The late film and television producer Gerry Anderson authorised and oversaw Century 21, a series of books that reprinted some of the best material from the 1960s comics TV Century 21 and Lady Penelope. Gerry’s best-known productions include Fireball XL5, Stingray, Captain Scarlet, Joe 90, UFO and Space: 1999. His most famous creation, Thunderbirds, is an international phenomenon that has inspired a vast array of merchandise and three feature films.
SIMON BARNARD
Simon Barnard is a freelance writer and network radio producer. He has produced documentaries and music shows for BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 6Music, winning three Sony Awards. Simon writes the supernatural comedy series The Scarifyers, as heard on BBC Radio 4 Extra, and is producing a new audio series in collaboration with Hammer Films. He also produces podcasts for The Guardian.
CHRIS BENTLEY
Chris Bentley compiled Menace From Space, the latest volume in the acclaimed Century 21 series of comic strip reprints. Chris is the former chairman of Fanderson, the official Gerry Anderson appreciation society, and is acknowledged as one of the leading authorities on the producer’s long and varied career. He is the author and co-author of seven books on the subject, as well as the 2007 guide The Avengers On Location.
PETER CUSHING
Peter Cushing was born in 1913 and, after early work in Hollywood, came to prominence as one of the original stars of BBC Television in the early 1950s. By the end of the decade his lead roles in numerous Hammer Horror films had made him internationally famous, and he is still best remembered for his numerous portrayals of Baron Frankenstein and Dr Van Helsing. His prolific career also saw him play Doctor Who, Sherlock Holmes and the ruthless Grand Moff Tarkin in the original Star Wars. He died in 1994.
MICHAEL DARVELL
The co-editor of Film Review has contributed to the magazines Films Illustrated and Radio Times, as well as editing Montage, the London film societies magazine, for ten years. He stepped into the shoes of the late F Maurice Speed (the founding father of Film Review) as the editor of What’s On In London. As well as writing about films, Michael also reviews music theatre and cabaret for the Classical Source website.
LIZ FRASER
Liz Fraser was one of British cinema’s favourite leading ladies for three decades. Instantly recognisable as the star of five Carry On productions, she also appeared in the Confessions and Adventures films as well as such classics as I’m All Right Jack and Two Way Stretch. In her autobiography, published in October 2012, Liz remembers some of her best-known co-stars, reveals the heartbreak behind two marriages and discusses her courageous battles with cancer.
EUNICE GAYSON
By the time Eunice Gayson played James Bond's girlfriend Sylvia Trench in Dr No and From Russia With Love she had already become one of the first reality TV stars. Her leading men included Sean Connery and Roger Moore, and at the height of her fame she co-starred in a record-breaking run of The Sound of Music. Her autobiography, The First Lady of Bond, was published by Signum in October 2012. Eunice’s website is www.eunicegayson.com.
PAN’S PEOPLE
Between 1968 and 1976 Pan’s People were the undisputed highlight of BBC Television’s flagship music programme Top of the Pops. In the era before music videos this legendary group and their choreographer Flick Colby filled in for absent bands. In the process they become better remembered than many of the records they danced to. Babs Lord, Cherry Gillespie, Dee Dee Wilde and Ruth Pearson – the surviving members of the classic line-up – are the authors of Pan’s People: Our Story.
JONATHAN RIGBY
Jonathan Rigby is an actor, critic and film historian. He is the author of English Gothic and American Gothic, two of the most highly regarded books on horror films published in the last 20 years. Jonathan’s other books include Christopher Lee: The Authorised Screen History and Roxy Music: Both Ends Burning. In 2010 he was series consultant on the BBC’s acclaimed three-part documentary A History of Horror with Mark Gatiss.
SHANE RIMMER
Shane Rimmer’s voice is familiar to millions from his role as Scott Tracy, the pilot of Thunderbird 1, but there are many other facets to his remarkable career. In From Thunderbirds to Pterodactyls Shane recalls the years he spent as an actor, voice artist and writer for Gerry Anderson’s classic productions, as well as his appearances in such diverse productions as Doctor Who, Star Wars, The Spy Who Loved Me, Coronation Street and Batman Begins. Shane's website is at www.shanerimmer.com
MANSEL STIMPSON
The co-editor of Film Review has long been the chairman of the Eastbourne Film Society, and has introduced films and led discussions at London’s National Film Theatre. He was a reviewer and interviewer for What’s On In London for almost 20 years. Mansel’s other great interest, classical music, has yielded several pieces on the work of Benjamin Britten and almost 200 articles based on interviews at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
