Thunderbirds are go - or at least creator Gerry Anderson and his office memorabilia are.
Anderson claims he is not a collector, but after 38 years at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, the creator of Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and Stingray has accumulated a few things of interest.
The puppet master moved out of Pinewood in December and now the entire contents of his former office are up for auction ? from original Thunderbirds toys and Captain Scarlet prints to office chairs.
"I am selling everything because I haven't got the room in my very nice house to keep it," Anderson said. "I've decided to have a clean sweep; I've kept my awards, but that's about all. I cannot emphasise how much I am not a hoarder or a collector, I am always thinking about tomorrow."
He added: "I will sign anything, even the furniture that I've sat on over the years, although that might make it decrease in value."
Anderson, who coined the term "Supermarionation" to describe the puppetry technique used extensively in his television shows, is in talks about making a new CGI feature film for TV or cinema. He left Pinewood because the project would require a team of more than 200 people and the studio did not have the space.
"I have been in and out of Pinewood for a very long time. I had probably the best office; it had its own conference room, kitchen and toilet. It was wonderful ? all wood panelled," Anderson said.
"Pinewood is a beautiful studio and I have made a lot of films there so I felt a bit sad when it came to leave, but we all have to move around and things change. I don't know where my new office will be, it depends on who is going to finance the feature."
He added that he would do more of his original series if someone offered him the chance, adding that the Thunderbirds movie "did not enhance the brand at all".
"In fact, it was the biggest load of crap I have ever seen in my life," Anderson said.
"It was made by an American company who didn't know anything. They offered me ￡750,000 to attend the premiere but I refused."
The auction is being held today from 10.30am to 5.30pm at London's Battersea Arts Centre.
Tony James, owner of Comet Miniatures, is serving as auctioneer. "I've known [Gerry Anderson] since 1986 and he opened my shop on Lavender Hill in 1991," James said. "In all the doom and gloom of this economic climate we hope this auction will bring some light relief to people
Anyone hoping to take the real Lady Penelope home will be disappointed ? James said the auction did not include any puppets because most of them no longer existed. Anderson's habit was to give away the props to crew members working on the television shows and he sold his only remaining puppet, Parker, via Christie's several years ago.
But there is still plenty to delight fans - including a unique Derek Meddings cartoon of the cast and crew of Stingray, expected to fetch between ￡3,000 and ￡5,000.
Anderson is expecting the auction to attract bids from all over the world - and his celebrity friends have been kept in the loop. "The film director Peter Jackson is a friend of mine and a collector ? it wouldn't surprise me if he was on the end of the phone bidding for something," Anderson said. "This stuff is very valuable to any collector. People in Australia are crazy about the things I have made."
For many fans the main attraction will be the chance to meet their hero. Anderson will be there from 10.30am and will take the stage to sign the auction catalogues for customers. After the 3.15pm break, he plans to tell a story about something that happened to him in New York in 1969, related to auction lot 242, a mystery item.
As a final touch, Anderson will personally present 30 winning bidders with their items. "What better proof of provenance is there?" James said.
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