THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO: EPISODE 3: INITIAL THOUGHTS?

Just watched Thunderbirds are Go episode 3 on iPlayer. I didn't get up in time for the 8am showing! What did I think? I thought this episode was excellent and I really enjoyed it.

Tension was there in spades and like Kevin says they've got the pace just right. The music fitted perfectly this time too. 

The space vessels were phenomenal and the increase in spaceships is a welcome bonus in this series so far. Like Star Wars meets Thunderbirds!

Parker showed his metal this time as well and does a stint as spiderman! 

I love the faded graphics on the end titles too. I assume that they're concept art for the show?

So, no spoilers, you'll just have to watch. I hope our overseas friends can too somehow. Enjoy.

Hey....

...what are you looking at this for? Watch the new Thunderbirds on UK TV NOW! Its on at 8am!

NO SHELF LIFE

I was in ASDA supermarket today and browsed the cereals aisle hoping for Thunderbirds galore. Not a sausage! I was surprised to say the least. A cereal box promo campaign is a must to get kids on board or am I just too old school? there was even a Star Wars box and that's not even on the telly or the big screen at the moment. 

Anyone know if there'll be any cereals or sweets promos for the new Thunderbirds?

THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO: THE MORNING AFTER

Well its the day after the new Thunderbirds debut on UK TV last night and I'm reading very very mixed reviews online. They range from sheer excited joy from young kids to complete bewilderment from older fans. 

With today's 24 hour news and social media anything new in popular culture is immediately scrutinised to the nth degree.

I suppose its only to be expected when someone is brave enough to tinker with one of the most important childrens' television programmes in history.

I suspect that ultimately it won't be fans of the original series at all who make it a success but a new generation of enthusiastic six year olds across the UK getting up at 8am on Saturdays to watch the show. It'll be what they think that counts.

GERRY ANDERSON'S ETERNITY, THUNDERBIRD 5 AND THE VASTNESS OF SPACE

Watching the new cool Thunderbird 5 tonight on TV, which may be my favourite vehicle in the show, I couldn't help thinking of the beautiful clip of Gerry's proposed ETERNITY on You Tube. Its the magnificent sweeping abyss of space captured so well by both sets of animators decades apart I reckon. What do you think?

NB: To get rod of the pesky notes which pop-up on this clip,
click the Settings cog icon on You Tube and tick OFF under Annotations.

THUNDERBIRDS HAS GONE!

Well. its allover for this week guys! Thunderbirds has gone! So, what's the verdict?

My two penneth, I loved having it back on screen and reliving the halcyon days. Spotting stuff was fun too like the Eagle inspired undersea rig. The black jet towards the end looked like Space Patrol 1!

My only criticism is the music, there's just too much of it. I struggled to follow the dialogue sometimes.

I will be tuning in again at 8am next Saturday!

Thunderbirds Are Go | ITV Says The Wait Is Over!

Join us for the global TV premiere this Easter Saturday at 5pm on ITV. Scott, Alan, Virgil, John and Gordon burst into action,  beginning with a special double episode 'Ring of Fire'. Don't forget to visit Thunderbirds.com for your first International Rescue training mission as soon as the show ends! Can't wait until the next episode? Catch up with Thunderbirds Are Go on ITV Player or Easter Sunday at 3pm on CITV . INTERNATIONAL RESCUE © ITV Global Entertainment Ltd. The London Television Centre, Upper Ground, London SE1 9LT.

JAMIE ANDERSON PROMOTES THUNDERBIRDS ON THE ONE SHOW

Just watched Jamie and Sylvia Anderson on UK TV's One Show promoting Thunderbirds in advance of the new series starting tomorrow at 5pm.

They were enjoyable interviews and a clip of the the new show confirmed to me that it's going to be mega exciting to have the Tracy boys back on the small screen.

Who knows, if it goes really well we might even see a new feature film! 

Now I just need to catch up on the Making Of Thunderbirds Are Go documentary that was aired last night in the UK and I'll be fully genned up. Did anyone see it?

I for one will be watching the new Thunderbirds Are Go at 5pm tomorrow. I hope our friends outside the UK will be able to see it soon too. 

Will you be watching?

THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO! THUNDERBIRD 4 SPOTTED ON THE RIVER THAMES THIS MORNING!

PRESS RELEASE FROM TAYLOR HERRING

Thunderbird 4 was spotted on the Thames this morning. The yellow submersible took its maiden voyage to mark the new series of Thunderbirds Are Go airing on ITV on Saturday April 4th at 5pm.

The underwater cruiser departed from East London and made its way up the Thames passing iconic landmarks including Tower Bridge and the Houses of Parliament.

Pictures available on PA and REX picture wire and also available from this flickr link.

The stunt marks the launch of the new ITV series Thunderbirds Are Go

Iconic series is back after 50 Years

Thunderbird 4, the submersible underwater rescue vehicle from the TV series Thunderbirds Are Go, was spotted cruising down the River Thames today.

Onlookers were left stunned as the famous bright yellow water vessel journeyed its way through the City of London. The model, measuring 15ft and made from fibre-glass, took a team of TV prop builders over six weeks to design, construct and paint.

Thunderbird 4 took its maiden voyage on the River Thames this morning to mark the launch of the new series Thunderbirds Are Go airing on ITV on Saturday April 4th at 5pm for a special double episode, before returning to a regular 8am slot on ITV and CITV.

The underwater cruiser departed from East London and made its way up the Thames passing iconic landmarks including Tower Bridge and the Houses of Parliament, en route to Tracy Island. 

The rescue vehicle, usually delivered to the danger zone by Thunderbird 2 and piloted by aquanaut Gordon Tracy, was winched into the river in the Docklands in the early hours of the morning.

Adrian Last, EVP, Director of ITV Studios Marketing, said: "Thunderbirds is a classic British show, so we wanted to celebrate the launch of the new series Thunderbirds Are Go on ITV by building one of the iconic vehicles and surprising commuters on their way to work.

Seeing Thunderbird 4 cruising down the River Thames brings back a feeling of nostalgia for those that remember the show from 50 years ago and puts a smile on the face of the young.

Londoners shouldn't be worried though as Thunderbird 4 wasn't out on a rescue mission today - it's just battling the choppy waters of the Thames."

Featuring the world's most famous family of heroes, International Rescue, Thunderbirds are Go will blast the five brave Tracy brothers back on to television screens piloting their incredible vehicles into impossible rescues across the globe.

The new series will feature a cast including Rosamund Pike, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Rasmus Hardiker, David Menkin, Kayvan Novak, Angel Coulby and David Graham reprising his role as Aloysius 'Nosey' Parker. This re-invention of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's iconic series has been produced using a unique mix of CGI animation and live-action model sets.

A special double episode of Thunderbirds are Go is airing on ITV on April 4th at 5pm before returning to a regular 8am slot on ITV and CITV.


- ENDS -

Kat Day, Taylor Herring

THUNDERBIRDS AT EASTER: EGGSCELLENT!

Thinking ahead to this Easter Saturday I am planning a table display for a family meal [if Missus Moonbase will let me! ha ha]. 

To celebrate the debut of the new Thunderbirds TV series and Easter I would like to combine them together in the display! Bunnybirds!

I don't recall any specific Thunderbirds Easter toys from my childhood so I will use what I have to hand. The old Matchbox Tracy Island toy springs to mind as it has three places where I could sit some Easter eggs!

Here's what I mean using some random rockets as eggstras.

I suppose the obvious places for eggs would be the Thunderbirds vehicles themselves: a pod egg in Thunderbird 2 and an sat snug in the middle of Thunderbird 5. And who could ignore the possibilities of Zero Eggs! [sounds like a boring holiday though! ha ha]

Has anyone else any ideas for a Thunderbirds - Easter table display?

AT THE BUS STOP ROUND THE CORNER FROM THE THUNDERBIRDS TV STUDIO

It was a cold Spring morning in Toy Town. At the Fisher Price Bus Stop a queue had formed. Captain Laser was at the front, then Weed, then Barbie, then a Weeble and finally Lady Penelope. The hot topic was the first episode of the new Thunderbirds TV show being shown this weekend.

Lady Penelope: How embarrassing! Me , a Lady with my own TV show this Saturday, having to catch a bus to the studio round the corner!

Weeble: weebles wobble but we don't fall down!

Barbie: Keep your hands off Ken Lady! He's mine, d'ya hear!

Weed: weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed!

Captain Laser: bodoiiiiiiiing!

Weed: weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed!

Barbie: How darn disgustin'! hey Lady, you related to Sindy?

Weeble: weebles wobble but we won't fall down!

Lady Penelope: Right, that's it. I need rescuing. Captain Laser, I'm pulling rank and demand that you carry me to the studio!

Penelope climbs into the Captain's hard plastic but rather rigid arms. Being an international agent of S.T.R.I.N.G.S she knows just how to press all the right buttons so she reaches over to the Cap's backpack.

Captain Laser: bodoiiiiiiiiiiig!

Lady Penelope: Fiddlesticks! It always works on Parker!

She gives the Captain a sip of the finest China tea from her thermos and pushes the button again.

Captain Laser: Yes, M'Lady!

Lady Penelope: Excellent! To the studio Laser!

As the pair walk off Barbie shouts: Hey Pen, you'd better keep your magic mitts off my Ken!

WE WANT A ZERO-X! JOIN ME AND WRITE TO VIVID TOYS

I've just emailed Vivid Toys, the manufacturers of the new Thunderbirds Are Go! toys being released this year. I have asked them to release a Zero-X toy! A long shot I know but if enough of us email then who knows! The idea just needs some "lifting bodies" to get it off the ground! ha ha. 

So get scribbling guys and email Vivid here. For ideas, here's the one I sent [some personal stuff - email, phone - removed for posting here]:

POSTSCRIPT:

VIVID'S INITIAL RESPONSE

"Hello,

Thank you for contacting Consumer Services.

Unfortunately we currently do not have any plans to release a Zero X toy as a part of this range, however we will be hopefully expanding the range in future and have passed your comments onto our development team for their future consideration.

If you have any additional enquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Regards,

Consumer Services"

VIVID

WETA'S TRACY ISLAND VIDEO: THE WORLD OF THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO REVEALED

WETA Workshop's beautiful imagineering for the upcoming Thunderbirds Are Go TV series is revealed in the show's latest teaser video courtesy of You Tube Thunderbirds Are Go [watch more video's on their channel].

What do you think readers? Excited?

THE NEW THUNDERBIRD 2: AN OLD JAPANESE KIT?

Just seen this old box art for a UFO Thunderbird 2 and the front end looks amazingly similar to the new TV show Thunderbirds TB2 design. What do you think?

DAILY MIRROR REVEALS NEW THUNDERBIRDS TOYS PROTOTYPES

Alex Hudson/ Daily Mirror

Thanks to a heads up from Will Schwartz, Bill alerted me to these new Thunderbirds toy prototypes debuting on the Daily Mirror website.

To see the full article and all Alex Hudson's photographs click here. What do you think readers?

THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE THUNDERBIRDS

Scoop's post about the new Thunderbirds TV series is exciting and got me thinking about previous attempts to rekindle Gerry's magic Tracy formula.

The three I can think of are:

1. Thunderbirds 2086 - I've never seen this Japanese series. Have you?

2. Thunderbirds - US movie with Busted theme tune. Never seen it either. You?

3. Team America - US parody. I saw it today on Sky. Controversial! 

How would you rate these readers? Are there any more?

30ft Thunderbirds 3 Rocket lands in Indianapolis

30ft Thunderbirds 3 Rocket lands in Indianapolis

5..4..3..2..1 thunderbirds are go!

Brian Getz creates Thunderbirds 3 rocket balloon using TWO THOUSAND AND FOUR HUNDRED balloons in just NINE hours. Video gives fans an exclusive insight into the making of this enormous one of a kind Thunderbirds 3 rocket replica: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkoIabi17PM Images available here: http://we.tl/wfmqF7MOM4

To mark the 50^th Anniversary of the legendary TV series Thunderbirds and celebrate a brand new series – Thunderbirds Are Go – coming to our screens on ITV next year, balloon artist Brian Getz from Indianapolis, U.S.A. has created a replica of the iconic Thunderbirds 3 rocket using 2,400 balloons in just nine hours. This unique creation is a far cry from the typical balloon art found at childhood parties and saw Brian creating his biggest balloon structure to date that would tower over your average balloon animal - reaching a whopping height of THIRTY FEET. 

Brian has captured and explained the making of this balloon rocket on video. Twenty volunteers – who between them worked around 160 hours in one day - joined him to build the most challenging design he has ever attempted. 2400 balloons were used and placed carefully in an aluminium frame made to hold the design together and enabling it to stand upright. The Thunderbirds rocket and video are a one of a kind ode to the iconic series which is set for an action packed reboot on ITV next year. The much anticipated re-make uses a unique mix of CGI animation and live-action model sets to deliver a new level of action-adventure animation, whilst also paying tribute to the classic 1960's phenomenon.

Brian was keen to turn his hand to some Thunderbirds craft and said "I am always on the lookout for the next challenge and Thunderbirds has such recognisable and distinctive craft – the hardest part was deciding which rocket to replicate!"

ITV Studios is currently in production with Pukeko Pictures on a remake of the classic series originally produced by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. The series will debut on ITV and CITV in 2015 and has already been sold to Australia's Nine Network.

Elaine Jones

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TRACY ISLAND REVEALED: First look at the home of Thunderbirds Are Go!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Tracy Island revealed: 

First look at the home of Thunderbirds Are Go

Producers release shot from the anticipated re-make of the much loved series

Fans get an exclusive first look at the new Tracy Island

The picture was unveiled to coincide with Thunderbirds panel at COMIC-CON® International 2014.

Thunderbirds Are Go producers have released an exclusive image from the production of their new series; an insight into the brand new Tracy Island. The picture was unveiled as a Thunderbirds panel came together to discuss the heritage of the series at COMIC-CON® International, San Diego, in celebration of the show's upcoming fiftieth anniversary in 2015.

Tracy Island is fondly remembered for its unique features including its retractable swimming pool and tilting palm trees. In keeping with the original setting, the island still stands tall over the crystal clear waters of an exotic location. 

The action packed reboot will be produced using a unique mix of CGI animation and live-action model sets to deliver a new level of action-adventure animation whilst also paying tribute to the classic 1960's phenomenon.

Speaking about Tracy Island, Executive Producer Giles Ridge said, "It's great to have the chance to give fans a sneak peak at the home of Thunderbirds. Tracy Island was a much loved feature of the original show, so it felt right that we showcase our new-look location with the show's followers."

ITV Studios is currently in production with Pukeko Pictures on a remake of the classic series originally produced by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. The series will debut on ITV and CITV in 2015 and has already been sold to Australia's Nine Network.

David Graham, the original voice of Parker, will reprise his role and is to be joined by Rosamund Pike as Lady Penelope. The Tracy brothers are to be voiced by Thomas Brodie Sangster (Game of Thrones), Kayvan Novak (Fonejacker) and Rasmus Hardiker (Saxondale)

For more information:

Rosie Jones

Account Manager

Taylor Herring