From pioneering SUPERMARIONATION shows FOUR FEATHER FALLS, SUPERCAR,
FIREBALL XL5 and STINGRAY, to the high-flying heroics of THUNDERBIRDS and
CAPTAIN SCARLET. 

Twenty-first Century heroes STEVE ZODIAC, TROY TEMPEST, CAPTAIN SCARLET,
and JOE 90 all bear Sylvia’s hallmark for creating appealing and extraordinary characters. 

Most famously of all, she fashioned the popular TRACY family for the award-winning
series THUNDERBIRDS together with her most iconic character, the elegant, charming
and deadly dangerous super-agent LADY PENELOPE - for whom she also supplied that
unforgettably aristocratic voice.

New worlds of live action adventure followed, with the launch of futuristic alien
invasion UFO and the mind-stretching voyages of Moonbase Alpha in SPACE 1999,
both now recognised as outstanding achievements in science fiction television
production.

In the 1980’s Sylvia began a new role at the forefront of transatlantic film and
television production as the UK’s representative for America’s leading cable TV
channel Home Box Office (HBO) with responsibility for developing new production
ideas and talent. 

It was during this time that her programmes enjoyed a spectacular return to popularity
with repeat transmissions, best-selling toys and DVD releases, culminating in the
Hollywood big screen live-action revival of THUNDERBIRDS and even a highly prized
accolade of an appearance on the cult comedy ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS –
an appropriate description for Sylvia Anderson’s remarkable contribution to popular
entertainment.

FAB!

Sylvia Anderson

Supermarionation: The Credits

The following is a full list of Sylvia Anderson’s credits and involvement in
Supermarionation.

Four Feather Falls
Book of children’s stories published by Collins; scripts.

Supercar
Book of children’s stories on which series was based; scripts; the voices of
Jimmy/Princess Caroline/other guest voices.

Fireball XL5
Co-created series; wrote first episode, ‘Planet 46’; script edited series; the voices of
Venus/other guest voices.

Stingray
Co-created series; created all characters; co-wrote first episode, ‘Stingray’ and last
episode, ‘Aquanaunt of the Year’.

Thunderbirds
Co-created series; co-wrote first episode, ‘Trapped in the Sky’; character visualization;
the voices of Lady Penelope/other guest voices.

Captain Scarlet
Co-created series; co-wrote first episode, ‘The Mysterons’; the voices of Melody Angel/
other guest voices.

Joe 90
Co-created series; co-wrote first episode, ‘The Most Special Agent’ and ‘Mission X14’,
‘See You Down There’, ‘Test Flight’, ‘Attack Of The Tiger’, ‘The Birthday’; the voices of
Mrs Harris (Housekeeper)/other female voices.

Secret Service
Co-created series; co-wrote first episode, ‘A Case For The Bishop’; the voices of
Mrs Appleby and other guest voices.

Supermarionation: For The Cinema
Produced and co-wrote: Thunderbirds Are Go! and Thunderbird Six.

Live-Action

Doppelgänger
Produced and co-created; co-wrote screenplay.

UFO
Co-created series; co-wrote first episode, ‘Identified’; costume design and casting.

The Protectors
Wrote episode, ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’.

Space 1999
Co-created series; produced first series (24 x 60 minute episodes).

Did You Know

Sylvia “discovered” the champion boxer Lennox Lewis and introduced him to HBO,
the US Cable Company who put him under contract with a multi-million dollar deal. 
This was during Sylvia’s time as HBO’s representative in the UK.

   Note: See chapter THE LADY & THE CHAMP in the new book, MY FAB YEARS.

Sylvia supports Manchester United and has done so for many years since her schoolboy
son introduced her to “his” favourite football team. She visited Old Trafford and met
Sir Alex Ferguson after watching a Man U versus Real Madrid game (which, incidentally,
Man U lost!) She sent a copy of her second book, YES M’LADY to him (to take his mind
off football!)

Sylvia cast Michael Caine’s wife Shakira as one of the Moonbase girls in UFO (before
she was Mrs M. Caine)

Sylvia has written three books, LOVE & HISSES, a novel that is a fictional account of a
young woman (a ’60’s child) living and loving in the ’70’s. The book attracted much
attention, both for the diary form of the book (long before Bridget Jones) and the
inclusion of real life events running in parallel to her life. A bitter-sweet story that
appealed to readers of all ages. It was chosen by WOMAN Magazine as one of its
Top Ten Paperbacks, and under the heading of their Summer Takeaway Titles,
it was also listed as the MOST NOSTALGIC book.

   “Spring is in the air and I’m restless and bored and there’s nothing really on the
   horizon….. Where are all the Warren Beatty’s and the Mick Jagger’s? ANSWER,
   with glamorous birds like Julie Christie and Marianne Faithfull…” 

Anyone who grew up in the ’60’s and ’70’s will identify with Liz (our heroine) whose
ten year diary makes up this entertaining and unusual novel.” 

YES M’LADY was Sylvia’s next book, giving an account of life behind the scenes of the
THUNDERBIRDS story.

Sylvia’s third and latest book is MY FAB YEARS.

Sylvia was asked to write a short story for a well-known Sunday newspaper incorporating
a THUNDERBIRDS sequence. This was in the ’90’s and was obviously not for her usual
audience. Sylvia said she accepted the offer without a clue how to bring the
THUNDERBIRDS characters into a real life story. She finally found a way of doing this
and wrote a short story about an estranged married couple who meet to discuss their
impending divorce. In the background the television is showing a repeat of a
THUNDERBIRDS episode and it brings back memories to the couple of happier times. 
As the THUNDERBIRDS theme tune fills their uneasy silence they start to realise that
they perhaps can re-capture some of the magic of that era together.

LADY P (Sylvia) “rapped” on a single in the 1980’s but it was never released due to
copyright problems.

Richard Branson is a great fan of THUNDERBIRDS and has named a fleet of rescue
locomotives for Virgin Trains after the THUNDERBIRDS craft.

   Note: During one of Sylvia’s many transatlantic trips, she was travelling in a Virgin
   plane named after LADY PENELOPE. Unfortunately, the plane broke down and there
   was a long delay in LA! Richard Branson did, however, give Sylvia complementary
   mileage for the delay!

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