Just a pity that UFO only went on to just the one series. For me it was the best real life series he did with Sylvia and the team. Still stands up today ,looks believable not dated as some sc-fi shows. To sum it up in one word BRILLIANT
@@michaelkilbride2927 I agree. This has got to be the series out of all of them that could be reimagined for the 21st century (perhaps in 2080) as a live action thriller series, in a similar way to how Battlestar Galactica was remade. You can have the aliens and the same eerie sound with the same purpose, you can have SHADO, Commander Straker, Paul Foster being brought in because he saw something, you can have a moonbase, SID, interceptors, some version of the Shado mobiles, perhaps also Skydiver and Sky 1, although I'm not sure I would buy the sub launch these days, as good as it was at the time.
Ed Bishop for me held this show together. He conveyed drive, determination and ruthlessness. He slso made the alien threat seem real and menacing. If not for his steely central character i doubt thid show would have worked. He was believable. In my view.
I agree. I am always surprised Ed didn't skyrocket into success after this as he was such a force on screen. Timelash alone should have cemented him with Hollywood.
Ed Bishop was an actor that I appreciated watching very much.. As Ed Straker in UFO, I cannot imagine anyone else playing the role.. I think that it was a great compliment that both he and Shane Rimmer landed parts in the Bond movies.. I realise that other Anderson stalwarts had roles in Bond movies too, but we were more familiar with these two faces instead of their voices heard on so many of the Supermarionation series. I would also have enjoyed more series of UFO, but this was not to be?
Back in 1960's, Derek was kind enough to share a few letters with me. He was a very helpful man who did not hesitate to share his enjoyment of making the "Special effects".. Such enthusiasm could only lead to greater things.. His time spent writing to a teenage fan back then, will never be forgotten..
I always remember Ed Bishop being interviewed about his experiences on the set of 2001: A Space Odyssey. He was one of the two pilots on the Orion Pan-Am shuttle. He was certainly not in awe of Kubrick and, as far as his involvement in one of cinema's seminal movies was concerned, seemed very underwhelmed by the whole affair. I always found that very amusing.
July, 1994: I'm watching a Trek TOS episode in the late afternoon and I receive a phone call from England, from...Ed Bishop. Totally unexpected, and I'm totally amazed. He had read a study of the music of UFO that I had done for a Stateside UFO fanzine and was impressed; had noticed I was in the same general area that his mother was living in at the time, was coming to visit - would I like to meet up while he's over? This was the kind of gentleman Ed was, calls a fan out of the blue to meet up. Sadly, Ed couldn't handle the summer heat & humidity here which was oppressive when he was over so I didn't get to meet him then but I did call him while he was staying with his mom and got to talk to him for a good 90 mins. - 2 hours about UFO. At the time, he had been presented with the possibility of UFO being revived by an Australian production co. but alas, nothing came of it. Will never forget that phone call from Ed and the chat we had a few weeks later while he was in the area. Got to meet him finally in 2002 at a Fanderson con in England, he remembered me and our chat from the years before. Sadly, Ed passed away in 2005 along with Michael Billington also, around the same time. Been watching the show for it's 50th/US premiere in '72 over the last year; reminds one, in look/production value of the late 60s/early 70s Bond FILMS; FX are still amazing for the time. And as the show went on, with the Pinewood block of final episodes esp., it was starting to get even more interesting. There was a serious, adult approach to UFO which was TOTALLY DIFFERENT from the US created sci fi shows at the time which made the show very modern in approach. A shame we never got more than the 26 episodes. Long live Ed Bishop, Gerry Anderson and UFO
I loved UFO and saw it on original broadcast. Seeing that teletype in the credits takes me straight back … and the theme tune is SO good. I’ve got the Blu-Ray in the cupboard and getting ready to reacquaint myself with it.
When I was in high school in the '70's we had access to a timeshare computer system in New Hampshire from Long Island and we used... yep, teletype machines as our input/output! I remember writing a little program that would print out on the teletype the sequence from UFO, it was kind of cool to see it in real time, as if I were a part of it, if for just a few minutes whilst the teletype printed the descriptions. Fun memory.
Geat short teaser, chock full of history, on Dad, Ed, and more. Well done Jamie! 👍👍 5⭐ and countless 🤗 for sharing these FAB interviews with us all. *I bet if you started up the series again, it would be a blockbuster on the Tele. Right fans? S.I.G!*
Here in America where it was syndicated, it was aired in my market (Philadelphia) Saturdays at 7 PM. I remember watching it and thinking how refreshing it was that characters in a science fiction series were not Pollyannas and could dislike each other for sound reasons.
@@BlueHoursProductions Nope, it was WCAU 10, back in the day when it was CBS. WPVI carried Space S1 on Fridays at 7 PM, then WPHL carried Space S2 Saturdays at 6.
good opening part on UFO (3 great directors) and not forgetting Jerry Summers good pic of arriflex camera 6mins a day is a lot to do. look forward more interviews on a great series.
Great little video, short and to the point. I really liked the tv series when I was a youth but i still think it holds when compared to modern productions!
I genuinely admire Ed Bishop for the work he did. It was always a treat to hear his distinctive voice and see him pop-in in Films and on TV. I still think it was a mistake to make him a blonde for his role in UFO. This is only my personal opinion. I just could not see the point of making him fair-haired for the show. And yes, I was a fair-haired child. Maybe it was the teasing that set me against this aesthetic choice.
I'm with you on Ed's acting talent and wonderful voice, but beg to differ about Sylvia's choice to put Ed in the blond, severely cut wig. I think it was a stroke of genius. Ed had the skin tone to go with blond hair (having light brown hair & light blue eyes) and I think this choice made his eyes stand out even more. Also, I do not know of another man who could pull off the slim-fitting, cream-coloured suit. He had a great physique, broad shoulders, a flat stomach and great posture - which he maintained virtually his whole life. I so wish there had been another series of UFO; the cast, crew, writers were really getting into their stride; it was getting better and better. Well, always leave 'em wanting more.
@@dametuesday2575 That's fair comment. No-one can take your opinion away from you. The purple wigs never bothered me as a kid. Nor did the string vests. It was the 1960s after all. By the 1980s we had New Romantics and Punk Rock, I don't think anyone expected that fashion paradigm.
I'm really surprised that the many rumoured reboots/remakes/movies of UFO haven't materialised, as it's such a brilliant concept ripe with potential. Of course, Ed Bishop was the glue that held the whole thing together, and any new version would face an uphill struggle to find someone as good. I still prefer Space: 1999, but UFO was still an amazing series that was way ahead of its time
UFO was better in every way than Space: 1999, and that included the commanders. Straker was efficient, effective and inspiring, a man one would follow into danger. Koenig barked orders, but otherwise was bland. Martin Landau seemed to be using the same method acting he did in Mission: Impossible, and it showed. He talked a lot, but I didn't feel genuine emotion from him. I really enjoyed episodes like "Confetti Check A-OK" and "A Question of Priorities," where one could see Straker's pain perfectly played by Ed Bishop. Koenig's trademark slouching posture and Geinreich's silly uniforms didn't help. Even in 1976, I didn't like those costumes. I wouldn't have worn one in public. Basically, Straker seemed like a commander while Koenig seemed to be somebody's idea of a commander.
For me when I saw on Forces TV a few years ago reminded me of Captain Scarlet. The voice of Col Straker was instantly twigged. The elements of Captain Scarlet were Straker was similar to Col White, Interceptors close to Angels, A vehicle that you sit backwards driving and a few others
This is gold isn't it, imagine being sick in a ditch every day driving to work with stress yet the programs were just brilliant. thanks very much for the look inside
Love this show and i have them on DVD and Blu Ray and i cannot believe the clarity of the picture truly a testament to Gerry Anderson and his team. I believe Ed Bishop to be one of the most underestimated actors i have ever seen just a shame he never had more parts like Ed Straker. Ps dose anyone know anything about Cmdr. Strakers paperweight? its truly beautiful!
In an interview I read, Ed Bishop said that he had the glass paperweight for years and would take it to conventions to have on the table for fans to enjoy while he signed autographs. Sadly, at one convention he left it sitting on the table when he went to lunch and when he returned it was gone. sigh... I understand that later, hearing about this, a fan bought a similar-ish paperweight and sent it to him.
@@dametuesday2575 Thank you for sharing this, (it was not me i never touched it) Haha Beautiful paper weight been looking for a similar one for years. (:
Still love U F O today. very close to the knuckle , gritty and brilliant. I cannot imagine anyone else playing Commander Straker if they were ever to remake it.
UFO is still my phones ringtone and still my #1 TV programme of all time. It's just a huge huge shame that UFO 2 never happened and it was changed to Space 1999 (which was good but not close to UFO good)
I remember ufo so well but I moved abroad and nobay had heard of it and after 30 years I thought I had only dreamt it and then I happened to see an advert for Gerry Anderson, I saw ufo for sale so I bought the collection straight away and love watching it over and over. I do have a question, was there a film ? I have a memory of one.
I guess we'll never know exactly what SID was scanning for... UFO's what? UFO's emissions? UFO's Hummel collection? We need answers! Or would that be answer's ? ;)
Love this show, i would kick my brothers out just to watch in peace, too young. All the cast and crew are just Brilliant. Wish they would remake this series. Your space concepts are parallel with mine.❤❤
I think they could have dun one more season of U.F.O. So many beautiful Ladies and Ed Bishop made the show. I bought it when it first was released on DVD and that version had commentary with Wanda Ventham and Silvia on TIMELASH. Bought the new DVD release to see if there was more and it had Commentary with Ed Bishop on SUBCRASH. Surprised it did not have both. Glade I bought it then and now.
The story Ed recalls about unloading bricks on a summers day and being called over to Pinewood for UFO is actually probably wrong. More likely he was actually called over to Pinewood (on a hot summers day at short notice )to be cast in the film Doppelgänger. He replaced another actor called Peter Dyneley who looked too similar to the one of the leads, and so Gerry summoned Ed over so next day he could take over the role . So the UFO role came about largely due to the Captain Blue and David Poulson roles . Great actor, great guy!
It was around before I was born but barely dates. Those that was the Anderson world. Maybe the heavy smoking and drinking and a few social things of the day but still looks fresh over 50 years later.
from a truck load of bricks to the role of Ed Straker in the same afternoon - there are times when the performances could have used more expert direction perhaps - but I have seen a lot worse elsewhere
For me UFO has held up much better than Space 1999. Rewatched both recently and really enjoyed UFO whereas Space 1999 just feels terribly dated. In my opinion anyway.
Just a pity that UFO only went on to just the one series.
For me it was the best real life series he did with Sylvia and the team.
Still stands up today ,looks believable not dated as some sc-fi shows.
To sum it up in one word BRILLIANT
Totally agree with you..
couldnt agree more twenty times better than what followed
Love it they need remake it
@@michaelkilbride2927 I agree. This has got to be the series out of all of them that could be reimagined for the 21st century (perhaps in 2080) as a live action thriller series, in a similar way to how Battlestar Galactica was remade. You can have the aliens and the same eerie sound with the same purpose, you can have SHADO, Commander Straker, Paul Foster being brought in because he saw something, you can have a moonbase, SID, interceptors, some version of the Shado mobiles, perhaps also Skydiver and Sky 1, although I'm not sure I would buy the sub launch these days, as good as it was at the time.
Ed Bishop for me held this show together. He conveyed drive, determination and ruthlessness. He slso made the alien threat seem real and menacing. If not for his steely central character i doubt thid show would have worked. He was believable. In my view.
I agree. I am always surprised Ed didn't skyrocket into success after this as he was such a force on screen. Timelash alone should have cemented him with Hollywood.
@@Laceykat66 timelash really shows his energy. It was a great episode.
@@davidsmith5523 I totally agree. You see it even in the clips they used for this post. He had a steady career but should have had so much more.
Ed Bishop was an actor that I appreciated watching very much.. As Ed Straker in UFO, I cannot imagine anyone else playing the role.. I think that it was a great compliment that both he and Shane Rimmer landed parts in the Bond movies.. I realise that other Anderson stalwarts had roles in Bond movies too, but we were more familiar with these two faces instead of their voices heard on so many of the Supermarionation series.
I would also have enjoyed more series of UFO, but this was not to be?
Derek Meddings, the terrific sfx chap - no better explosions anywhere- later worked sfx for the Bond films!
Back in 1960's, Derek was kind enough to share a few letters with me. He was a very helpful man who did not hesitate to share his enjoyment of making the "Special effects".. Such enthusiasm could only lead to greater things.. His time spent writing to a teenage fan back then, will never be forgotten..
I always remember Ed Bishop being interviewed about his experiences on the set of 2001: A Space Odyssey. He was one of the two pilots on the Orion Pan-Am shuttle. He was certainly not in awe of Kubrick and, as far as his involvement in one of cinema's seminal movies was concerned, seemed very underwhelmed by the whole affair. I always found that very amusing.
Probably because his part was very small. 2001 was a very technology driven film so it was easy for the actors to become part of the background
@@jennifersman7990 There were actors in 2001? I didn't know. I will have to watch it again.
July, 1994: I'm watching a Trek TOS episode in the late afternoon and I receive a phone call from England, from...Ed Bishop. Totally unexpected, and I'm totally amazed. He had read a study of the music of UFO that I had done for a Stateside UFO fanzine and was impressed; had noticed I was in the same general area that his mother was living in at the time, was coming to visit - would I like to meet up while he's over? This was the kind of gentleman Ed was, calls a fan out of the blue to meet up. Sadly, Ed couldn't handle the summer heat & humidity here which was oppressive when he was over so I didn't get to meet him then but I did call him while he was staying with his mom and got to talk to him for a good 90 mins. - 2 hours about UFO. At the time, he had been presented with the possibility of UFO being revived by an Australian production co. but alas, nothing came of it. Will never forget that phone call from Ed and the chat we had a few weeks later while he was in the area. Got to meet him finally in 2002 at a Fanderson con in England, he remembered me and our chat from the years before. Sadly, Ed passed away in 2005 along with Michael Billington also, around the same time. Been watching the show for it's 50th/US premiere in '72 over the last year; reminds one, in look/production value of the late 60s/early 70s Bond FILMS; FX are still amazing for the time. And as the show went on, with the Pinewood block of final episodes esp., it was starting to get even more interesting. There was a serious, adult approach to UFO which was TOTALLY DIFFERENT from the US created sci fi shows at the time which made the show very modern in approach. A shame we never got more than the 26 episodes. Long live Ed Bishop, Gerry Anderson and UFO
Wow, just wow!
I loved UFO and saw it on original broadcast. Seeing that teletype in the credits takes me straight back … and the theme tune is SO good. I’ve got the Blu-Ray in the cupboard and getting ready to reacquaint myself with it.
When I was in high school in the '70's we had access to a timeshare computer system in New Hampshire from Long Island and we used... yep, teletype machines as our input/output! I remember writing a little program that would print out on the teletype the sequence from UFO, it was kind of cool to see it in real time, as if I were a part of it, if for just a few minutes whilst the teletype printed the descriptions. Fun memory.
Geat short teaser, chock full of history, on Dad, Ed, and more. Well done Jamie! 👍👍 5⭐ and countless 🤗 for sharing these FAB interviews with us all.
*I bet if you started up the series again, it would be a blockbuster on the Tele. Right fans? S.I.G!*
Here in America where it was syndicated, it was aired in my market (Philadelphia) Saturdays at 7 PM. I remember watching it and thinking how refreshing it was that characters in a science fiction series were not Pollyannas and could dislike each other for sound reasons.
Was it on WTAF 29 in Philly? That's what my memory is telling me, but it's been a few decades. lol
@@BlueHoursProductions Nope, it was WCAU 10, back in the day when it was CBS.
WPVI carried Space S1 on Fridays at 7 PM, then WPHL carried Space S2 Saturdays at 6.
Loved UFO as a Kid in early 70's. UFO WAS EXTRAORDINARY
good opening part on UFO (3 great directors) and not forgetting Jerry Summers good pic of arriflex camera 6mins a day is a lot to do. look forward more interviews on a great series.
Great little video, short and to the point. I really liked the tv series when I was a youth but i still think it holds when compared to modern productions!
I genuinely admire Ed Bishop for the work he did. It was always a treat to hear his distinctive voice and see him pop-in in Films and on TV. I still think it was a mistake to make him a blonde for his role in UFO. This is only my personal opinion. I just could not see the point of making him fair-haired for the show. And yes, I was a fair-haired child. Maybe it was the teasing that set me against this aesthetic choice.
I'm with you on Ed's acting talent and wonderful voice, but beg to differ about Sylvia's choice to put Ed in the blond, severely cut wig. I think it was a stroke of genius. Ed had the skin tone to go with blond hair (having light brown hair & light blue eyes) and I think this choice made his eyes stand out even more. Also, I do not know of another man who could pull off the slim-fitting, cream-coloured suit. He had a great physique, broad shoulders, a flat stomach and great posture - which he maintained virtually his whole life. I so wish there had been another series of UFO; the cast, crew, writers were really getting into their stride; it was getting better and better.
Well, always leave 'em wanting more.
@@dametuesday2575 That's fair comment. No-one can take your opinion away from you. The purple wigs never bothered me as a kid. Nor did the string vests. It was the 1960s after all. By the 1980s we had New Romantics and Punk Rock, I don't think anyone expected that fashion paradigm.
I'm really surprised that the many rumoured reboots/remakes/movies of UFO haven't materialised, as it's such a brilliant concept ripe with potential. Of course, Ed Bishop was the glue that held the whole thing together, and any new version would face an uphill struggle to find someone as good. I still prefer Space: 1999, but UFO was still an amazing series that was way ahead of its time
UFO was better in every way than Space: 1999, and that included the commanders. Straker was efficient, effective and inspiring, a man one would follow into danger. Koenig barked orders, but otherwise was bland. Martin Landau seemed to be using the same method acting he did in Mission: Impossible, and it showed. He talked a lot, but I didn't feel genuine emotion from him. I really enjoyed episodes like "Confetti Check A-OK" and "A Question of Priorities," where one could see Straker's pain perfectly played by Ed Bishop. Koenig's trademark slouching posture and Geinreich's silly uniforms didn't help. Even in 1976, I didn't like those costumes. I wouldn't have worn one in public. Basically, Straker seemed like a commander while Koenig seemed to be somebody's idea of a commander.
Completely agree.Ed Bishop played the roll of commander with believability.He is the kind of boss I could work for
One of those Anderson series that deserves a proper modern reboot. UFO was ahead of its time and still is a solid watch today...
The problem is that a modern reboot would suck.
@@JustSayN2O It could be done, just takes a proper writing staff and production team..
@@moretoknowshow1887 I would be afraid that it would begin like: "Because of climate change on planet Tralfamadore . . ."
For me when I saw on Forces TV a few years ago reminded me of Captain Scarlet. The voice of Col Straker was instantly twigged. The elements of Captain Scarlet were Straker was similar to Col White, Interceptors close to Angels, A vehicle that you sit backwards driving and a few others
Hard to believe it is set 43 years ago..
To Me, Ed Bishop Will ALWAYS Be BOTH Captain Blue And Ed Straker!
UFO. The best Anderson creation.
This is gold isn't it, imagine being sick in a ditch every day driving to work with stress yet the programs were just brilliant. thanks very much for the look inside
Just after waking up, I go onto TH-cam and my still sleep-weary eyes first read the title as "Becoming a stalker".
Very cool more more more UFO coverage!!!!
The blonde Commander Straker wig transformed Ed Bishop. From looking like a character actor to a lead male actor.
Interesting glimpse into an old but much loved classic!!!
Happy to hear you will be doing more on this outstanding series!
Still remembered fondly today
The character Ed Straker , was and is a style icon with many mods .
Love this show and i have them on DVD and Blu Ray and i cannot believe the clarity of the picture truly a testament to Gerry Anderson and his team. I believe Ed Bishop to be one of the most underestimated actors i have ever seen just a shame he never had more parts like Ed Straker.
Ps dose anyone know anything about Cmdr. Strakers paperweight? its truly beautiful!
In an interview I read, Ed Bishop said that he had the glass paperweight for years and would take it to conventions to have on the table for fans to enjoy while he signed autographs. Sadly, at one convention he left it sitting on the table when he went to lunch and when he returned it was gone. sigh... I understand that later, hearing about this, a fan bought a similar-ish paperweight and sent it to him.
@@dametuesday2575 Thank you for sharing this, (it was not me i never touched it) Haha Beautiful paper weight been looking for a similar one for years. (:
Still love U F O today. very close to the knuckle , gritty and brilliant.
I cannot imagine anyone else playing Commander Straker if they were ever to remake it.
On a recent trip to St Vincent i met a very young 92 year old lady who used to live near Bray studios and was friends with Gerry & Sylvia
UFO is still my phones ringtone and still my #1 TV programme of all time. It's just a huge huge shame that UFO 2 never happened and it was changed to Space 1999 (which was good but not close to UFO good)
Agree with you.UFO was far better than Space 1999
The best series UFO ...AND GERRY ...a genios 🤔👽
I remember ufo so well but I moved abroad and nobay had heard of it and after 30 years I thought I had only dreamt it and then I happened to see an advert for Gerry Anderson, I saw ufo for sale so I bought the collection straight away and love watching it over and over. I do have a question, was there a film ? I have a memory of one.
Invasion UFO was cut together from episodes to make one!
@@GerryAndersonTV do you have that film for sale. I would love to buy a copy?
I do not know which surprised me more, that Ed Bishop was American or that he wore aa wig while making UFO.
Ed Bishop also did a great job in voicing the US president in the 1984 BBC TV nuclear war film "threads".
I guess we'll never know exactly what SID was scanning for... UFO's what? UFO's emissions? UFO's Hummel collection? We need answers! Or would that be answer's ? ;)
I used to have the Ufo 🛸 One and Two serie’s of book’s,also.They were printed in England by;Century 21 publishing.
Love this show, i would kick my brothers out just to watch in peace, too young. All the cast and crew are just Brilliant. Wish they would remake this series. Your space concepts are parallel with mine.❤❤
Aqui no Brasil eu tinha 12 anos e era fanático pela série. Saudade.
I think they could have dun one more season of U.F.O. So many beautiful Ladies and Ed Bishop made the show. I bought it when it first was released on DVD and that version had commentary with Wanda Ventham and Silvia on TIMELASH. Bought the new DVD release to see if there was more and it had Commentary with Ed Bishop on SUBCRASH. Surprised it did not have both. Glade I bought it then and now.
Tremendous
Love your videos. UFO is so retro cool.
Very cool !!
Great car.. 👍👍👍
a classic.
The story Ed recalls about unloading bricks on a summers day and being called over to Pinewood for UFO is actually probably wrong.
More likely he was actually called over to Pinewood (on a hot summers day at short notice )to be cast in the film Doppelgänger. He replaced another actor called Peter Dyneley who looked too similar to the one of the leads, and so Gerry summoned Ed over so next day he could take over the role .
So the UFO role came about largely due to the Captain Blue and David Poulson roles . Great actor, great guy!
It was around before I was born but barely dates. Those that was the Anderson world. Maybe the heavy smoking and drinking and a few social things of the day but still looks fresh over 50 years later.
Wow I always thought he was English.. used to watch UFO as a little boy ✨
from a truck load of bricks to the role of Ed Straker in the same afternoon - there are times when the performances could have used more expert direction perhaps - but I have seen a lot worse elsewhere
"Doppleganger" you mean: "Journey to the Far Side of the Sun". Great movie. Was hoping for more from the production team. Never happened. Why?
I can understand now why you use the word "format" in the UK, instead of using "created by", like we do in North America.
👍🖖🏼
For me UFO has held up much better than Space 1999. Rewatched both recently and really enjoyed UFO whereas Space 1999 just feels terribly dated. In my opinion anyway.