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| Gerry Anderson, Thunderbirds creator, dies | Gerry Anderson, Thunderbirds creator, dies |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Gerry Anderson, the creator of hit TV shows including Thunderbirds, Stingray and Joe 90, has died at the age of 83. | Gerry Anderson, the creator of hit TV shows including Thunderbirds, Stingray and Joe 90, has died at the age of 83. |
| He also created Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons and his puppet superheroes fired the imaginations of millions of young viewers in the 1960s and '70s. | He also created Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons and his puppet superheroes fired the imaginations of millions of young viewers in the 1960s and '70s. |
| Thunderbirds, a science-fiction fantasy about a daring space rescue squad, ran from 1965 and was his most famous show. | Thunderbirds, a science-fiction fantasy about a daring space rescue squad, ran from 1965 and was his most famous show. |
| Anderson had suffered from Alzheimer's since 2010 and the disease had worsened in recent months, his son Jamie said. | Anderson had suffered from Alzheimer's since 2010 and the disease had worsened in recent months, his son Jamie said. |
| Jamie Anderson announced the news on his website, saying his father died peacefully in his sleep at noon on Wednesday. | Jamie Anderson announced the news on his website, saying his father 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," he wrote. | "Gerry was diagnosed with mixed dementia two years ago and his condition worsened quite dramatically over the past six months," he wrote. |
| Gerry Anderson talked about the onset of the disease in June 2012. | Gerry Anderson talked about the onset of the 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." |
| His other creations included UFO, Space: 1999, Supercar and Fireball XL5. | His other creations included UFO, Space: 1999, Supercar and Fireball XL5. |
| Actor Brian Blessed, who worked with Anderson on shows including The Day After Tomorrow and Space 1999, told BBC News: "I think a light has gone out in the universe. | Actor Brian Blessed, who worked with Anderson on shows including The Day After Tomorrow and Space 1999, told BBC News: "I think a light has gone out in the universe. |
| "He had a great sense of humour. He wasn't childish but child-like and he had a tremendous love of the universe and astronomy and scientists. | "He had a great sense of humour. He wasn't childish but child-like and he had a tremendous love of the universe and astronomy and scientists. |
| "He got their latest theories, which he would expand on. He was always galvanised and full of energy." | "He got their latest theories, which he would expand on. He was always galvanised and full of energy." |
| 'Great creation' | 'Great creation' |
| Celebrities paying tribute on Twitter included comedian Eddie Izzard, who wrote: "What great creation Thunderbirds was, as it fuelled the imagination of a generation." | Celebrities paying tribute on Twitter included comedian Eddie Izzard, who wrote: "What great creation Thunderbirds was, as it fuelled the imagination of a generation." |
| TV presenter Jonathan Ross wrote: "For men of my age, his work made childhood an incredible place to be." | TV presenter Jonathan Ross wrote: "For men of my age, his work made childhood an incredible place to be." |
| 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. | 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 nine years before Thunderbirds came into being on ITV. | |
| The action was filmed on Slough Trading Estate in Berkshire. | The action was filmed on Slough Trading Estate in Berkshire. |
| The story revolved 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 revolved 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 included the catchphrases "Thunderbirds are go!" and "FAB". | |
| The show marked the career apex for Gerry and his wife Sylvia, who had honed their "supermarionation" technique on Fireball XL5 and Stingray. | The show marked the career apex for Gerry and his wife Sylvia, who had honed their "supermarionation" technique on Fireball XL5 and Stingray. |
| Nick Williams, chairman of Fanderson, the Gerry Anderson appreciation society, described him as "a quiet, unassuming but determined man". | Nick Williams, chairman of Fanderson, the Gerry Anderson appreciation society, described him as "a quiet, unassuming but determined man". |
| "His desire to make the best films he could drove him and his talented teams to innovate, take risks, and do everything necessary to produce quite inspirational works," he said. | "His desire to make the best films he could drove him and his talented teams to innovate, take risks, and do everything necessary to produce quite inspirational works," he said. |
| "Gerry's legacy is that he inspired so many people and continues to bring so much joy to so many millions of people around the world." | "Gerry's legacy is that he inspired so many people and continues to bring so much joy to so many millions of people around the world." |