TV
'Thunderbirds' creator "didn't like puppets"
Published Thursday, Oct 18 2007, 12:27 BST | By Beth Hilton
Thunderbirds creator Gerry Anderson has admitted that it was never his dream to work with puppets.
The 78-year-old revealed that he only put so much effort into the series in a bid to be offered live action projects.
He told The Sun: "The biggest misconception about me is that I liked making puppet films. I never wanted to work with puppets and in an effort to get out of it, I tried to make them better and better.
"My aim in doing this was to persuade the directors to think: 'Why is this man wasting his talent with puppets? We should give him some live action work to do'. What they actually said was: 'Isn’t he good at these puppet shows?' So I ended up doing more."
32 episodes of Thunderbirds were produced between 1965 and 1966, followed by two full-length feature films. A live action movie was released in 2004, almost 40 years after the original series.
Anderson also created Captain Scarlet, Stingray and Fireball XL5, as well as live action shows Space 1999 and Space Precinct.
The 78-year-old revealed that he only put so much effort into the series in a bid to be offered live action projects.
He told The Sun: "The biggest misconception about me is that I liked making puppet films. I never wanted to work with puppets and in an effort to get out of it, I tried to make them better and better.
"My aim in doing this was to persuade the directors to think: 'Why is this man wasting his talent with puppets? We should give him some live action work to do'. What they actually said was: 'Isn’t he good at these puppet shows?' So I ended up doing more."
32 episodes of Thunderbirds were produced between 1965 and 1966, followed by two full-length feature films. A live action movie was released in 2004, almost 40 years after the original series.
Anderson also created Captain Scarlet, Stingray and Fireball XL5, as well as live action shows Space 1999 and Space Precinct.
More: TV
Tube Talk
'Friday Night Lights': Why watch?Tube Talk explains why you should watch Sky's new show Friday Night Lights.
TV Interviews
'The Bachelor' Blakeley Shea - interviewModel was sent home following a two-on-one date with Ben and Rachel.
Reality Bites
Does Simon Cowell have new SuBo?: VideoWatch a clip of Jonathan Antoine, who is tipped for success on BGT.
TV Ratings
'Dancing on Ice' slips to record lowITV1's Dancing on Ice is dented by BBC One's Call The Midwife and Countryfile.
