Destination: Moonbase Alpha
September 13th, 1999…
A massive nuclear explosion blasts the Moon out of Earth orbit, sending Moonbase Alpha’s 311 inhabitants on an uncontrollable odyssey through deep space. Now, Destination: Moonbase Alpha takes you back to a future billed as “the most spectacular space science fiction series ever produced for television.”
Destination: Moonbase Alpha is the most comprehensive book ever published on SPACE: 1999, including extensive cast lists and detailed reviews of all 48 episodes, as well as the Message from Moonbase Alpha short film. Destination: Moonbase Alpha tells the incredible story of the making of a science fiction classic, told by the actors, writers and production crew who created it. Including commentary from:
Martin Landau (Commander John Koenig)
Barbara Bain (Doctor Helena Russell)
Barry Morse (Professor Victor Bergman)
Catherine Schell (Maya) catherineschell.co.uk/
Zienia Merton (Sandra Benes)
Prentis Hancock (Paul Morrow)
PRENTIS HANCOCK (Controller Paul Morrow)
Prentis Hancock was born and bred in Glasgow, and studied architecture at college. A keen sportsman, he played rugby and was a fencing instructor, but got the bug for acting and directing after joining an amateur theatre company. This led to him attending the Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama.
Many television roles followed, including Z Cars, Dixon of Dock Green, Softly Softly, Doctor Finley's Casebook, The Last of The Mohicans, Paul Temple, Spy Trap and Colditz. He also appeared in The Protectors alongside Robert Vaughn, and several Doctor Who episodes: "Spearhead From Space," "Planet of The Daleks," "Planet Of Evil," and "The Ribos Operation."
It was for his role as Main Mission Controller Paul Morrow in Space: 1999 that Hancock is probably best known. He was featured in 23 of the 24 episodes of the first series ("The Infernal Machine" being the exception). Having worked with Gerry and Sylvia Anderson before, he was offered the role without having to audition, and was only the fourth cast member (after Martin Landau, Barbara Bain and Barry Morse) to be signed up to the production.
Since his stint in Space 1999 he has appeared in episodes of The New Avengers, Survivors, Bergerac, Danger UXB, Bulman, Secret Army, Return of The Saint, Armchair Thriller, The Famous Five, Life and Death of Penelope, Bodyguards, Kappatoo, Staying Alive, Finney, Civvies, The Chief, and The Bill. He co-starred in the spooky ITV series Chocky's Children and Chocky's Challenge, and is one of the only actors to have featured in both The Professionals and its revival, CI5: The New Professionals.
Hancock has also appeared in the television movies Lime Street, Hitler’s SS: Portrait in Evil, Kim, Jekyll and Hyde, the mini-series King Jamie and the Angel, the 1978 big screen version of The 39 Steps, The Monster Club and Defence Of The Realm.
Recent theatre work has included The Cut, Pygmalion, Terra Nova, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Best of Friends, The Last Tram, My Blue Heaven, and Striking Silence. Hancock adapted and starred in the one-man show Voltaire's Candide which premiered at the Edinburgh festival in 2008, and he performed it again in London in October 2008 and April 2009.
As an author, Hancock has penned two children's books Hotshot: A Chilling Tale and Hotshot: Another Chilling Tale, both illustrated by Phillip Flockhart.
Nick Tate (Alan Carter) www.fanderson.org.uk/bios/nicktate.html
Anton Phillips (Bob Mathias)
John Hug (Bill Fraser)
Sylvia Anderson (Producer – Year One)
Fred Freiberger (Producer – Year Two)
Gerry Anderson (Executive Producer)
Johnny Byrne (Writer)
Christopher Penfold (Writer)
CHRISTOPHER PENFOLD (Story Editor/Writer)
One of the key architects of Space: 1999, Christopher Penfold was born in Bristol, in the Southwest of England, and educated at the esteemed Cambridge University before relocating down-under to work for “aunty,” the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. It was in Australia that Penfold, working for the ABC as a television and radio writer/producer, would first work with an up-coming actor, Nick Tate, with whom he would later work on Space: 1999.
After three years, Penfold returned to the United Kingdom and turned his attention to documentaries before signing on as lead writer and story editor for Pathfinders, an ITV drama that followed the elite Pathfinder Force who located and marked targets for RAF Bomber Command. Always interested in very human drama, Penfold envisioned that series focusing on the immense pressure on aircrews who courageously and knowingly faced the enemy with very little chance of survival.
It was while working at Elstree Studios on Pathfinders that Penfold met Gerry Anderson, then working on The Protectors and, after a brief stint writing the Cliff Richard film Take Me High, Penfold joined Anderson in developing the 2nd series of UFO. Once it was determined that the moon of UFO would break out of Earth orbit, however, it was clear that a new show was being born...Space: 1999.
Penfold worked closely with Anderson and American writer George Bellak to develop the series and became responsible for shepherding the show into production, supervising scripts, and hiring writers, one an Irish poet named Johnny Byrne. Together the two would create the mystical, mythical feel of the first series.
After Penfold’s departure from 1999, he went on to write for the series Kids before creating for Thames Television the prescient 10 part series The Brack Report, set in the high pressure world of nuclear power and alternative renewable energy technologies. In the mid 1980s he wrote for the second series of the BBC sci-fi series The Tripods, based on John Christopher’s then popular novels, and later served as script editor and writer on Truckers, Casualty, One by One and the wildly successful All Creatures Great and Small where he was re-united with his co-writer, Johnny Byrne. He then wrote numerous episodes of Britain’s top soap, EastEnders, and either wrote or script edited over a hundred episodes of the long-running hit, The Bill.
In 1998, Penfold set up ScriptWorks, a script production company through which he helped develop a number of feature films including ITV’s The Last Musketeer, John Deery’s debut Conspiracy of Silence, Saul Metzstein’s first film, Late Night Shopping, Kevin Sampson's Awaydays and the Nicole Kidman feature Birth. Since then he has served as script editor/consultant on the smash hit series Midsomer Murders, now in its 15th season and nearing its record breaking hundredth feature-length episode.
Keith Wilson (Production Designer)
And many more!
Destination: Moonbase Alpha also includes – for the first time ever – the complete story behind the disappearance of Barry Morse and Professor Victor Bergman…
It’s a true story no fan has ever known – until now.
“Not many television shows have accumulated and kept such a loyal body of supporters, for so long, as SPACE: 1999.” – Barry Morse, co-star of SPACE: 1999.
Destination: Moonbase Alpha is the essential guide to SPACE: 1999 – from critical reaction then and now, through the triumphant 35 year odyssey of Moonbase Alpha since the worldwide debut of SPACE: 1999 in 1975, and finally to writer Johnny Byrne’s concepts for the return of the series. Keep this indispensable guide with you, and escape into worlds beyond belief!
www.fanderson.org.uk/epguides/spaceyr2eg3.html
Destination: Moonbase Alpha
September 13th, 1999…
A massive nuclear explosion blasts the Moon out of Earth orbit, sending Moonbase Alpha’s 311 inhabitants on an uncontrollable odyssey through deep space. Now, Destination: Moonbase Alpha takes you back to a future billed as “the most spectacular space science fiction series ever produced for television.”
Destination: Moonbase Alpha is the most comprehensive book ever published on SPACE: 1999, including extensive cast lists and detailed reviews of all 48 episodes, as well as the Message from Moonbase Alpha short film. Destination: Moonbase Alpha tells the incredible story of the making of a science fiction classic, told by the actors, writers and production crew who created it. Including commentary from:
Martin Landau (Commander John Koenig)
Barbara Bain (Doctor Helena Russell)
Barry Morse (Professor Victor Bergman)
Catherine Schell (Maya) catherineschell.co.uk/
Zienia Merton (Sandra Benes)
Prentis Hancock (Paul Morrow)
PRENTIS HANCOCK (Controller Paul Morrow)
Prentis Hancock was born and bred in Glasgow, and studied architecture at college. A keen sportsman, he played rugby and was a fencing instructor, but got the bug for acting and directing after joining an amateur theatre company. This led to him attending the Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama.
Many television roles followed, including Z Cars, Dixon of Dock Green, Softly Softly, Doctor Finley's Casebook, The Last of The Mohicans, Paul Temple, Spy Trap and Colditz. He also appeared in The Protectors alongside Robert Vaughn, and several Doctor Who episodes: "Spearhead From Space," "Planet of The Daleks," "Planet Of Evil," and "The Ribos Operation."
It was for his role as Main Mission Controller Paul Morrow in Space: 1999 that Hancock is probably best known. He was featured in 23 of the 24 episodes of the first series ("The Infernal Machine" being the exception). Having worked with Gerry and Sylvia Anderson before, he was offered the role without having to audition, and was only the fourth cast member (after Martin Landau, Barbara Bain and Barry Morse) to be signed up to the production.
Since his stint in Space 1999 he has appeared in episodes of The New Avengers, Survivors, Bergerac, Danger UXB, Bulman, Secret Army, Return of The Saint, Armchair Thriller, The Famous Five, Life and Death of Penelope, Bodyguards, Kappatoo, Staying Alive, Finney, Civvies, The Chief, and The Bill. He co-starred in the spooky ITV series Chocky's Children and Chocky's Challenge, and is one of the only actors to have featured in both The Professionals and its revival, CI5: The New Professionals.
Hancock has also appeared in the television movies Lime Street, Hitler’s SS: Portrait in Evil, Kim, Jekyll and Hyde, the mini-series King Jamie and the Angel, the 1978 big screen version of The 39 Steps, The Monster Club and Defence Of The Realm.
Recent theatre work has included The Cut, Pygmalion, Terra Nova, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Best of Friends, The Last Tram, My Blue Heaven, and Striking Silence. Hancock adapted and starred in the one-man show Voltaire's Candide which premiered at the Edinburgh festival in 2008, and he performed it again in London in October 2008 and April 2009.
As an author, Hancock has penned two children's books Hotshot: A Chilling Tale and Hotshot: Another Chilling Tale, both illustrated by Phillip Flockhart.
Nick Tate (Alan Carter) www.fanderson.org.uk/bios/nicktate.html
Anton Phillips (Bob Mathias)
John Hug (Bill Fraser)
Sylvia Anderson (Producer – Year One)
Fred Freiberger (Producer – Year Two)
Gerry Anderson (Executive Producer)
Johnny Byrne (Writer)
Christopher Penfold (Writer)
CHRISTOPHER PENFOLD (Story Editor/Writer)
One of the key architects of Space: 1999, Christopher Penfold was born in Bristol, in the Southwest of England, and educated at the esteemed Cambridge University before relocating down-under to work for “aunty,” the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. It was in Australia that Penfold, working for the ABC as a television and radio writer/producer, would first work with an up-coming actor, Nick Tate, with whom he would later work on Space: 1999.
After three years, Penfold returned to the United Kingdom and turned his attention to documentaries before signing on as lead writer and story editor for Pathfinders, an ITV drama that followed the elite Pathfinder Force who located and marked targets for RAF Bomber Command. Always interested in very human drama, Penfold envisioned that series focusing on the immense pressure on aircrews who courageously and knowingly faced the enemy with very little chance of survival.
It was while working at Elstree Studios on Pathfinders that Penfold met Gerry Anderson, then working on The Protectors and, after a brief stint writing the Cliff Richard film Take Me High, Penfold joined Anderson in developing the 2nd series of UFO. Once it was determined that the moon of UFO would break out of Earth orbit, however, it was clear that a new show was being born...Space: 1999.
Penfold worked closely with Anderson and American writer George Bellak to develop the series and became responsible for shepherding the show into production, supervising scripts, and hiring writers, one an Irish poet named Johnny Byrne. Together the two would create the mystical, mythical feel of the first series.
After Penfold’s departure from 1999, he went on to write for the series Kids before creating for Thames Television the prescient 10 part series The Brack Report, set in the high pressure world of nuclear power and alternative renewable energy technologies. In the mid 1980s he wrote for the second series of the BBC sci-fi series The Tripods, based on John Christopher’s then popular novels, and later served as script editor and writer on Truckers, Casualty, One by One and the wildly successful All Creatures Great and Small where he was re-united with his co-writer, Johnny Byrne. He then wrote numerous episodes of Britain’s top soap, EastEnders, and either wrote or script edited over a hundred episodes of the long-running hit, The Bill.
In 1998, Penfold set up ScriptWorks, a script production company through which he helped develop a number of feature films including ITV’s The Last Musketeer, John Deery’s debut Conspiracy of Silence, Saul Metzstein’s first film, Late Night Shopping, Kevin Sampson's Awaydays and the Nicole Kidman feature Birth. Since then he has served as script editor/consultant on the smash hit series Midsomer Murders, now in its 15th season and nearing its record breaking hundredth feature-length episode.
Keith Wilson (Production Designer)
And many more!
Destination: Moonbase Alpha also includes – for the first time ever – the complete story behind the disappearance of Barry Morse and Professor Victor Bergman…
It’s a true story no fan has ever known – until now.
“Not many television shows have accumulated and kept such a loyal body of supporters, for so long, as SPACE: 1999.” – Barry Morse, co-star of SPACE: 1999.
Destination: Moonbase Alpha is the essential guide to SPACE: 1999 – from critical reaction then and now, through the triumphant 35 year odyssey of Moonbase Alpha since the worldwide debut of SPACE: 1999 in 1975, and finally to writer Johnny Byrne’s concepts for the return of the series. Keep this indispensable guide with you, and escape into worlds beyond belief!
www.fanderson.org.uk/epguides/spaceyr2eg3.html