Solar Television Network News - December 2003


Space Patrol DVD Box set released!

After a year on and off the schedules, the appearance of a full page advert on SF and genre magazines heralded the release of the Space Patrol Complete Series DVD Set on Monday 8th September.

It does seem the delay has been worth it though, as extras include the Paul Starr and Solarnauts pilots, as well as the pilot episodes of Sara and Hoppity and Mr Hero. Additionally, individual episodes of the little seenSend For Dithers and Wonder Boy And Tiger are also included. A new interview with producer Arthur Provis supplements those already seen on the videos and Best Of DVD, and scans of a National Interest Pictures publicity brochure has been included.

A selection of recommended on-line outlets hoping to sell the DVD Set can be found in the Links section.

An advance review can be read at The Mausoleum Club, and our own overview can be found here.


Network Video relocates

Regular visitors to the Network Video website will probably be aware of the fact the company recently relocated from their Redhill address to East Grinstead in West Sussex. But should you wish to contact them regarding the Space Patrol DVD Box Set release, their new address is:

Network Video Limited
Unit 2, Phase 2 Birches Industrial Estate
East Grinstead
West Sussex RH19 1UB

Please include a stamped, self addressed envelope with your letter.


'Scientific Headquarters' revamped

The real life Scientific Headquarters seen in Space Patrol, the Empress State Building near Earl's Court Exhibition Centre in Hammersmith, London, is approaching completion of a rennovation of its exterior, and extension, adding 3 storeys to the top.

The distinctive three sided building was built in the early 1960s, completed while production and filming of Space Patrol was underway. It would have been an obvious landmark, and clearly visible from St. Oswald's Church, where filming of Roberta Leigh's earlier puppet series Sara and Hoppity is reputed to have taken place. The church, however, no longer exists having been demolished in the late 1970s.

Rumours that the 3 storey extension include a Galasphere landing platform have been strongly denied...


Sara and Hoppity Website launched

With the success of the Sara and Hoppity pages of Space Patrol - The Website, which doubled the number of hits the site was getting each month, a separate Sara and Hoppity sister site has been launched.

The extreme scarcity of information has, like Space Patrol, made it a much talked about but little known series but with help from fans and organisations like Kaleidoscope, the British Film Institute and British Library, SP-TW was able to present the first pictures seen in some thirty years, and the first guide to Sara and Hoppity to give episode titles.

Simply titled Sara and Hoppity, the new site features an updated overview and production details, a more detailed episode guide, an article detailing the problems Associated-Rediffusion had with the series, and a review of the recently discovered episode Gorgey Georgie Goes Visiting. The site also welcomes, as with Gabblings, fan memories of the series to add to the Words Mean Anything page.

The Sara and Hoppity website can be found here.

The Sara and Hoppity Yahoo Group, for discussion on the series, can be found here.


Space Patrol - The Website gets research recognition

The December 12th issue of the researchers website Freepint.com included a feature on archive television, and lists several websites and directories worthy of note, including Space Patrol - The Website.

Founded in 1997 by William Hann, FreePint is an email newsletter, packed with tips on using the web for serious research and forms a worldwide community of over 50,000. It is free to join the community and receive the newsletter. The FreePint website houses a range of resources, including the newsletter archive, job listings and the Bar, where you can post questions and get free help from other members.



Recent Updates - December 2003

Space Patrol in Japan (11/2003)
- Information about the series screening in Japan as Supesu Patororu.

Complete Series DVD Reviews (10/2003)
- Add your thoughts to reviews of the Set


September 2003

Sticker Fun Book (07/2003)
- An illustrated overview of this rare item of merchandise.

Episode Guide (06/2003)
- Now fully updated with new entries

Satellite Times (06/2003)
- A feature by Alex Geairns on the discovery and release of Space Patrol on video.


June 2003

Slim's Encyclopedia (05/2003)
- Now fully updated to include the TV Comic strips and Secret Weapon storybook

More Gabblings (05/2003)
- On our fan memories page.

Cast Page & Murray Kash Interview (/04/2003)
- Fully updated with a brief Q&A with the voice of Colonel Raeburn

Heather Grainger Interview (02/2003)
- An interview with Heather Grainger - puppeteer extraordinaire on Space Patrol and Paul Starr.


Previous Updates - November 2002

Ten Episodes of Space Patrol You're Never Likely To See (01/12/2002)
- A bit of pre-Christmas seasonal fun...

Publicity Photos (24/11/2002)
- Fully updated, with new information and new photos on page 2

Arthur Provis Interview (20/10/2002)
- The first of two exclusives: A transcript of Gerry Hughes untransmitted interview with Arthur Provis, from 1992.

Space Patrol in Cult TV (15/09/2002)
- Our second exclusive - we are pleased to present Martin Hutchinson's comprehensive feature on the series from the 1994 Cult TV Weekend - with the permission of the writer and Alex Geairns.

Overseas (01/09/2002)
- Updated with some interesting developments on where the series was shown.


August 2002

Space Patrol in the UK (18/08/2002)
- Our comprehensive coverage of the original broadcasts of Space Patrol starts here

TV Comic Parts One and Part Two (15/07/2002)
- Updated with more colour images and story details


Previous Updates - July 2002

Interview with Tim Beddows (08/07/2002)
- The Manager of Network Video gives us the inside story.


Previous Updates - June 2002

Space Patrol in The Beezer Comic Part Two (21/06/2002)
- Our definitive story guide to Space Patrol in The Beezer concludes here

After Space Patrol (28/06/2002)
- Updates on the unsold pilot Paul Starr, and some details on The Solarnauts

Merchandise / 8mm (28/06/2002)
- A look at the Super 8mm release of The Swamps Of Jupiter


Previous Updates - May 2002

Publicity / Recent Features (13/04/2002)
- A new magazine feature from last year added

Publicity / ContemporaryFeatures (20/04/2002)
- Two new articles from 1963 added

Merchandise / Comics (20/04/2002)
- The latest merchandise discovery...

Space Patrol in The Beezer Comic Part One (27/04/2002)
- Our definitive story guide to Space Patrol in The Beezer begins here


April 2002

Crew / Derek Freeborn (09/03/2002)
- Derek Freeborn in his own words - part two

Merchandise / TV Comic Holiday Special (16/03/2002)
- Details of Space Patrol from this rare publication

Before and After Space Patrol (23/03/2002)
- A look at Sara & Hoppity and the unsold pilot Paul Starr

Space Patrol in The Beezer Comic (01/04/2002)
- The Space Patrol find of the year! A previously unlisted colour comic strip from 1966 and 1967!


March 2002

Merchandise / Confectionery (10/02/2002)
- Pictures of Primrose Sweet Cigarettes Box added

Merchandise / Features (10/02/2002)
- Images added

Crew / Derek Freeborn (10/02/2002)
- Derek Freeborn in his own words added

Production (17/02/2002)
- New information and photos added.

Updates & Index added (24/02/2002)
- New Space Patrol - The Website Guide. Betcha never knew there was so much in it...

Merchandise / Super 8mm (26/02/2002)
- New updated information.