Anderson Entertainment, the production company founded by Gerry Anderson, has announced the support of multiple streaming and linear services, as well as writers, stars and fans, for today’s first-ever Gerry Anderson Day.
Celebrating the life and works of the legendary producer, Gerry Anderson Day takes place on the 14th of April, the birthday of the man behind such iconic shows as Thunderbirds and Space:1999 as well as modern hits like Space Precinct and the 2005 reimagining of Captain Scarlet.
As part of the celebrations, Network Distributing’s streaming service and Anderson Entertainment, Gerry’s content production company, have curated a unique time travel television experience – a fantastic, five-hour watch party. Taking viewers through decades of Gerry Anderson hits, Gerry Anderson’s Night In includes famous shows, bespoke content, unseen footage, ads and much more with live tweets from both companies at the hashtag #fabnightin!
Streaming service Shout! Factory TV is also celebrating in style – with a 24-hour feast of some of Gerry’s masterworks broadcasting to fans across North America. Meanwhile Forces TV (Freeview channel 96, Sky 181, Freesat 165 and Virgin 274) is asking Gerry Anderson fans to choose their favourite episode of UFO, which has been a popular part of the station’s programming for a number of years, ahead of a special broadcast on 14th April.
But, as we previously reported, if you want some help deciding on your favourite Anderson episodes from his entire output, BritBox, the subscription-based streaming service for great British telly and iconic films, is giving you a chance to celebrate, argue about and enjoy its selection of the ten greatest episodes from Gerry Anderson’s 60-year career.
There’s even an audio offering. Big Finish Productions, the producer of such enormously popular audiobooks and series as Doctor Who, Sherlock Holmes and Gerry Anderson’s wonderful Terrahawks, is planning a Terrahawks listen-along that the whole world can enjoy from its SoundCloud page from 8.00pm UK time with live tweets with the hashtag #Terrahawks.
The continuing relevance of Gerry Anderson’s work will also be underlined by written, filmed, spoken and tweeted input from writers, stars, famous fans and guests – and recordings of Gerry himself – during the various Gerry Anderson Day events. There’s even a 90-minute livestream edition of FAB Live – the Gerry Anderson video podcast hosted by Richard James and Jamie Anderson – from 5:30pm with a host of special guests and interactive fun for Anderfans across the globe.
Supporting all of these exciting plans is the redesigned corporate website www.anderson-entertainment.co.uk, and the consumer site gerryanderson.co.uk. And of course the event has its own hashtag: #GerryAndersonDay
Anderson Entertainment says the timing of Gerry Anderson Day is perfect in what is shaping up to be one of the biggest years ever for the company that Gerry Anderson founded. More and more of his classic shows are appearing on TV and streaming services. They also continue to enjoy strong sales on DVD and Blu-Ray.
Consumer demand is also driving merchandising growth. The online Gerry Anderson store’s, whose existing range includes toys, apparel, model kits and collectible figures, is expanding its category offering significantly this year to meet demand.
New series are on the way too, overseen by Gerry’s son Jamie, himself a celebrated writer and producer and MD of Anderson Entertainment, including the brand-new sci-fi drama Firestorm and a reboot of 80s hit Terrahawks. The second series of the popular audio drama hit First Action Bureau – developed and produced during the spring lockdown – will also arrive this year. Series one has just been released on CD.
Meanwhile, also as reported, Thunderbirds: Terror from the Stars, the first of an exciting new series of audiobooks coming out from this May, sees the return of all the favourites, including ex-con cockney chauffeur Parker and the stylish aristocrat Lady Penelope, brought to life by voice actor and impressionist Jon Culshaw, star of Dead Ringers and Spitting Image, and actress Genevieve Gaunt, also known as Pansy Parkinson in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and Wilhelmina ‘Willow’ Margaret Henstridge in the popular soap opera The Royals.
“Gerry Anderson’s work has been popular for decades and it’s not hard to see why we’re still celebrating his work in 2021,” says Jamie Anderson. “His wonderful creations are now enjoyed on multiple platforms and inspiring popular new product ranges and content.
“They’re also inspiring an enthusiastic response from fans, broadcast partners and the media to the first-ever Gerry Anderson Day!”
• Check out www.gerryanderson.co.uk for updates | Look out for more #GerryAndersonDay happenings online
• Find out more at www.britbox.co.uk
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
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