The Secret Service

[Picasso61]

Can other users recall watching this unique and fascinating show when it was first screened in the UK by ATV, Granada & Southern in September 1969.
Almost forty years old now - I was mesmorised by the gobbledegook talking of Father Unwin and as an 8 year old at times wondered what he was talking about!
It's a pity that the show was cancelled after only 13 episodes because IMO this was one of Gerry Anderson's best creations with its unique blend of Supermarionation and long shots of the real Stanley Unwin along with scenes of late 1960s England.
A charming series with great theme music. A real pity it wasn't shown on the ITV network. Was it ever aired in the US?

[Silent Bob]

Being from Granadaland, i fondly remember the the showings of Secret Service on a Sunday morning (the perfect slot!)sandwiched between All Our Yesterdays and Weekend World. I recall really enjoying it and i may be in a minority here, but i've always enjoyed Joe 90 and Secret Service more than Captain Scarlet.

[Picasso61]

As you live in Granadaland Silent Bob yours was the region that aired the series until 1975. ATV (my region) and Southern transmitted The Secret Service until 1972. Am I right in saying they were repeat showing on a Sunday morning because when originally transmitted it went out at 5.30pm on a Sunday teatime (at least that was the case in the Midlands).
I have a fondness for this series because along with Joe 90 I can remember seeing the show first time round in black & white. I can't remember if I ever saw The Secret Sevice in colour until I bought the series on VHS.

[Silent Bob]

The Secret Service showings i remember must definately be repeats then. It was certainly on Sunday mornings and i had just started secondary school, so it would be around September 1973. We had also just got our first colour television, so it was the first Anderson show i saw in colour.

[Picasso61]

I remember we got our first colour set in May 1972, Silent Bob and I can't recall if The Secret Service was still being shown by ATV at that time. In Chris Bentley's complete episode guide it doesn't give an actual month when it was last seen.

[TonyB]

I saw all the Gerry Anderson show's on ATV as and when they originally came out, although not at home, I had to go next door to my grandad's who was able to receive ATV, as until late 1969 we could only get ITV at home, we got ATV just in time for UFO starting though.

I can just about remember Twizzle, but can clearly remember everything from Four Feather Fall onwards, (even Space Patrol shown in 1961 on ITV), although I remember seeing Secret service on its original transmission I only ever caught the odd episode, IIRC on a Sunday late afternnoon or early evening, but missed a fair old few of the episodes.

[Picasso61]

(even Space Patrol shown in 1961 on ITV)Off thread I know but the Roberta Leigh/Arthur Provis classic Space Patrol was first shown on ITV in April 1963, TonyB.
I was too young to remember it but I do have the now hard to get Network set.

[TonyB]

Was it 63, I thought is was before that, I know it predated Fireball XL5 by a year or so, but the actual screening date is vague, having said that its so long ago now that it is so easy to forget, and I also have the Network DVD set, and very nice it is too.

Boy all those early series of Gerry Anderson and Space Patrol, bring back so many memories of my childhood, it make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up when I hear certain sounds and see certain images or scenes.

Back on topic....

[Picasso61]

Yeah - excellent set. I believe Tyne Tees was the first region to air Space Patrol.
However I digress - back to The Secret Service!:)

[Picasso61]

I was always fascinated by the car Father Unwin drove. A vintage 1917 Model T Ford - any colour as long as it's yellow!! Also the amusing registration number - T 42.:p

One thing has always puzzled me about the last episode - More Haste Less Speed. How were both Father Unwin and Matthew minimised when only they had knowledge of The Minimiser? Mrs. Appleby the housekeeper didn't know of its existence. So how was it done?:confused:

[Picasso61]

IMO the only disappointing episode was Errand Of Mercy where Father Unwin was dreaming that he and Matthew had to deliver urgent medical supplies. Seeing the Model T Ford flying and fighting off enemy jets was just a bit silly and far fetched.
However the other 12 are excellent stories and made for great viewing.

[DukeDexter]

I remember Granada showing Secret Service on Sundays and also around 1975. I didn't make any great effort to catch it to be honest - as a youngster it didn't feel much like an Anderson series. It just didn't have the adrenaline surge of Scarlet or UFO, which you'd definitely never miss. Bought the VHS tapes and thought it was a lot better than I remembered, but you see different things in it when you get a bit older. Some great humour in it - I always laugh at the guard's reaction to Unwin in 'Recall to Service': something like 'oh, you again'.

One thing has always puzzled me about the last episode - More Haste Less Speed. How were both Father Unwin and Matthew minimised when only they had knowledge of The Minimiser? Mrs. Appleby the housekeeper didn't know of its existence. So how was it done?:confused:

Maybe they used a mirror?

[Picasso61]

It's possible, Duke but there was no explanation as to how this was acheived.

[Conrad Lefkon]

One great thing about The Secret Service is that the church in the opening credits, The Church of S. Michael & All Angels in the Hughenden Valley near High Wycombe, is unchanged. I think the nearby manor house and some of the surrounding land may be owned by the National Trust.

I have stood in the same field as the cameraman, high up on the hillside on the other side of the valley, and looked down on the church and the beautiful countryside. I haven't been there for a couple of years but the metal gate was still there when I visited as were the gargoyles over the church doorway.

On another field trip I located the 'vicarage' which was in the Burnham Beeches area. The entrance had changed, as I recall, in that there were plants or grass where previously there was gravel. I often used to wonder if the residents knew their property was famous (sort of!).

I used to write to Stanley Unwin from time to time but he couldn't remember where the church was (we know now, of course). I never met him but Stanley was a terrific correspondent, courteous and kind-hearted. He even recorded a personal message for me on tape together with some of his archive material. He also gave me the last copy (but one) of his autobiography, called "Deep Joy".

[Picasso61]

I always liked the opening and closing credits for The Secret Service, Conrad and you're a lucky fellow to have actually seen all these locations. Also being in contact with the wonderful Stanley Unwin. Oh folly folly!:)

[Mike Delamar]

being a train nut I liked the last train to bufflers halt episode, they used triang o gauge big big trains.
the footage of the real railway was from the british transport films.

Mike

[Picasso61]

Although he was uncredited David Graham voiced four guest puppets in two episodes. :)
In May-Day, May-Day! he voiced the King Of Muldovia and an Air Traffic Controller and in More Haste Less Speed David voiced Lord Hazlewell and Pete (one of the motorcyclists).

[TonyB]

One of the Fanderson conventions in Coventry had the Ford Model T in attendance, I forget which con it was though, it was parked outside at the bottom of the staircase to the upperfloors of the hotel, so it may well have been the 2003 con, as we used that staircase when we were loading up.

[hwels]

This year I was lucky that I could buy the Dinky version of Gabriel.

[air terrainean]

I was living in the Yorkshire TV region when The Secret Service was first shown, and they didn't buy the series. But we were able to tune our TV to pick up sound signals from one of the neighbouring regions that did buy it, and can remember listening (!) to at least one episode (Feathered Spies). Otherwise had to make do with the sweet cigarette cards and novelisations (the second of which is excellent), before finally seeing the series at a convention in Leeds (ironically back in Yorkshire !). It's undoubtedly one of my favourite Anderson shows. Incidentally, I think I may have been the one who identified the location of the vicarage (among other Secret Service locations) while helping to research a locations guide for Timescreen magazine. This subsequently grew into the excellent Avengerland website run by ex Timescreen editor Tony McKay.

[Picasso61]

This must've been either Granada or ATV, air terrainean as they both showed The Secret Service from the outset. You missed out on a great series by living in Yorkshire. Have you got the show on DVD now?

[Picasso61]

Of course the aircraft seen in More Haste Less Speed was the same one featured in Thunderbird Six.:)

[air terrainean]

This must've been either Granada or ATV... Have you got the show on DVD now?

I think it was probably Granada, and yes, I do have the series on DVD, though it's a shame it wasn't remastered to the same standard as Captain Scarlet and Joe 90 (Yorkshire TV didn't screen this either - though I managed to see repeats shown by HTV some time around 1974, after moving to Bristol).

[Picasso61]

Hi air terrainean - according to Chris Bentley's complete episode guide Joe 90 was shown on YTV but not until 1981 - had they got it in for Gerry Anderson or something?
It's a real pity that The Secret Service wasn't seen nationally because a lot of viewers missed out on a real treat - and the last Supermarionation show.
Ever so slightly OT I may be wrong here but I believe Fireball XL5 was still being shown in some ITV regions in the 1980s.

[air terrainean]

Joe 90 was shown on YTV but not until 1981... I believe Fireball XL5 was still being shown in some ITV regions in the 1980s.

In the early 80s I think almost all the ITV regions rescreened many of the Anderson shows, most showing Stingray, Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, Joe 90 and UFO, and yes, some regions did repeat Fireball XL5, but I think it was only a few and I can't remember which they were.

[Silent Bob]

Every ITV region had the rights to show Fireball XL5 in 1984, but unfortunately not every region took up those rights. :(

[DukeDexter]

Every ITV region had the rights to show Fireball XL5 in 1984, but unfortunately not every region took up those rights. :(

Thankfully Granada did, around 85/86. I think there's zero chance of seeing a b/w series on TV these days, sadly. :(

[Silent Bob]

Thankfully Granada did, around 85/86. I think there's zero chance of seeing a b/w series on TV these days, sadly. :(

Yes Granada have usually been pretty good to Anderson fans. in fact, they were first (i think!) to repeat an Anderson episode in early 80s. When they were doing the Granada 25 celebrations they showed Trapped in the Sky and a couple of weeks later (Easter) they showed Danger at Ocean Deep.
You are right about the B & W shows, even UK Gold has done away with the B & W Doctor Who's.

[Picasso61]

Thankfully Granada did, around 85/86. I think there's zero chance of seeing a b/w series on TV these days, sadly. :(I can't remember if Central repeated Fireball XL5 - I don't think they did because I would've likely as not watched it!:)
Getting back OT I think that The Secret Service should've had the same treatment as Stingray and Thunderbirds - in other words being given (in its particular case) a first network showing on BBC2 sometime in the 1990s so the whole country could've seen what a fine piece of entertainment it was (and still very much is to this day).

[schofiel]

I can quite clearly remember the 5:30 Sunday showings on Granada 'cos Mum used to cook our food beforehand! They were (IIRC) shown after World at War.

[Picasso61]

Yep - I can clearly recall watching this rare show on a Sunday teatime as well, schofiel.
Incidentally the show is now 40 years old being first broadcast on Sunday 21st September 1969 at 5.30pm on ATV, Granada & Southern.
I wonder what the other ITV regions were showing at the time? They should've taken this because a lot of viewers were missing out on this super show.

[Silent Bob]

I think your little out with your dates Picasso. The first episode of Captain Scarlet aired on ATV Midlands on Friday September 29th 1967 at 5.25PM. Two other ITC shows premiered the same week, those being Man in a Suitcase and The Prisoner.
Most regions had started showing Scarlet by the end of 1967.

[Picasso61]

Silent Bob - The dates and times I referred to when replying to schofiel were for The Secret Service not Captain Scarlet & The Mysterons.

[Silent Bob]

That'll teach me to jump the gun!!! :confused:

[roose1982]

I love this show - i saw it for the first time on DVD when it came out a few years back. One thing that did occur to me when watching the series was, why did they bother to film in with puppets at all? Surely it would have been easier to have done the whole thing live action, as it was set in the present day, so there wasnt much need to construct futuristic-looking sets.

there were some very very strange incidents in the series that made me chuckle - the scene with Matthew alongside the gigantic dog, and the long shot of the woman creeping along to steel a motorbike in the final episode really cracked me up. I'd love to know who was dressed up and rode the motorbike - it looks more like a man than a woman! lol

[Richard259]

I was still living in East Dulwich, London then (1969) and I don't think the Secret Service was ever screened in our region.

I remember seeing a little bit of an episode whilst on holiday in Birchington, Kent (Southern TV) but that's it.

If I'm right, I wonder why London (Thames or LWT at the time) didn't show it?

[Richard259]

I love this show - i saw it for the first time on DVD when it came out a few years back. One thing that did occur to me when watching the series was, why did they bother to film in with puppets at all? Surely it would have been easier to have done the whole thing live action, as it was set in the present day, so there wasnt much need to construct futuristic-looking sets.

If I'm not mistaken, it just predated UFO and I think it was possibly a 'toe in the water' job to see how the public would react to some live action whilst still maintaining the integrity of the earlier series'

[Picasso61]

I was still living in East Dulwich, London then (1969) and I don't think the Secret Service was ever screened in our region.

I remember seeing a little bit of an episode whilst on holiday in Birchington, Kent (Southern TV) but that's it.

If I'm right, I wonder why London (Thames or LWT at the time) didn't show it?Richard259 - you are right in saying that The Secret Service was never seen in the London area. Why it was never screened by London Weekend is a mystery - I would've thought that every ITV region would want to screen a show made by Gerry Anderson. Perhaps the lesser success of Joe 90 prompted the decision for the majority of the network not to show The Secret Service. Maybe I'm wrong but that could've been the reason.

[DukeDexter]

I thought this might be of interest - it's taken from the TV Times for Saturday 18th October 1969, the first appearance of The Secret Service on Granada. They started on Saturdays then moved it to Thursdays, then sometimes Sundays. The repeat run started on Sunday 22nd November 1970 but episodes were very sporadic over the next year after that. Granada seemed to prefer Spiderman at the time! :confused: More of this stuff on the Andersonic site, along with some location photos.

[Silent Bob]

Love the cutting from TV Times, and Woobinda animal doctor after it. I used to love that show as well.

[TonyB]

Blimey a right blast from the past, its amazing just what you forget over the years.

[Picasso61]

It's one that I've never forgotten, Tony!:)
As I've already said on here that it's one of the Gerry Anderson shows I remember seeing first time round in 1969.
Great fun!:D

[Picasso61]

I thought this might be of interest - it's taken from the TV Times for Saturday 18th October 1969, the first appearance of The Secret Service on Granada. They started on Saturdays then moved it to Thursdays, then sometimes Sundays. The repeat run started on Sunday 22nd November 1970 but episodes were very sporadic over the next year after that. Granada seemed to prefer Spiderman at the time! :confused: More of this stuff on the Andersonic site, along with some location photos.This is certainly interesting, Duke because when The Secret Service premiered on ATV on Sunday 21st September 1969 I was naturally under the assumption that both Granada and Southern showed the programme at the same time and on the same date. Clearly that was not the case. Also Granada showing it on a Saturday teatime to start off with but by the looks of it they soon switched it to a Thursday. Thanks very much for posting this clipping from the TV Times. So I wonder when Southern first transmitted the show....

[Picasso61]

Another interesting thing about this show is included on the extras in the Network DVD set. The opening scene with Father Unwin looking out of the vicarage window was also shot with his puppet counterpart in situ. I wonder why this was as it wasn't included in any of the episodes....:confused::)

[Picasso61]

Great to see The Secret Service on the back cover of FAB 64 telling the story of how Father Unwin came to acquire The Minimiser from Professor Humbert.
To be continued...:)

[Picasso61]

One episode from this fascinating series.
"The Feathered Spies"

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLK7JK0RMbU
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psxkXSF8whg
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taKkVEjN1x8

One of my favourites.:)

[Rick O'Shea]

The Secret Service is a very under-rated series. All of the episodes are brilliant and the use of Father Unwin's gobbledygook can be hilarious!

I particularly like the scenes where the minimised Matthew is interacting with human-sized props and with the "real" Father/Stanley Unwin, like when Father Unwin passes things to Matthew. I really like the illusions created with the mix of Supermarionation and live action, such as the scene where the puppet-sized Gabriel is used to represent the minimised car in The Cure and how a cyclist falls off his bike and into the hedges when he sees the tiny car!

It is of course a real shame how Lew Grade cancelled the series just because he believed the Americans wouldn't understand Unwinese.

[Picasso61]

I agree Rick because The Secret Service for me and no doubt many other fans of Supermarionation shows is one of Gerry Anderson's most neglected programmes - like for example it was totally overlooked in a programme talking about GA's shows. They went straight from Joe 90 to UFO without one mention of The Secret Service as if it never existed.
A lot of the scenes amuse me too. One in particular from "The Cure" in which the real Father Unwin passes a carrot to the puppet Matthew! Also in "A Question Of Miracles" the puppet Matthew is passed a full sized cup of tea and comes out with the line "I must remember to put an eggcup in the case!" Priceless.
It did annoy me that Lew Grade cancelled the series giving the reason that Americans wouldn't understand gobbledegook. That was the whole point - he talked in that strange way to confuse both police and foreign agents. Why do we have to give way to the Americans? Primarily it was a British show set in present day (1969) Britain. If Grade hadn't made that decision there could've been another 13 shows at least.
As far as I know The Secret Service has never been aired in America. Is that the case? I asked this at the beginning of this thread.

[Rick O'Shea]

I think it is a shame how Lew Grade thought of America so much. As you have pointed out, Picasso, the reason for Father Unwin speaking gobbledygook was to confuse enemies and police. Surely they would have understood this point in America.

I also really like the scene in A Question of Miracles where Matthew is drinking tea from the huge cup and he mentions about putting an egg cup in the case!

I was also interested to hear that a second (but unused) version of the opening titles exists with the puppet Father Unwin at the window.

[Picasso61]

I was also interested to hear that a second (but unused) version of the opening titles exists with the puppet Father Unwin at the window.Yes Rick - this appears on the second DVD of the Network set. I'm intrigued as to why this version was not used. Maybe if a second season of 13 had been produced I can only think that the puppet Father Unwin would've been used in lieu of the real actor just to ring the changes.:)
Sadly that was not to be as Lew Grade had made the decision (wrong IMO) to cancel the show.

[capt_ochre]

Yes Rick - this appears on the second DVD of the Network set.

Is it on YouTube?

[DukeDexter]

I think it is a shame how Lew Grade thought of America so much. As you have pointed out, Picasso, the reason for Father Unwin speaking gobbledygook was to confuse enemies and police. Surely they would have understood this point in America.

The 'Filmed in Supermarionation' book makes a good point about this - Grade would have known Stanley Unwin's act before viewing the pilot episode, so it's not logical that the Unwinese was the sole reason for the series being cancelled. He may not have liked much else up to that point either.

All of the Andersons' series recouped part of their production costs by selling merchandise - how do you merchandise something as off-centred as The Secret Service apart from the obvious die-cast Model-T? One vehicle to market, maybe an annual if it had lasted. Father Unwin playsuits - nah! A Matthew figure in a briefcase would have been good, but overall, Grade may have seen this series didn't have the legs to pay for itself, which is the way an accountant/ financier would regard it. :(

The series is undoubtedly a nice change from what came before it, but as a product it's possibly a little off the wall for a wider audience. But like many on this forum I'm sure glad it's out there! :)

[Picasso61]

Is it on YouTube?I'm not sure, capt_ochre. If it is I've never found it. It would be a welcome addition to Youtube.:)

[capt_ochre]

Could someone perhaps rip the video from the DVD? :)

[Picasso61]

Could someone perhaps rip the video from the DVD? :)I can't personally capt_ochre because I haven't got a Youtube account but if some kind soul could upload this clip of the puppet Father Unwin in the opening titles that would be great.:)

[c.scarlet]

Happy new year!
Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9Ug0SziUHY

[Picasso61]

Thanks for posting this rarely seen alternative opening to The Secret Service onto Youtube, c.scarlet.:)
Happy New Year to you as well.:D

[Rick O'Shea]

Thanks very much, c.scarlet. It is fascinating to see these unused titles and it makes me wonder why they didn't use them in the end, considering that the "human" Father Unwin only ever appeared in location long-shots - with the exceptions of when his arm or legs can be seen with the minimised Matthew.

[Picasso61]

Thanks very much, c.scarlet. It is fascinating to see these unused titles and it makes me wonder why they didn't use them in the end, considering that the "human" Father Unwin only ever appeared in location long-shots - with the exceptions of when his arm or legs can be seen with the minimised Matthew....or occasionally when he was driving out of the vicarage in Gabriel. You'd then get a glimpse of his face. Other occasions are for example when the real Father Unwin is seen walking towards a door and ringing the bell.

[Deep Joy]

All of the Andersons' series recouped part of their production costs by selling merchandise - how do you merchandise something as off-centred as The Secret Service apart from the obvious die-cast Model-T? One vehicle to market, maybe an annual if it had lasted.
Don't forget the two John Theydon books as well, but I hardly think they'd be regarded as top selling, prime merchandise. I'd be interested to hear how they sold compared to the Thunderbirds/Captain Scarlet novels, though.

[capt_ochre]

Thanks for that clip, c.scarlet! :D

[john61]

To this day S S is the only Anderson series I've never seen. I don't believe it was ever shown in the London area. If it was I don't remember it, and for some reason I've never got round to watching it on any home viewing medium such as VHS or DVD. No real reason for this, it's just never happened. It's strange though because for as long as I can remember I've always been very fond of Stanly Unwin, so it's a bit odd I've never made the effort to see this series. Never mind though. I'm but a young lad of 48, so there's still time.

[Picasso61]

john61 - The Secret Service as you rightly say was never seen on either Thames or more likely London Weekend (it was initially shown on ATV on a Sunday afternoon) and was only seen on ATV, Granada and Southern.
I recommend you see this series because IMO it's one of Gerry Anderson's finest and probably least well known programme and it's a great shame that the plug was pulled after only 13 episodes.

[den68]

I can't say for sure but I doubt Secret Service was ever aired in the US. I've watched 5 episodes so far on DVD and as far as the gobbledygook goes, I'm american and I get it.

While I never saw any of these shows as a kid I did grow up watching a lot of Monty Python, Benny Hill, The Kenny Everett Video Show - and one comedy show with a guy named Dave that always smoked and was missing a finger, can't reall his full name - if that makes a difference. I know a lot of my friends didn't get that stuff.

That logic doesn't surprise me though, the first Mad Max was dubbed here because there was a fear that american audiences wouldn't understand the Australian accents.

[tempestzodiac1963]

From what I've read it seems that the Secret Service was cancelled for a number of reasons,not just the supposed inability of overseas audiences to understand the Unwinese.The merchandising was a big part of it as it was felt that a country vicar spy was fairly unmerchandisable in the eyes of the young audiences used to Thunderbirds,Stingray and Captain Scarlet.

Anyway IMO I enjoy the Secret Service throughly,probably because it was something completely different to Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet although I do enjoy these shows too.

Anyway's that my view on it :D

[Picasso61]

I can't say for sure but I doubt Secret Service was ever aired in the US. I've watched 5 episodes so far on DVD and as far as the gobbledygook goes, I'm american and I get it.

While I never saw any of these shows as a kid I did grow up watching a lot of Monty Python, Benny Hill, The Kenny Everett Video Show - and one comedy show with a guy named Dave that always smoked and was missing a finger, can't reall his full name - if that makes a difference. I know a lot of my friends didn't get that stuff.

That logic doesn't surprise me though, the first Mad Max was dubbed here because there was a fear that american audiences wouldn't understand the Australian accents.den68 - As you probably know and I think it's been mentioned on the thread that it was Lew Grade who cancelled the show as soon as he heard Father Unwin speaking his Unwinese. He told Gerry Anderson to cancel the show because the Americans wouldn't understand what he was talking about but from you are saying it's no problem so IMO Grade was wrong to pull the plug.
BTW the guy you are thinking of is an Irish comedian called Dave Allen who lost part of his index finger of his left hand as the result of an accident. He died in March 2005.

[den68]

Dave Allen... that's the guy. I remember watching him when I was in my early teens (I'm 42 now). It was on a Canadian station really late at nite. I remember watching on an old black and white TV.

Yeah, I read an earlier post in this thread that mentioned Lew Grades reason for cancelling the show.

I watched a couple episodes with my wife last night and she liked the show. She tried watching Thunderbirds but thought it was boring.

[Picasso61]

Today is the 41st anniversary of the premiere of The Secret Service - at 5.30pm on ATV. I remember watching the whole series.:)

[Rick O'Shea]

The Secret Service really is a great series and it is a shame it doesn't get the recognition it deserves. Some of the scenes with the puppet Matthew standing next to the "real" Father Unwin's legs are fantastic and brilliantly done, as are the scenes where Matthew is holding a life-sized teacup or when a dog is chasing him up a tree.

[DukeDexter]

The Secret Service really is a great series and it is a shame it doesn't get the recognition it deserves.

It's one of my favourite series too. I'm hoping we can get Gerry talking about it at the Convention, to learn more about the thought processes that went into it. Great series - definitely, but I also think commercially it was like shooting yourself in the foot.

Having interviewed a few people for Andersonic, I get the impression most of them thought it was a bit of a strange and uncommercial idea at the time, unlikely to reverse the trend of reduced success with each successive series after Thunderbirds. I wonder if the team knew puppets were on the way out before the Secret Service was produced and just did something they wanted to do - almost like a band doing a concept album or something more self-indulgent than commercial. Worked for me all the same :)

[Colonel Foster]

Service is a lovely show. It is totally British and rarther strange but also totally able to transport me back to a far simpler time. Love Barry Gray's music for the series as well. The analogy of " Concept Album" [Dukes of the Stratosphere?]is very apt Duke!

[Rick O'Shea]

I like the way The Secret Service is totally British as well and I love hearing all the English accents, including one character played by the Captain Ochre puppet who has a Yorkshire accent, as well as the Scottish and Welsh characters.

It is sad how each series after Thunderbirds became less and less of a success. At least Century 21 were bold enough to do something different which resulted in such a unique and brilliantly-made series. The shots where Supermarionation and live action are mixed, such as the minimised Matthew standing next to the full-sized Father Unwin's legs are fantastically done and really show how much Century 21 could achieve.