The British producer, writer and actress Sylvia Anderson has died aged 88. Sylvia worked for Polytechnic Films in the late Fifties, where she met director Gerry Anderson. She left with Gerry when he and Arthur Provis started AP Films, sitting on the board of directors herself. Gerry and Sylvia married in 1960, and her role in the company (and future companies) became more significant, making her one of the first prominent women in the British television industry. After working on Gerry's first few puppet series as production assistant, Sylvia lent her voice to characters on Supercar and Fireball XL5. However, after Stingray, the couple created, co-wrote and co-produced Thunderbirds, on which Sylvia voiced Lady Penelope. They then went on to co-create Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, Joe 90 and The Secret Service, writing the pilot episodes of each series. Sylvia and Gerry also co-created live-action series UFO, for which she designed costumes - a job she had already done for the Captain Scarlet series puppets. She wrote an episode of The Protectors and co-produced the first year of Space: 1999. During the wrap party in 1975, Gerry announced he intended to divorce Sylvia, as their relationship had broken down. Sylvia worked for HBO as their London-based talent scout for 30 years. She was production consultant for the 2004 live-action Thunderbirds film, which she considered a great tribute to the original. Gerry, however, called it "the biggest load of crap I've seen in my entire life!" Whilst the fans tended to side with Gerry on that, they still loved Sylvia. She was also a keen charity worker. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35818530 RIP Sylvia. You were such a nice person - a true lady! Thanks for some marvellous childhood memories.
