Thunderbirds Thunderbirds

SYLVIA ANDERSON, CO-CREATOR of the Thunderbirds TV show and voice of the character Lady Penelope, has died aged 88.

She passed away after a short illness, her family said.

The producer and actor, who created the Supermarionation series along with her husband Gerry, also worked on cult shows like Stingray, Captain Scarlet and Joe 90.

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“Sylvia was a mother and a legend,” her daughter Dee Anderson said.

She was a force in every way, and will be sadly missed.

Gerry Anderson died in December 2012, after being diagnosed with dementia.

Fans of the Andersons’ shows have been paying tribute to Sylvia this morning, with Nick Williams of fan club Fanderson telling BBC Breakfast she was a ”huge influence” on the entertainment industry.

“She was one of the first really prominent women in the film and TV industry,” he added – saying she left behind ”an amazing legacy of fantastic television, really groundbreaking entertainment”.

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