These are the major recurring characters in the series:. The end credits of this episode run over a scene set in the near future, showing the woman visiting her husband's grave and then walking away to meet her lover. Using modified Austin Mini Moke chassis with an extra rear axle, the marine ply, fibreglass and perspex bodies, fitted for the film were modified, with the windscreen moved rearwards. The show also made limited use of American models, which were unfamiliar to British viewers. A show jumper is abducted by the aliens. The different writers and directors, as well as a production break when MGM-British Studios was closed, resulted in episodes of varying quality. Funding for the project fell through, but the script has been made into a fan-made audio production and uploaded to YouTube , and it continues as an independent series. The second line of defence includes Skydiver , a submarine mated with the submersible, undersea-launched Sky One interceptor aircraft , which attacks UFOs in Earth's atmosphere. In UFO this took several forms — Straker's "secret" office doubles as a secret elevator that takes him down to the SHADO control centre located beneath the studio, and the pilots of the Moonbase interceptors and the amphibious Sky One jet interceptor slide down boarding chutes to board their craft. I saw Mahler years ago, but don't particularly remember her in that.

Yeah I'm trying to come up with a range of ideas and always good to ramble about Ken. Ed Straker Doppelgänger. Typical of Anderson productions, the studio-as-cover idea was both practical and cost-effective for the production and provided a ready-made for the viewer's suspension of disbelief. She initially has a somewhat tense working relationship with Straker, though by the end of the series they appear to have grown close and she is seen comforting him in the final scene of the final episode. Both Ed Bishop and Michael Billington have commented that the futuristic cars were 'impossible to drive. When they accidentally kill an alien from a downed UFO instead, SHADO intervenes and doses the guilty pair with amnesia drugs decades ahead of a similar story device in Men in Black, and one deployed for similar reasons. This section possibly contains original research. Redirected from Gay Ellis. Also, due to the scheduling of the series which did not reflect the production order, some episodes featuring departed cast members were not actually aired until late in the series, giving the impression that no major cast changes occurred. Keith Alexander.

The classic Dinky die-cast range of vehicles featured robust yet finely-finished products and included Straker's futuristic gull-winged gas turbine car, the SHADO mobile and the missile-bearing Lunar Interceptor though the Interceptor was released in a lurid metallic green finish unlike the original's white. UFO confused broadcasters in both Britain and the United States, who could not decide if it was a show for adults or for children. The second line of defence includes SkyDiver, a submarine mated with the submersible, undersea-launched Sky One interceptor aircraft which would attack UFOs in earth atmosphere. Retrieved 8 November Despite the assumption of many TV station executives, the series was not aimed at children, but deliberately sought an older audience; many episodes featured adult themes such as adultery, divorce, and drug use. Edit page. Colonel Foster is tried and sentenced to death after a security leak is traced to him. Owing to the fragmented nature of the ITV network in the United Kingdom at the time, the 26 episodes of UFO were broadcast out of production order, and every broadcaster showed the episodes in a different sequence. The special effects as in all Anderson's shows of this era were supervised by Derek Meddings, and the vehicles were designed by Meddings and his assistant Michael Trim.

SHADO has a variety of high-tech hardware and vehicles at its disposal to implement a layered defence of Earth. A subplot of the episode "Kill Straker! Straker has a futuristic home bar in his office, from which Col. The episode "Survival" shows that SHADO's Moonbase is in the Mare Imbrium , or in the northeast part of it, according to a map that Foster and an alien studied while they were stranded on the surface. The pilots of the Interceptors slide down a boarding tube into the craft. They had always hoped to direct live action TV drama, and although the marionette shows helped them develop impressive skills in effects and scripting, they had always considered them as essentially being a way of keeping in work and earning money while they tried to break into "real" TV drama. The map is a real one. Also, the gull-wing doors did not open automatically. A plastic mold was made of the Straker car, in preparation for mass production, but the company never got off the ground. Problems playing this file?

This was owing to the difficulty of getting a puppet into a cockpit easily and in a natural way. The futuristic, gull-winged cars driven by the Ed Straker and Paul Foster characters were originally built for the Anderson movie Doppelgänger later re-named Journey to the Far Side of the Sun. Producer Gerry Anderson later said that he had lost his temper with her so badly on the set of UFO, that he always feared the idea of running into Michael Caine at some actors' function, and being punched in the nose by him. During the last quarter of the season, Lake returns to the series to, ironically, take over the post of SHADO first officer, replacing Freeman. SHADO has a variety of high-tech hardware and vehicles at its disposal to implement a layered defence of Earth. The series' premise is that in a date indicated repeatedly in the opening credits , Earth is being visited by aliens from a dying planet, who are abducting humans and harvesting their organs for their own bodies. Retrieved 4 October Early warnings of alien attack would come from SID, the S pace I ntruder D etector, an unmanned computerised tracking satellite that constantly scans for UFO incursions.

The second line of defence includes Skydiver , a submarine mated with the submersible, undersea-launched Sky One interceptor aircraft , which attacks UFOs in Earth's atmosphere. When his second-in-command, Col, Freeman, diverted the plane in order to investigate some curious UFO-related events in Ireland, pride prevented Straker from informing and overruling him as to the plane's original mission. Among the innovations predicted by the series are:. Production then moved to Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire. The classic Dinky die-cast range of vehicles featured robust yet finely-finished products and included Straker's futuristic gull-winged gas turbine car, the SHADO mobile and the missile-bearing Lunar Interceptor though the Interceptor was released in a lurid metallic green finish unlike the original's white. The Pirate TV Movie The end credits of this episode feature a very dark scene set in the future with the woman visiting her husband's grave, and then walking to meet her lover. He was married to Mary Nightingale in , but they soon divorced after the birth of John, their son. Producers Avi Haas and Matthew Gratzner posted on the official UFO film website that the film was under development and planned for a summer release. Miss Ealand Norma Ronald.

After the tube retracts the Interceptor is raised from the hanger on a platform the actual launch pad being disguised as a lunar crater. SHADO has a variety of high-tech hardware and vehicles at its disposal to implement a layered defence of Earth. Hine TV Series The Boy Friend Edit page. Retrieved 2 October Producers Avi Haas and Matthew Gratzner posted on the official UFO film website that the film was under development and planned for a summer release. The series also revisited and improved on the clever and cost-effective aquatic effects originally devised for Stingray. Clear your history.

The special effects as in all Anderson's shows of this era were supervised by Derek Meddings, and the vehicles were designed by Meddings and his assistant Michael Trim. He is Moonbase Commander for a time substituting for Lt. Great new feature: here's to it being a regular. Lew Waterman Gary Myers. See media help. The craft is armed with a laser-type weapon, but can be destroyed by conventional explosives. SHADO's first officer until about the three-quarter point in the series when Sewell left following the change of studios. Special effects expert Matthew Gratzner will fulfill his dream of directing a big screen version of the s British TV series UFO, which centers on a top secret agency hidden beneath a Hollywood movie studio that battles space aliens who seek to abduct humans to use their body parts.

She initially has a somewhat tense working relationship with Straker, though by the end of the series they appear to have grown close and she is seen comforting him in the final scene of the final episode. Problems playing this file? While he himself does not drink, Straker is regularly seen smoking in SHADO headquarters despite its computer equipment , his tobacco of choice being either a cigarette or what appears to be a slim panatela cigar complete with holder. Oh Antonia What stupendous woman you are! SHADO and an alien find themselves in the midst of a murderous romantic triangle. Retrieved 9 November The second line of defence includes Skydiver , a submarine mated with the submersible, undersea-launched Sky One interceptor aircraft , which attacks UFOs in Earth's atmosphere. The box set includes a page booklet, explaining how the show was made and includes previously unpublished images.

In the episode "Ordeal", Paul Foster is carried by two aliens while he is wearing an alien space suit, but one of those two aliens is always off-screen when Foster is on-screen. September Learn how and when to remove this template message. Until not long before his death he possessed one of the wigs he wore on the show, and took great delight in displaying it at science fiction conventions and on TV programmes. Their time on station is limited: UFOs can only survive for a couple of days in Earth's atmosphere before they deteriorate and finally explode. Many of the props and actors that had appeared in the Anderson-produced movie Doppelgänger were utilised in the series. SHADO psychiatrist and science officer. Sign In. The pilots of the Interceptors slide down a boarding tube into the craft. Gerry Anderson proposed a format in which SHADO Moonbase had been greatly enlarged to become the organisation's main headquarters, and pre-production on UFO 2 began with extensive research and design for the new Moonbase. Oh Antonia What stupendous woman you are!

Crossroads to Crime produced and directed Thunderbirds Are Go co-wrote Thunderbird 6 co-wrote Doppelgänger co-wrote and co-produced. Former television interviewer who became a founding member of SHADO and its main communications officer. And despite the high-tech milieu and enclosed environments, smoking is seen throughout the show, as was par for course in s British television drama. UFO confused broadcasters in both Britain and the United States who could not decide if it was a programme for adults, or for children the fact Anderson was primarily associated with children's programming did not help matters. Technically speaking the series title should properly be pronounced "you-foh" as well. Virginia Lake. In the episode "Ordeal", Paul Foster is carried by two aliens while he is wearing an alien space suit, but one of those two aliens is always off-screen when Foster is on-screen. The episode "Survival" shows that SHADO's Moonbase is in the Mare Imbrium , or in the northeast part of it, according to a map that Foster and an alien studied while they were stranded on the surface. Among the innovations predicted by the series are:.

Special effects expert Matthew Gratzner will fulfill his dream of directing a big screen version of the s British TV series UFO, which centers on a top secret agency hidden beneath a Hollywood movie studio that battles space aliens who seek to abduct humans to use their body parts. The series also revisited and improved on the clever and cost-effective aquatic effects originally devised for Stingray. August Learn how and when to remove this template message. Carlin is often shown idly flicking through magazines with a cigarette in hand. Gerry Anderson. Joan Harrington Antonia Ellis. Yeah I'm trying to come up with a range of ideas and always good to ramble about Ken. Mark Bradley Harry Baird.

The first Selectric was released in , eight years before the series was produced, and was already near-obsolete technology by UFO featured key motifs and plot elements that shared a conceptual continuity with nearly all of Anderson's previous TV work. A somewhat sinister-looking figure who sometimes appears to have his own agenda, Jackson serves a number of capacities within SHADO, including acting as prosecution officer during the court martial of Paul Foster. The aliens transform three humans into walking bombs. The pilots of the Interceptors slide down a boarding tube into the craft. Among the major actors, only Ed Bishop appeared in all episodes. Bishop, until not long before his death, possessed one of the wigs he wore on the show and took great delight in displaying it at science fiction conventions and on TV programmes. This proposal developed into Space:

The show's basic premise is that in the near future —a fictional version of a date indicated in the opening credits — human beings are being covertly harvested for their organs by aliens. She initially has a somewhat tense working relationship with Straker, though by the end of the series they appear to have grown close and she is seen comforting him in the final scene of the final episode. Special effects, as in all Anderson's marionette shows, were supervised by Derek Meddings, while the vehicles were designed by Meddings and his assistant, Michael Trim. Views Read Edit View history. He also kept a Certina watch that was specially made for his character. Production then moved to Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire. Ed Straker's dramatic gas turbine car, resembling somewhat the Citroën SM, was, in fact, a humble Ford Zephyr with a specially built aluminium bodyshell. When they accidentally kill an alien from a downed UFO instead, SHADO intervenes and doses the guilty pair with amnesia drugs decades ahead of a similar story device in Men in Black, and one deployed for similar reasons. In UFO, this appeared in the guise of Straker's "secret" office, which doubled as a lift elevator that takes him down to the SHADO control centre located beneath the studio.

A later episode, "The Cat with Ten Lives", contains a particularly sinister plot point which suggests that the UFO pilots are not humanoid aliens at all, but are in fact human abductees under the control of the alien intelligences. When his second-in-command, Col, Freeman, diverted the plane in order to investigate some curious UFO-related events in Ireland, pride prevented Straker from informing and overruling him as to the plane's original mission. Ayshea Johnson Ayshea Brough. This confusion — coupled with erratic broadcasts — are considered as contributing factors in its cancellation, although UFO is credited with opening the door to moderately successful runs of later live-action, adult-oriented programming by Anderson such as The Protectors and Space: The forward line of defence is MoonBase from which the three Lunar Interceptor spacecraft from which nuclear missiles are launched. Archived from the original on 21 February I nominate Sammi Davis! When filmed from the appropriate angle it produced a very convincing illusion of the helmet filling up and submerging the alien's head. Colonel Foster is tried and sentenced to death after a security leak is traced to him.

The classic Dinky die-cast range of vehicles featured robust yet finely-finished products and included Straker's futuristic gull-winged gas turbine car, the SHADO mobile and the missile-bearing Lunar Interceptor though the Interceptor was released in a lurid metallic green finish unlike the original's white. This confusion — coupled with erratic broadcasts — are considered as contributing factors in its cancellation, although UFO is credited with opening the door to moderately successful runs of later live-action, adult-oriented programming by Anderson such as The Protectors and Space: Gay Ellis Gabrielle Drake. Among the major actors, only Ed Bishop appeared in all episodes. Straker realises, however, that the drugs will not affect their basic motivation and, worse, he cannot reveal the truth to local legal authorities. This section possibly contains original research. It is implied that Doug Jackson is not the character's birth name, as he speaks with a strong Eastern European accent. The aliens transform three humans into walking bombs. Straker must face his claustrophobia when the Skydiver submarine is damaged and unable to surface. The first Selectric was released in , eight years before the series was produced, and was already near-obsolete technology by

This article possibly contains original research. In , Channel 5 released a seven-volume VHS collection of episodes volumes , preceded by the compilation film Invasion: UFO volume 1 , [14] while a similar series was later released by ITC in A plastic mold was made of the Straker car, in preparation for mass production, but the company never got off the ground. The second line of defence includes SkyDiver, a submarine mated with the submersible, undersea-launched Sky One interceptor aircraft which would attack UFOs in earth atmosphere. UFO: Prendeteli vivi. Namespaces Article Talk. Straker must face his claustrophobia when the Skydiver submarine is damaged and unable to surface. SHADO has a variety of high-tech hardware and vehicles at its disposal to implement a layered defence of Earth.

Also, due to the scheduling of the series which did not reflect the production order, some episodes featuring departed cast members were not actually aired until late in the series, giving the impression that no major cast changes occurred. Straker faces a terrible decision: attend to an alien defector or deliver life-saving medicine to his critically injured son. Bishop also kept a Certina watch that was specially made for his character. Problems playing this file? In a sad coincidence, lead actors Ed Bishop and Michael Billington died in June , within five days of each other. The stories The show's concept was very dark for its time — the basic premise was that the alien invaders were abducting humans to use as involuntary organ transplant donors. Production resumed at Pinewood Studios when studio space became available in June , making UFO a month-long production by the time the final nine episodes were completed. This section possibly contains original research.

A somewhat sinister-looking figure who sometimes appears to have his own agenda, Jackson serves a number of capacities within SHADO, including acting as prosecution officer during the court martial of Paul Foster. The submerged launch of Sky One was filmed on a special set dressed to look like an underwater location; a thin glass-walled water tank containing small fish and equipped with small air-bubble generators was placed in front of the camera, the set behind the tank was filled with smoke, and set elements were agitated with fans to simulate water movement, creating a surprisingly convincing underwater scene without any of the high cost or technical problems associated with real underwater filming. Wanda beside Foster's Car. Paul Foster Michael Billington. Timeframes are never given for events before the series, but it would be reasonable to presume that their marriage had ended by the end of the flashback presented in "Confetti Check A-OK". The Pirate TV Movie In the credits she is identified only as Ayshea as is the actress. The classic Dinky die-cast range of vehicles featured robust yet finely-finished products and included Straker's futuristic gull-winged gas turbine car, the SHADO mobile and the missile-bearing Lunar Interceptor though the Interceptor was released in a lurid metallic green finish unlike the original's white.

One consistent element of Straker's character is that he refuses to drink alcohol even though he has a fully stocked bar in his SHADO office. The pilots of the Interceptors slide down a boarding tube into the craft. Another episode "The Square Triangle" includes a plot by a woman and her lover to murder her husband. Retrieved 21 May Comings and goings at odd times, the movement of people and unusual vehicles, equipment and material would not create undue interest and could easily be explained away as sets , props , or extras. Joan Harrington Antonia Ellis. The Andersons never explained at the time why female Moonbase personnel uniformly wore mauve or purple wigs, silver catsuits , and extensive eye make-up. Original Theme. We believe this constitutes a fair use of any such copyrighted material as provided for in 17 U.

Production then moved to Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire. Owing to the fragmented nature of the ITV network in the United Kingdom at the time, the 26 episodes of UFO were broadcast out of production order, and every broadcaster showed the episodes in a different sequence. And despite the high-tech milieu and enclosed environments, smoking is seen throughout the show, as was par for course in s British television drama. After the tube retracts the Interceptor is raised from the hanger on a platform the actual launch pad being disguised as a lunar crater. This is particularly true of the lead character, Ed Straker. The interceptors then rise from their hangar via elevating platforms to a launch pad disguised as a lunar crater. When filmed from the appropriate angle it produced a very convincing illusion of the helmet filling up and submerging the alien's head. Original Theme.

When Foster escapes custody after being found falsely guilty, Jackson successfully convinces General Henderson to have his guards use tranquilizer darts in their pursuit, rather than shooting to kill. Percy Der Mond. He is Moonbase Commander for a time substituting for Lt. He becomes a very close friend of Paul Foster's. In her final appearance, she is stationed at MoonBase. Notably for science fiction, and uniquely for a television series, the alien race is never given a proper name, either by themselves or by human beings; they are simply referred to as "the aliens. Joan Harrington Antonia Ellis.

Nina Barry Dolores Mantez. This section possibly contains original research. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Also, the gull-wing doors did not open automatically. Retrieved 4 October Problems playing this file? Gerry and Sylvia Anderson , Tony Barwick. The show also made limited use of American models, which were unfamiliar to British viewers. And despite the high-tech milieu and enclosed environments, smoking is seen throughout the show, as was par for course in s British television drama. UFO featured key motifs and plot elements that shared a conceptual continuity with nearly all of Anderson's previous TV work.

Timeframes are never given for events before the series, but it would be reasonable to presume that their marriage had ended by the end of the flashback presented in "Confetti Check A-OK". A very distinctive actress, her key attributes were legs that seemed to go on forever and a smile that broke across her distinctive strong features like sunshine through dark clouds. SHADO has a variety of high-tech hardware and vehicles at its disposal to implement a layered defence of Earth. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Retrieved 8 November Steve Minto, one of the Interceptor pilots, was played by the actor Steven Berkoff. Another episode "The Square Triangle" includes a plot by a woman and her lover to murder her husband. Retrieved 21 May Aliens Notably for science fiction, and uniquely for a television series, the alien race is never given a proper name, either by themselves or by human beings; they are simply referred to as "the aliens.

The Andersons never explained at the time why female Moonbase personnel uniformly wore mauve or purple wigs, silver catsuits , and extensive eye make-up. Hine TV Series There are also some deleted scenes and lots of stills and publicity artwork. Early warnings of alien attack would come from SID, the S pace I ntruder D etector, an unmanned computerised tracking satellite that constantly scans for UFO incursions. SHADO psychiatrist and science officer. UFO featured key motifs and plot elements that shared a conceptual continuity with nearly all of Anderson's previous TV work. The end credits of this episode run over a scene set in the near future, showing the woman visiting her husband's grave and then walking away to meet her lover. She was romantically involved with Paul Foster for a time. SHADO and an alien find themselves in the midst of a murderous romantic triangle.

Producer Gerry Anderson later said that he had lost his temper with her so badly on the set of UFO, that he always feared the idea of running into Michael Caine at some actors' function, and being punched in the nose by him. Hine TV Series Lew Waterman Gary Myers. Mahler The submerged launch of Sky One was filmed on a special set dressed to look like an underwater location; a thin glass-walled water tank containing small fish and equipped with small air-bubble generators was placed in front of the camera, the set behind the tank was filled with smoke, and set elements were agitated with fans to simulate water movement, creating a surprisingly convincing underwater scene without any of the high cost or technical problems associated with real underwater filming. It is implied that Doug Jackson is not the character's birth name, as he speaks with a strong Eastern European accent. While he himself does not drink, Straker is regularly seen smoking in SHADO headquarters despite its computer equipment , his tobacco of choice being either a cigarette or what appears to be a slim panatela cigar complete with holder. Share this page:. Many other male characters in the series also wore wigs, again because the Andersons felt that they would become fashionable for both sexes by the s.

After the 26 episodes were completed plans were drawn up for a sequel to be called UFO: which would have been set in a much bigger Moonbase. Edit page. Another, "A Question of Priorities" hinges on Straker having to make an agonising life-or-death choice — to rescue his critically-injured son by diverting an aircraft carrying SHADO mobiles to deliver life-saving medical supplies, or to attempt a last-chance intercept against an incoming UFO. Grant Taylor. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. At the start of production, the alien spacesuits were ornamented with brass chain mesh, as seen in the episode "Survival". She was romantically involved with Paul Foster for a time. The fact that the companies associated with the Andersons, such as AP Films and Century 21 Productions , were primarily associated with children's programming did not help matters.

Retrieved 21 May Owing to the fragmented nature of the ITV network in the United Kingdom at the time, the 26 episodes of UFO were broadcast out of production order, and every broadcaster showed the episodes in a different sequence. Wanda beside Foster's Car. A computer specialist, she also served as Moonbase commander. The extraterrestrial spacecraft can readily cross the vast distances between their planet and ours, but are only large enough for one or two crewmembers. Freeman partakes fairly regularly. Archived from the original on 16 February In a refinement of the underwater effect developed for Stingray, Meddings' team devised a disconcerting effect — a double-walled visor for the alien space helmets which could be gradually filled from the bottom up with green-dyed water.

The personal arms of the aliens resemble shiny assault rifles; these have a lower rate of fire than that used by SHADO. Many other male characters in the series also wore wigs, again because the Andersons felt that they would become fashionable for both sexes by the s. UFO featured key motifs and plot elements that shared a conceptual continuity with nearly all of Anderson's previous TV work. An idiosyncrasy of the series is that the term "UFO" is pronounced as a word "you-foh" , as suggested by the real-world originator of the term Edward J. This suggests that the aliens may have no physical being themselves and therefore need a vehicle or container, meaning our human bodies, to incarnate. The money-saving argument may have been true to a limited extent, but the Andersons made a virtue of necessity. Whenever female Moon Base personnel visited Earth as Ellis and Barry did from time to time , their lunar regalia was never worn. Later episodes, such as "The Cat with Ten Lives", show the aliens using other weapons, such as a small device that paralyses victims. As with all these Anderson series, the look and narrative action of UFO relied heavily on the groundbreaking miniature props and special effects sequences created by Meddings and his team, who devised a range of innovative low-cost, high-quality techniques used to create very convincing miniature sets and locations and miniature action scenes featuring ground transportation, underwater, atmospheric and space travel, and dramatic explosion effects. Establishing the main character and principal location as the chief executive of a movie studio was a cost-saving move by the producers: the Harlington-Straker Studio was the actual studio where the series was being filmed, originally the MGM-British Studios and later Pinewood Studios — although the Harlington-Straker studio office block seen throughout the series was actually Neptune House, a building at the former British National Studios in Borehamwood that was owned by ATV.

In the episode "Mindbender", Stuart Damon is seen wearing the same white wig, although deliberately ill-fitting, in a dream sequence segment. The personal arms of the aliens resemble shiny metal submachine guns; these have a lower rate of fire than those used by SHADO. Dennis Spooner. It is established early on that SHADO personnel rotate between positions, so the occasional disappearance of characters — some of whom would later return in other positions — fits in with the concept of the series. Retrieved 22 July Or Georgina Hale! Mark 12 February at Josephine 11 February at The show also made limited use of American models, which were unfamiliar to British viewers.

Among the innovations predicted by the series are:. The complete series has been released on DVD in the UK and in North America and was finally released in Australia on 5 September , after many years of being promised "next year". After Lunar Module 32 is mysteriously destroyed, Straker campaigns to have space junk removed from Earth's orbit. The first Selectric was released in , eight years before the series was produced, and was already near-obsolete technology by The Andersons never explained at the time why female Moonbase personnel uniformly wore mauve or purple wigs, silver catsuits , and extensive eye make-up. And despite the high-tech milieu and enclosed environments, smoking is seen throughout the show, as it often was in s British television drama. The stories The show's concept was very dark for its time — the basic premise was that the alien invaders were abducting humans to use as involuntary organ transplant donors. However, the film did not go ahead.

Minor characters. The show's basic premise is that in the near future —a fictional version of a date indicated in the opening credits — human beings are being covertly harvested for their organs by aliens. Pegasus Research Consortium distributes this material without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. Ed Straker Ed Bishop. These are the major recurring characters in the series:. Virginia Lake Wanda Ventham. The Andersons had previously made a number of very successful marionette-based children's science fiction series including Stingray, Thunderbirds, and Captain Scarlet. Yester-Year Beauty. It removed the need to build an expensive exterior set for the SHADO base and combined that all-important "secret" cover concealment and secrecy are always central themes in Anderson dramas with the trademark ring of at least nominal plausibility.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Archived from the original on 21 February In UFO, this appeared in the guise of Straker's "secret" office, which doubled as a lift elevator that takes him down to the SHADO control centre located beneath the studio. He also kept a Certina watch that was specially made for his character. Straker has a futuristic home bar in his office which dispenses whisky, bourbon, vodka, etc. Similarly, many of the medical staff smoke whilst on duty, and smoking is even permitted on board the closed environment of the Skydiver, where Capt. Some critics complained that the emphasis on down-to-earth relationships weakened the show's science fiction premise and were also a means of saving money on special effects. Highly observant, she provides crucial information in the episode "The Cat with Ten Lives.

The Boy Friend Another, "A Question of Priorities" hinges on Straker having to make an agonising life-or-death choice — to rescue his critically-injured son by diverting an aircraft carrying SHADO mobiles to deliver life-saving medical supplies, or to attempt a last-chance intercept against an incoming UFO. Freeman partakes fairly regularly. The personal arms of the aliens resemble shiny metal submachine guns; these have a lower rate of fire than those used by SHADO. Foster encounters an alien on the lunar surface, but although the alien unexpectedly befriends and helps him, a misunderstanding leads to the alien being mistakenly killed by SHADO operatives. The episode "Survival" shows that the Moon base is in the Mare Imbrium, or in the northeast part of it, according to a map that Foster and an alien studied while they were stranded on the surface. SHADO psychiatrist and science officer. Owing to the fragmented nature of the ITV network in the United Kingdom at the time, the 26 episodes of UFO were broadcast out of production order, and every broadcaster showed the episodes in a different sequence. Namespaces Article Talk. Gabrielle Drake.

Look of the show Not only is it never explained why female Moon Base personnel uniformally wore purple wigs and extensive eye make-up although it has been suggested it was to combat static electricity , their unusual livery is never alluded to in the series. The interceptors then rise from their hangar via elevating platforms to a launch pad disguised as a lunar crater. BFI Screenonline. A show jumper is abducted by the aliens. The personal arms of the aliens resemble shiny assault rifles; these have a lower rate of fire than that used by SHADO. The box set includes a page booklet, explaining how the show was made and includes previously unpublished images. Straker realises, however, that the drugs will not affect their basic motivation and, worse, he cannot reveal the truth to local legal authorities. Freeman partakes fairly regularly.

While he himself does not drink, Straker is regularly seen smoking in SHADO headquarters despite its computer equipment , his tobacco of choice being either a cigarette or what appears to be a slim panatela cigar complete with holder. He was married to Mary Nightingale in , but they soon divorced after the birth of John, their son. Retrieved 8 November An early episode refers to him possessing the willpower to avoid alcohol, which suggests that he was once an alcoholic. Ayshea Johnson Ayshea Brough. And despite the high-tech milieu and enclosed environments, smoking is seen throughout the show, as it often was in s British television drama. Ken Turner. Gay Ellis - Moonbase.

BFI Screenonline. Some critics complained that the emphasis on down-to-earth relationships weakened the show's science fiction premise and were also a means of saving money on special effects. Retrieved 8 November The UFOs can survive for far longer underwater; one episode, "Reflections in the Water", deals with the discovery of a secret undersea alien base and shows one UFO flying straight out of an extinct volcano, which Straker describes as "a back door to the Atlantic ". This confusion — coupled with erratic broadcasts — are considered as contributing factors in its cancellation, although UFO is credited with opening the door to moderately successful runs of later live-action, adult-oriented programming by Anderson such as The Protectors and Space: Pegasus Research Consortium distributes this material without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. Gerry Anderson. Special effects, as in all Anderson's marionette shows, were supervised by Derek Meddings, while the vehicles were designed by Meddings and his assistant, Michael Trim. It is established early on that SHADO personnel rotate between positions, so the occasional disappearance of characters — some of whom would later return in other positions — fits in with the concept of the series.

The show's basic premise is that in the near future —a fictional version of a date indicated in the opening credits — human beings are being covertly harvested for their organs by aliens. In , it was announced that producer Robert Evans and ITV Global would be teaming up to produce a big-screen adaptation of the series. Gerry Anderson proposed a format in which SHADO Moonbase had been greatly enlarged to become the organisation's main headquarters, and pre-production on UFO 2 began with extensive research and design for the new Moonbase. Later episodes, such as "The Cat with Ten Lives", show the aliens using other weapons, such as a small device that paralyses victims. Oh Antonia What stupendous woman you are! During the shooting of the UFO series, David Lowe and Sydney Carlton raised funds to form a company called "The Explorer Motor Company," dedicated to the mass production of these cars for sale to the public. The classic Dinky die-cast range of vehicles featured robust yet finely finished products, and included Straker's futuristic gull-winged gas turbine car, the SHADO mobile and the missile-bearing Lunar Interceptor , though Dinky's version of the interceptor was released in a lurid metallic green finish unlike the original's stark white. However, nothing was completed, and the film's web page is no longer available.

The interceptors then rise from their hangar via elevating platforms to a launch pad disguised as a lunar crater. Bonus features include a commentary by Anderson on the pilot episode "Identified", and an actor's commentary by Bishop on the episode "Sub-smash". She also appears to be attracted to Ed Straker, though nothing comes of this. Time stands still at the film studio for everyone but Straker, Colonel Lake and a mysterious enemy. SHADO and an alien find themselves in the midst of a murderous romantic triangle. SHADO's first officer until about the three-quarter point in the series when Sewell left following the change of studios. Technically speaking the series title should properly be pronounced "you-foh" as well. The classic Dinky die-cast range of vehicles featured robust yet finely-finished products and included Straker's futuristic gull-winged gas turbine car, the SHADO mobile and the missile-bearing Lunar Interceptor though the Interceptor was released in a lurid metallic green finish unlike the original's white.

UFO, which was filmed in and , made a number of predictions about what life in the s would be like, some of which have to an extent come true. Sylvia Anderson, having had made a pair of very sheer trousers for actor Patrick Allen to wear in the episode "Timelash," later regretted not having had the nerve to ask him to wear a jock strap underneath, and commented on the DVD release of the series that "you should not be able to tell which side anybody's 'packet' is on. In , it was announced that producer Robert Evans and ITV Global would be teaming up to produce a big-screen adaptation of the series. A studio was a business where unusual events and routines would not be remarkable or even noticed. Gay Ellis Gabrielle Drake. Timeframes are never given for events before the series, but it would be reasonable to presume that their marriage had ended by the end of the flashback presented in "Confetti Check A-OK". Every shot in which the car door was seen to open automatically had to be arranged so that a prop man could run up to the car, just outside of the frame, open the door, and hold it open while Ed Bishop stepped out. After the 26 episodes were completed plans were drawn up for a sequel to be called UFO: which would have been set in a much bigger Moonbase.

Baird left the series midway through the season. The special effects, supervised by Derek Meddings, were of the highest quality and outstanding for their day, given the relatively limited resources at the team's disposal. Typical of Anderson's work, the studio-as-cover concept served multiple practical and narrative functions — it was simple and cost-effective for the production, it provided an engaging vehicle for the viewer's suspension of disbelief , it eliminated the need to build an expensive exterior set for the SHADO base, and it combined the all-important "secret" cover concealment and secrecy are always central themes in Anderson dramas with at least nominal plausibility. The extraterrestrial spacecraft can readily cross the vast distances between their planet and ours, but are only large enough for one or two crewmembers. Retrieved 8 November Among the innovations predicted by the series are:. Antonia Ellis Actress 9. In the episode "Mindbender", Stuart Damon is seen wearing the same white wig, although deliberately ill-fitting, in a dream sequence segment. An alien spacesuit can also be seen in the Children's Film Foundation production Kadoyng.

The Boy Friend However, in an interview given toward the end of her life, Sylvia explained that the decision was a combination of visual appeal and practicality - the wigs provided a striking and futuristic look, but they also saved the production the considerable time and expense of having to style the hair of each of the female Moonbase staff for each episode, as well as keeping the 'look' of the hairstyles consistent from episode to episode. Predictions UFO, which was filmed in and , made a number of predictions about what life in the s would be like, some of which have to an extent come true. Thus, apparently they did have access to an IBM terminal connected to a computer system, or something similar, to take those shots. The show also made limited use of American models, which were unfamiliar to British viewers. Early episodes in which Michael Billington does not wear a wig can be identified by his receding hairline and long sideburns. Not only is it never explained why female Moon Base personnel uniformally wore purple wigs and extensive eye make-up although it has been suggested it was to combat static electricity , their unusual livery is never alluded to in the series. The special effects, supervised by Derek Meddings, were of the highest quality and outstanding for their day, given the relatively limited resources at the team's disposal.

This is an allusion to the Andersons' earlier series Thunderbirds , which had the characters reaching their craft in similar fashion. Like the Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet models, the original Dinky toys are now prized collectors' items. The episode "Survival" shows that the Moon base is in the Mare Imbrium, or in the northeast part of it, according to a map that Foster and an alien studied while they were stranded on the surface. Help Community portal Recent changes Upload file. However, the later episode "The Cat with Ten Lives" suggests that these "humanoids" are actually beings subject to alien mind control, and one "alien" body recovered was suspected of being completely homo sapiens , "possessed" by one of the alien minds—a concept central to Anderson's previous Supermarionation series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons. Their faces are stained green by the hue of a green oxygenated liquid , which is believed to cushion their lungs against the extreme acceleration of interstellar flight; this liquid is contained in their helmets. The money-saving argument may have been true to a limited extent, but the Andersons made a virtue of necessity. Download as PDF Printable version.

Stephilius 6 February at The end credits of this episode feature a very dark scene set in the future with the woman visiting her husband's grave, and then walking to meet her lover. A fan-made CGI illustration of two aliens from the series. She seems to be a regular on the fan convention circuit these days. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Also, Skydiver Captain Peter Carlin, played by Peter Gordeno, left after eight episodes out of a fear of being typecast. Original Theme 30 Seconds of opening theme. It removed the need to build an expensive exterior set for the SHADO base and combined that all-important "secret" cover concealment and secrecy are always central themes in Anderson dramas with the trademark ring of at least nominal plausibility. After the break in production he began wearing a white wig. Joshua Jackson will top-line as the film's central character Paul Foster.

Other male characters in the series also wore wigs, again because the Andersons felt that they would become fashionable for both sexes by the s. In "Survival", following another sneak attack on Moonbase, an injured Col. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Or Georgina Hale! Pinewood's studio buildings and streetscapes were used extensively in later episodes, particularly " Timelash " and " Mindbender " — the latter featuring scenes that show the behind-the-scenes workings of the UFO sets, when Straker briefly finds himself hallucinating that he is an actor in a TV series and all his SHADO colleagues are likewise actors. There are also deleted scenes, stills and publicity artwork. Original Theme 30 Seconds of opening theme. Retrieved 31 October Their faces are stained green by the hue of a green oxygenated liquid , which is believed to cushion their lungs against the extreme acceleration of interstellar flight; this liquid is contained in their helmets.

This is an allusion to the Andersons' earlier series, Thunderbirds, which had the characters accessing their craft in similar fashion. Showing all 4 items. An alien spacesuit can also be seen in the Children's Film Foundation production Kadoyng. This suggests that the aliens may have no physical being themselves and therefore need a vehicle or container, meaning our human bodies, to incarnate. The fact that the companies associated with the Andersons, such as AP Films and Century 21 Productions , were primarily associated with children's programming did not help matters. Share this page:. The Love Ban After Lunar Module 32 is mysteriously destroyed, Straker campaigns to have space junk removed from Earth's orbit. Gay Ellis leave the cast, for by the time production resumed they were no longer available. The North American DVD release of the series usually follows the production order, with a few diversions; a website ufoseries.

This is particularly true of the lead character, Ed Straker. And as aspiring starlet Maisie in The Boy Friend It was only when the entire series was repeated by BBC Two in — that the series was shown in chronological production order in the UK for the first time. In UFO this took several forms — Straker's "secret" office doubles as a secret elevator that takes him down to the SHADO control centre located beneath the studio, and the pilots of the Moonbase interceptors and the amphibious Sky One jet interceptor slide down boarding chutes to board their craft. The map is a real one. Carlin is often shown idly flicking through magazines with a cigarette in hand. The submerged launch of Sky One was filmed on a special set dressed to look like an underwater location; a thin glass-walled water tank containing small fish and equipped with small air-bubble generators was placed in front of the camera, the set behind the tank was filled with smoke, and set elements were agitated with fans to simulate water movement, creating a surprisingly convincing underwater scene without any of the high cost or technical problems associated with real underwater filming. Archived from the original on 16 February Typical of Anderson's work, the studio-as-cover concept served multiple practical and narrative functions — it was simple and cost-effective for the production, it provided an engaging vehicle for the viewer's suspension of disbelief , it eliminated the need to build an expensive exterior set for the SHADO base, and it combined the all-important "secret" cover concealment and secrecy are always central themes in Anderson dramas with at least nominal plausibility. Miniatures from the series known to still exist include: [9].

Newer Post Older Post Home. Following syndication in the US and initial favourable ratings, a possible second series was planned; initially entitled UFO , this eventually became Space: A later episode, "The Cat with Ten Lives", contains a particularly sinister plot point which suggests that the UFO pilots are not humanoid aliens at all, but are in fact human abductees under the control of the alien intelligences. This section possibly contains original research. The different writers and directors, as well as a production break when MGM-British Studios was closed, resulted in episodes of varying quality. The second line of defence includes Skydiver , a submarine mated with the submersible, undersea-launched Sky One interceptor aircraft , which attacks UFOs in Earth's atmosphere. Bishop also kept a Certina watch that was specially made for his character. There are also deleted scenes, stills and publicity artwork. Retrieved 21 May

This proposal developed into Space: Ed Straker's dramatic gas turbine car, resembling somewhat the Citroën SM, was, in fact, a humble Ford Zephyr with a specially built aluminium bodyshell. When they accidentally kill an alien from a downed UFO instead, SHADO intervenes and doses the guilty pair with amnesia drugs decades ahead of a similar story device in Men in Black, and one deployed for similar reasons. An alien spacesuit can also be seen in the Children's Film Foundation production Kadoyng. Matthew Coniam 12 February at And as aspiring starlet Maisie in The Boy Friend Gay Ellis - Moonbase. For other uses, see Shado. Carlin is often shown idly flicking through magazines with a cigarette in hand. Gerry and Sylvia Anderson , Tony Barwick.

SHADO's first officer until about the three-quarter point in the series when Sewell left following the change of studios. A very distinctive actress, her key attributes were legs that seemed to go on forever and a smile that broke across her distinctive strong features like sunshine through dark clouds. Also, the gull-wing doors did not open automatically. This was owing to the difficulty of getting a puppet into a cockpit easily and in a natural way. Also, owing to the scheduling of the series not reflecting the production order, some episodes featuring departed cast members were not broadcast until late in the series, which can give the impression that no major cast changes occurred. Following poor ratings for Joe 90 —69 and the cancellation of children's espionage television series The Secret Service after only one series, Lew Grade approached Gerry Anderson to look into creating his first live-action TV series. Bonus features include a commentary by Gerry Anderson on the pilot episode "Identified", and an actor's commentary by Ed Bishop on the episode "Sub-Smash". As anti-semite Cosima Wagner in Mahler Gerry Anderson proposed a format in which SHADO Moonbase had been greatly enlarged to become the organisation's main headquarters, and pre-production on UFO 2 began with extensive research and design for the new Moonbase.

Or Georgina Hale! BFI Screenonline. Ellis as its commanding officer; she also serves aboard Skydiver at one point. She was romantically involved with Paul Foster for a time. The craft is armed with a laser-type weapon, but can be destroyed by conventional explosives. Another, "A Question of Priorities" hinges on Straker having to make an agonising life-or-death choice — to rescue his critically-injured son by diverting an aircraft carrying SHADO mobiles to deliver life-saving medical supplies, or to attempt a last-chance intercept against an incoming UFO. The forward line of defence is Moonbase from which the three lunar Interceptor spacecraft, that fire a single explosive warhead, are launched. The forward line of defence is MoonBase from which the three Lunar Interceptor spacecraft from which nuclear missiles are launched. Gabrielle Drake. The Boy Friend

Percy Straker and Foster investigate an undersea alien base. However, the film did not go ahead. Ed Bishop, who had dark hair in real life, initially bleached his hair for Straker's unique white-haired look. The Andersons had previously made a number of very successful marionette-based children's science fiction series including Stingray, Thunderbirds, and Captain Scarlet. Carlin is shown idly flicking through magazines with a cigarette in hand. The special effects as in all Anderson's shows of this era were supervised by Derek Meddings, and the vehicles were designed by Meddings and his assistant Michael Trim. As if perhaps to show her opinion of Straker and his cold attitude, Mary would register their son as John Rutland, after his new stepfather Steven Rutland played by Philip Madoc. Ed Straker Doppelgänger. In UFO, this appeared in the guise of Straker's "secret" office, which doubled as a lift elevator that takes him down to the SHADO control centre located beneath the studio.