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Thunderbirds creator Gerry Anderson dies | Thunderbirds creator Gerry Anderson dies |
(35 minutes later) | |
Gerry Anderson, creator of the Thunderbirds and Joe 90 puppet superhero TV shows, has died at the age of 83, his son has announced. | Gerry Anderson, creator of the Thunderbirds and Joe 90 puppet superhero TV shows, has died at the age of 83, his son has announced. |
Anderson had been suffering from Alzheimer's Disease since early 2010, and his condition had worsened in the past six months, Jamie Anderson said. | Anderson had been suffering from Alzheimer's Disease since early 2010, and his condition had worsened in the past six months, Jamie Anderson said. |
Gerry Anderson also created Stingray and Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons. | Gerry Anderson also created Stingray and Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons. |
Thunderbirds was filmed on Slough Trading Estate in Berkshire and was first broadcast in 1965. | Thunderbirds was filmed on Slough Trading Estate in Berkshire and was first broadcast in 1965. |
Jamie Anderson announced the news on his website, saying his father had died peacefully in his sleep at noon on Wednesday. | Jamie Anderson announced the news on his website, saying his father had died peacefully in his sleep at noon on Wednesday. |
"Gerry was diagnosed with mixed dementia two years ago and his condition worsened quite dramatically over the past six months. | "Gerry was diagnosed with mixed dementia two years ago and his condition worsened quite dramatically over the past six months. |
"Having already decided with his family on a care home for himself earlier this year, he moved in there in October," Jamie Anderson said. | "Having already decided with his family on a care home for himself earlier this year, he moved in there in October," Jamie Anderson said. |
Gerry Anderson spoke publicly about his disease in June 2012. | Gerry Anderson spoke publicly about his disease in June 2012. |
Speaking on BBC Berkshire he said: "I don't think I realised at all. It was my wife Mary who began to notice that I would do something quite daft like putting the kettle in the sink and waiting for it to boil." | Speaking on BBC Berkshire he said: "I don't think I realised at all. It was my wife Mary who began to notice that I would do something quite daft like putting the kettle in the sink and waiting for it to boil." |
He was a celebrity ambassador for The Alzheimer's Society. | He was a celebrity ambassador for The Alzheimer's Society. |
His other creations included UFO, Space: 1999, Supercar and Fireball XL5. | His other creations included UFO, Space: 1999, Supercar and Fireball XL5. |
Anderson, who lived in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, began his career studying fibrous plastering, but had to give it up when it gave him dermatitis. | |
After a spell in photographic portrait work, a job in Gainsborough films and time spent in air traffic control, he set up AP Films with some friends. | After a spell in photographic portrait work, a job in Gainsborough films and time spent in air traffic control, he set up AP Films with some friends. |
Commissions were few however, so he responded eagerly to the opportunity to make a puppet series called The Adventures of Twizzle in 1956. It was eight years before Thunderbirds came into being on ITV. | |
Thunderbirds marked the career apex for Gerry and his wife Sylvia, who had honed their supermarionation technique on Fireball XL5 and Stingray. | Thunderbirds marked the career apex for Gerry and his wife Sylvia, who had honed their supermarionation technique on Fireball XL5 and Stingray. |
The story revolves around International Rescue, a futuristic emergency service manned by the Tracy family, often assisted by Lady Penelope - voiced by Mrs Anderson - and her butler, Parker. | The story revolves around International Rescue, a futuristic emergency service manned by the Tracy family, often assisted by Lady Penelope - voiced by Mrs Anderson - and her butler, Parker. |
It inspired the catchphrase of "Thunderbirds are go!" | It inspired the catchphrase of "Thunderbirds are go!" |
What are your memories of Gerry Anderson and of his creations? Let us know using the form below |