The Protectors
The Protectors is a British television series, an action thriller created by Gerry Anderson. It was Anderson's second TV series to exclusively use live actors as opposed to marionettes (following "UFO"), and his second to be firmly set in contemporary times (following "The Secret Service"). It was also the only Gerry Anderson-produced television series that was not of the fantasy or science fiction genres. It was produced by Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment production company. Despite not featuring marionettes or any real science fiction elements, "The Protectors" became one of Anderson's most popular productions, easily winning a renewal for a second season. A third season was in the planning stages when the show's major sponsor, Brut, ended its funding and thus forced the series' cancellation.
Doppelgänger (1969 film)
Despite the polarised critical reception and commercial failure of "Doppelgänger", Lew Grade offered the Andersons further opportunities to film in live action. Their first television series not based on puppetry was "UFO", which premièred in the UK in 1970. "Doppelgänger" is considered an immediate precursor to "UFO", and has also been described as a "trial run" for the Andersons' third live-action series, "". "UFO" featured actors, costumes, props, locations and music that had previously appeared in "Doppelgänger". Of the film's cast, Ed Bishop, Keith Alexander, Cy Grant, Martin King and Jeremy Wilkin had previously had an association with the Andersons: all had provided voices for "Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons" except Alexander, who had voiced characters for the penultimate Supermarionation series, "Joe 90". With 11 other cast members, all but Grant and King appeared in at least one episode of "UFO", in which Bishop had in the lead role of Commander Ed Straker.