imagination seemed limitless, conjuring up these amazing fantasy worlds of gadgets and special organisations kitted out with uniforms and astonishing vehicles. Any child watching them, even though they were watching puppets, was instantly transported. The shows were that good.
There are other shows that Anderson is known for too - my husband has much affection for Joe 90, a show about a child spy who can have skills and knowledge transferred into his brain. And I spent a lot of time watching Space: 1999, one of Anderson's live-action shows, starring then-married couple Martin Landau and Barbara Bain in a space saga that's still fondly remembered by some.
So many people know working in the sci-fi and fantasy world of TV and film was influenced by Anderson's creations, and loved them as children. Heck, those who don't work in the industry are influenced by him too, because he opened our eyes to what could happen in the future, because he created wonderful characters and colourful worlds. Because he painted our childhoods with adventure and fun and danger and heroes of all shapes, sizes, and genders. Because I smile thinking about all of that and feel grateful that his shows are part of some of the in-jokes that I share with my husband. Because no matter what else he did, he made several generations irrepressibly happy.
F.A.B
Forever
His obituary in The Guardian