Ed Bishop is dead

[watervole]

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/news.html#EdandMike

Two UFO actors died this week: Ed Bishop and Mike Billington.

I'm not much of an actor person, but Ed Bishop left an impression on me. Ed played Commander Straker in UFO. It's a series I enjoyed, but wasn't into big time. Straker was a character I liked, but didn't fall in love with or lust after.

I liked Ed becasue he was a gentle unassuming man who related to people and liked to attend conventions with his wife. I met him many years ago at Cult TV and he said a couple of things that I've never forgotten. He didn't charge for doing conventions becasue he didn't feel that being an actor was anything special. He said, "My daughter's a policewoman, and her job is far more important than mine."

Ed was special, because he didn't think he was.

Comments

[peaceful-fox.livejournal.com]

Wow! This is a whole world I know *nothing* about - UK Sci-Fi! I mean, I know Doctor Who and others of that era, but there's a lot I haven't seen.

Is it possible to see this series either on TV or DVD anymore?

[watervole.livejournal.com]

UFO is available on DVD.

It's an old series, but it has two things strongly in its favour. Firstly, it was pretty bleak and Straker in particular has to make some quite ruthless decisions on occasion. (He will take the painfully correct decision and events do not provide him with a convenient cop-out to avoid the consequences)

This is a series where the good guys are trying to conceal news of the alien invaders. (Makes an intereting contrast to some more modern shows)

Some of the special effects stand the test of time very well. This was a Gerry Anderson show and that always implies serious money spent on model work.

The thing that you have to overlook is the costumes. They're very much of the period. The men's clothes haven't really dated as they went for a restrained style of high-necked suits that seems of no particular period. However, the women's clothes date it instantly. Silver mini-skirts and memorable hair styles.

It's my favourite of all the Fanderson shows. It was aimed at an adult audience and uses live actors. (Most Fanderson shows were puppets, but still of a high standard. 'Thunderbirds' has a loyal following among men of all ages from 6 - 60. It's one of the few shows I've ever seen to have a strong underlying morality that doens't feel forced. 'International Rescue' does just what it says on the label. You get lots of action and drama, but they're trying to save lives rather than kill people.)

[kerravonsen]

(sits there in stunned silence)

I met Ed fifteen years ago at Huttcon (1990). It's hard to imagine him having gotten so old. He shall be missed.

[raspberryfool.livejournal.com]

I saw them both at Eclectic 21, where they were interesting and entertaining guests.

Whoops Apocalypse

[ia-robertson.livejournal.com]

Ed was also the newsreader ("This is Jay Garrick with all the news that's news this cocoa time and you're an insomniac") in the UK black comedy Whoops Apocalypse - not to be confused with the substantially poorer US version

Someone who'll definitely be missed.

Alastair