Ace Jet 170

Derbyshire in Manchester

It's Delia Derbyshire Day in Manchester

via Daniel Weir

 

Superman

Sad, perhaps not surprised, to here of Gerry Anderson's death yesterday. But genuinely sad. Anderson's work played such an enormous part of my childhood and, for that matter, the early years of my own children; they have been massive Thunderbirds and Stingray fans but also enjoyed most of his major TV series'. Hard to measure a man's true creative greatness but Anderson is surely up there with the greatest of science fiction and action adventure film makers. He out-reached many of them with his ingenuity and uniqueness.

Much has been said over the years about the various shows he created. Now he's dead it's got to be time to take another look. Beautiful and meticulous work. So clever, so original. So very, very well designed.

And to illustrate that last point, take a look through Fred's incredible Flickr set.

Merciless Creatures from the Dawn of Time!

It wasn't me, it was Jon Hicks. He spotted them: new wallpapers from the highly commendable Doctor Who publicity machine (design by Stuart Manning), downloadable from the official site - with more promised! A great follow up to last year's WWII poster.

Madvetica

Helvetica on Mad Men. Via Nick Sherman via Gary Hustwit.

For Those Who Think Young

So, it's back. Next Tuesday, 10pm BBC4. Sweet loooooord above!

Postgate Postscript

Just heard the very sad news that children's TV genius Oliver Postgate has just died. That's really sad. His work was the backdrop to my childhood and we've been indoctrinating our own children in the Postgate-way since they were born. I flippin' love reading Ivor the Engine stories to our boys and can't read them without adopting the narrator's superbly atmospheric intonations.

The Guardian have a good YouTube tribute.

Fame, cake and intergalactic domination

I don't know about anyone else but when I find out someone I've known is doing something ace, I get disproportionately excited. In the early hours one morning, me and the boys were on the Dr Who website, checking out Daleks (like you do at 7am) and there was David Hankinson: Dalek Operator. Looking just like he did, way back, when he worked with us (in Leicestershire). I know it's really unlikely that anyone reading this knows anyone on the Dr Who production team but if you do, say "Hi" to David (the old pervert*).

We also found out how to make a Dalek cake.

* Last time I saw him act he was doing unspeakable things to a blow-up doll.

[I've just re-read this post and realised that, perhaps, I should have mentioned, in connection to that very last bit, that he was on stage, in a play at the time].

Pitching Synch

Has everyone read this? Actually, this is quite good too. 

 

And wouldn't these have made great Ads for the new season instead of the finished piece? Hand draw the type, mount them onto boards and re-photo. That said, Draper does look very cool.