How the Cancelled UFO Series 2 Became Space:1999

Chris Dale takes us on an in-depth look at UFO and the reasons for its cancellation, and how Gerry Anderson salvaged the vast amounts of preproduction for the second season into the smash hit, Space:1999 that we all know and love today.

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Canceling UFO was one of the biggest crimes of TV in the 20th century. UFO was one of the first really well designed SciFi series in existence. A series that didn't just have cardboard-cutout heroic figures but real people.

Straker was a broken man. A fanatic that would have sacrificed the Earth for his battle against the Aliens. This alone made him a flawed hero, but one that already sacrificed his life and soul for this battle. That alone elevated the series above any of the other SciFi shows of the time.

[peterdixon]

UFO had considerably more charisma than Space 1999.

[davidminken]

I had the Eagle Transporter when I was a kid. Probably the single coolest toy I owned.

[shyamdevadas]

Great video! I'm 57 now and these shows were the reruns of my childhood, except for Space 1999. At the time, they were the coolest thing in the world.

[DJANTONIVS]

Both UFO and Space:1999 are and forever will be lovely shows. 😍

[anitacamera]

I grew up with UFO, it was the highlight of my teenage years. Sad we never got a season 2.

[DanTheManAD]

I’ve been rewatching UFO recently with my dad, who watched it on first broadcast. It’s amazing how well he recalls so many of the epsiodes and details vividly. Would have killed for a second season of UFO, truly excellent TV.

[mpersad]

Given the constant number of contract difficulties, studio issues and US cancellations it's amazing that Space 1999 was ever produced! And thank goodness it was, I loved it!

[londontrotter]

We kids Enjoyed every single Jerry Anderson show in the 70's. The craftsmanship itself was/is brilliant

[Geekeric]

Those Anderson shows had the best theme sequences! Why can't tv make an effort to be exciting like that?

[brentwalker]

I only learned about UFO on YouTube. Space:1999. on the other hand, was one of my favorite shows as a kid. The visual aspect was fantastic and always foreboding.

[johnpetty]

When i was a kid, i thought UFO & SPACE 1999 were so AWESOME.

[Dkentflyer]

Space 1999 has been my favourite show since i was a child. I then discovered UFO about 20 years ago and have grown in love the series, the quality of the stories in both UFO and series 1 of Space were fanatastic. I knew of the transition between the 2 shows but there was so much info in this documentary that i didn't know. An absolutely stunning documentary, many congrats to Chris Dale and the team.

[upsonpratt]

UFO is one of the best sci-fi shows ever. Still a favorite.
The endings of some of those episodes are so bleak (especially the episode where Straker has to decide between stopping a UFO strike or rerouting a plane with equipment capable of saving his critically injured son).
It was bold of them also to do an entire episode showing how the setting up of SHADO lead to the breakdown of Straker's marriage.
I'm forever a fan! ❤

[blasterman]

First season of Space 1999 had some of the best cinematography I've ever seen in a TV series. The lighting, editing and camera work is at times amazing. Infernal Machine is one of the best stand alone episodes of any sci fi series on any list.

[raedgaj]

Chris Dale did a great job of narrating this, possibly the perfect person to do this with a very 70's type of delivery, really made me smile, well done.

[commanderstraker]

Fantastic documentary on the story behind the evolution of Space 1999.
I too was disappointed that UFO didn't get a second series. That's the trouble where you have to rely on foreign investment for the productions. I liked series one of 1999, but hugely disappointed with series two. It was then more of a comic strip fantasy show than stories which could have some sort of scientific reality to them. I was hugely saddened by the way Gerry's series were treated by tv networks. Even the last venture into Captain Scarlett was ruined by splitting episodes into segments. That would leave audiences bored and quickly lose interest.
To me Gerry Anderson is one of England's finest ever film and TV maker

[joeking]

I grew up with Gerry Anderson programmes. I was born in 1961 and I'm pretty sure I became an aerospace engineer because of Thunderbirds. I'm no Brains but I've had fun. A golden era; before the current generation who have their imaginations and opinions created for them by mega-billionaires, mostly in Silicon Valley or Seattle.
Your use of clips from the programmes to add to the narrative is brilliant. You must have the scripts to everything Gerry ever did.

[BoydsofParadise]

these shows had outstanding scores! UFO's theme was and still is one of my favorites.

[aguage]

Thank you for this video!
I first met Space:1999 and then UFO. My love is unconditionally for Space:1999 but I also appreciate UFO. The reality, in my opinion, is that we have to thank very much Gerry Anderson and his TV world viewing. He was a true producer and as such perhaps opposed by others. Thank you mr. Gerry Anderson!
I love Space:1999 since 1976.