The newly-formed Anderson Andrews Productions has announced the return of Lady Penelope Investigates, executive produced by Dee Anderson, daughter of Sylvia and Gerry Anderson, part of celebrations of Thunderbirds 60th anniversary.
“Lady Penelope Investigates” was originally the title of a regular prose feature in both the TV Century 21 and Lady Penelope comics, which saw secret agent Lady Penelope (and, occasionally, Parker) investigate various real world celebrities and fellow fictional characters, usually resulting in a short interview with the featured person as well as some factual information about them.
The title was also used as the title for is a gramophone record released by Century 21 Records in November 1966, a compilation LP of their 1966 records F.A.B. and The Stately Homes Robberies, drawing inspiration from the popular comic strip adventures of International Rescue’s top secret agent, which ran in Lady Penelope comic.
Dee Anderson is reviving Lady Penelope Investigates in 2025, a multi-project deal agreed, under license from ITV Studios, to create a new range of books and full-cast audio adventures starring Lady Penelope, her devoted chauffeur Parker, and, perhaps, one or two other familiar faces, too.
Dee will executive produce the revival and voice Lady Penelope in the forthcoming audio plays, stepping into her mother’s famous shoes to portray the iconic character once again. She previously portrayed Lady Penelope in the 1974-75 Thunderbirds stage production produced by Stage 3, as well as a series of Halifax adverts produced by Century 21 Films in 2017.
On the Lady Penelope revival, Dee said: “My mother developed the shows and characters with Gerry, in particular creating the iconic characters of Lady Penelope and Parker in Thunderbirds, as well as voicing Lady Penelope, so this will be an amazing tribute to her even more so as she wrote an original treatment for ‘Lady Penelope Investigates’ several decades ago”.
A performer in her own right, Dee is currently performing her one-woman show, Growing up with Thunderbirds, and has written an eponymous book, published by Andrews UK through its Oak Tree Books imprint. A special, signed hardback edition is available now, ahead of wider retail release.
The show, which has garnered national media attention, debuted at London’s Phoenix Arts Club last month, and will continue across the UK with dates announced so far in Pudsey, Yorkshire, Great Yarmouth, New Milton, Hampshire, London and Aldershot.
The announcement of these projects coincided with the formation of Anderson Andrews Productions, a joint venture between Dee Anderson and Paul Andrews, producer, publisher and CEO of British multimedia company Andrews UK.
“It is an absolute honour to be working with Dee, and to create all new adventures for possibly one of the most famous strong female icons of the 60s,” said Paul Andrews, who will be producing the revival.
Dropping a further hint to fans, he continued, “We might also have a few other surprises for you down the line as well!”
The new Lady Penelope Investigates stories will be published under Andrews UK’s Oak Tree Books imprint, whilst the audio will be created by AUK Studios – Andrews UK’s in-house production team – working in tandem with the new Anderson Andrews Productions.
Outside of Lady Penelope Investigates, Dee Anderson and Paul Andrews will continue to work on several other projects under the burgeoning Anderson Andrews Production banner. These include n all-new project that Sylvia Anderson originated with her daughter Dee before her passing.
This move continues Andrews’ growth into iconic television brands, following successful continuations of both Robin of Sherwood and The Tomorrow People across books and audio.
Full details of the Lady Penelope projects and a release timeline will be made public in the coming months, as will further details on Anderson Andrews Productions.
“Prepare for action,” we’re told. “It’s going to be FAB!”
Growing up with Thunderbirds On Tour
Dates To Come Announced So Far
• The Old Woollen, Pudsey, Yorkshire, 29th June 2025
• St George’s Theatre, Great Yarmouth, 25th July 2025
• Forest Arts Centre, New Milton, Hampshire, 30th August 2025
• The Cinema Museum, London, 30th November 2025
• Esher Theatre, Esher, 12th September 2025
• BFI, London – date to be announced
Growing up with Thunderbirds – The Book
By Dee Anderson | Available here from AUK
A special hardback edition signed by Dee Anderson version of her book Growing up with Thunderbirds, before the wider retail release of this amazing book, with insights to her childhood growing up in and around the sets of Thunderbirds, packed with never seen before family photos, and stories of her magical childhood.
Dee brings a unique personal perspective as the daughter of the legendary visionaries Sylvia and Gerry Anderson. Through her eyes, this extraordinary legacy comes to life on stage as well as in this FAB book like never before, inviting you into the world of a child who grew up with Thunderbirds, the classic children’s television programme created by Gerry Anderson and Sylvia Anderson in 1965. It was simply FAB.
Meet The Team
Andrews UK Limited has been a leader in digital publishing and distribution for over twenty-two years. Based in Bedfordshire, the company prides itself on being able to provide support to publishers, video game developers and IP owners across a variety of mediums including digital games, audio (music, audio dramas and audiobooks), digital film and video, magazines, comic books, and also licensing, marketing and merchandising.
Born in Mississippi, Dee Anderson came to London as a child, and was brought up in a world of celebrity and entertainment, the daughter of legendary Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, creators of Thunderbirds, and a host of iconic children’s television programmes. She trained in Performing Arts at E15 Drama School and went on to take part in film, theatre and television productions as an actress and singer.
Producer Paul Andrews has worked in the media industry for 25 years, having come from a blue-chip company career prior. He is the driving force behind a string of media companies which have generated over $60 million in retail sales of games consoles, multimillion audio streams, multimillion video streams and millions of book downloads and sales. Paul also acts as a business ambassador for The Chamber of Commerce and other boards.
AUK Studios creates compelling audio and visual productions with an ever growing slate. Their recent forays into the audio market – in co-production and on their own merit – has proved highly successful, winning Gold at the New York Festival Awards (the ‘Oscars for Audio’), for example. The company believes that the audio medium is the perfect way to tell stories (in the grand old tradition of the storytellers who used to pass on tales over firelight in communities, years ago), as well as giving every subject matter and person a voice to express themselves.
Since 2000, Oak Tree Books – Andrews UK’s premium imprint – has all new high-quality titles, covering a range of genres from biographies, fantasy, horror and so much more. They also publish or re-publish often beloved books of characters and brands from to 1970s and 80s for that nostalgic feel everyone adores.
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as 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.
Categories: Audio, Books, Digital Media, downthetubes News, Other Worlds
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