The 1990s had seen a mass resurgence of interest in classic television shows from the 1960s and 1970s. It started back in 1990 when BBC Radio 5 aired 8 out of the 19 audio episodes of Thunderbirds, which were the original 1960s audio albums. With introductions by Gerry Anderson and extra linking dialogue from Shane Rimmer, the success of these radio broadcasts prompted BBC TV's head of youth programming Jane Street Potter to buy the series for early evening viewing on BBC2. The "minority channel" had started to air several other cult series at around the same time, such as Star Trek, Battlestar Gallactica, Doctor Who, and even the relatively new The Simpsons! The ratings of the first episode, Trapped In The Sky, achieved over 7 million when it aired at 6PM on Friday 20th September and astonished program controllers and the BBC's schedulers. As a result, Thunderbirds mania had returned, and over the following years, the BBC would air other Anderson programs Stingray, Captain Scarlet, Joe 90, UFO, and Space: 1999, among the other aforementioned cult TV series that were part of the revival. Fireball XL5 actually appeared in various comics of Thunderbirds in the 1990s! This was probably to help expand readers of the popular comic into various other Anderson programs. Like in the 1990s, because Fireball XL5 was made in black and white as opposed to its later colour programs, it might have meant it has not been able to enjoy so many repeat runs like the BBC 2 showings. The 21st Century Visions by Derek Meddings and Sam Mitchell released their packed book in 1993 about the visuals during the Anderson productions. In the 1990s, Nick at Nite aired various Anderson productions in late night slots (usually at around 10 - 11:30 PM), including Fireball XL5.
In 1994, CST(color systems technologies) were commissioned by ITC to complete a test run for colourising the series. It was added as an extra in the Supercar documentary Full Boost Vertical: The Supercar Story. The very best book on the Anderson series and films to come out of Japan - and the most expensive was Gerry Anderson's Thunderbirds by the ITC Entertainment Group in 1993. Now highly sought after (one sold on Ebay in March 2005 for £280), it has more than 350 pages crammed with photographs, many unfamiliar to even the most ardent fan. Covering everything from models, puppets & actors to props, sets, behind the scenes shots & merchandise, this book has it all. The Gerry Anderson Memrobillia Guide, complied by Dennis W. Nicholson, published by Cooee Concepts Pty. Ltd, had a comprehensive list of Anderson merchandise from The Adventures Of Twizzle right up to the 1990s merchandise of the SUPERMARIONATION shows. In 1996, Stan Nicholls and the Estate of Simon Archer published the Gerry Anderson Authorised Biography by Legend Books. An updated version of the book was republished in 2002.
The 1997 This Is... Cult Fiction Royale featured a compilation of themes for Barry Gray's music, and included the theme of Fireball XL5 on it, as well as the themes Gray composed for Anderson's shows. In 1998, Fanderson released the Supercar/Fireball XL5 soundtrack album, the first time themes from each series had ever been released. Many tracks from the series were released for the first time from the theme music, Zero G, Fireball, Planet 46, Hypnotic Sphere, Planet Of Platonia, Space Magnet, The Doomed Planet, Plant Man From Space, Space Monster, Flying Zodiac, XL5 to H20, Prisoner On The Lost Planet, Flight To Danger, Space Vacation, 1875, and Drama At Space City. The 1999 Cult Files Reopened Silva Screen record once again contained Zero G and Fireball, whereas the A to Z of Fantasy Film Themes included the themes to Fireball XL5, Space: 1999 and Thunderbirds.
THE FORBIDDEN PLANET;
Written by Anthony Marriott
Directed by David Elliott
Original UK Airdate: 10th March 1963 (ATV London and Ulster)
Additional Voice Cast:
Privator John Bluthal Perfectos David Graham Stamp Paul Maxwell Announcer John Bluthal
This episode is another story I don't seem to remember much about for some reason. The Earth Television announcer reveals that the year is Universal Astronomic Year 2062. When the transmission from the observatory fails, it is replaced by "a short film" from the Four Feather Falls episode Ambush. Our alien friends are a ruthless bunch, and a right ugly two as well - another interesting addition to the collection of alien baddies. The set and visuals designs are once again brilliant, and it's good to see Zero and Ninety in more of the action too. If only the Professor had of switched off those dials!