Thunderbirds Creator Reveals He Has Dementia

The man behind the hugely popular Thunderbirds TV series has revealed he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

Gerry Anderson, 83, made his name in the 1960s with a series of hit sci-fi puppet shows including Captain Scarlet and Joe 90.

But he is best known for Thunderbirds which followed the adventures of International Rescue and the Tracy family.

He chose the launch of the Alzheimer's Society's Memory Walk to reveal that he had been diagnosed with dementia18 months ago.

He said: "I was upset when I found out I had dementia but I try to stay positive and enjoy every day. My dementia hasn't just affected me; it's affected my friends and family too."

Mr Anderson told BBC Berkshire his family had noticed something was wrong and persuaded him to go to the doctors where he was diagnosed.

He said not being able to drive was "the bitterest blow", adding: "That virtually took away my freedom.

"It meant that I couldn't go to Pinewood studios where I worked, and this depressed me enormously because my film work was my life.

"Suddenly my life was cut off. Since I've had Alzheimer's I've realised how debilitating it is. It can affect your life in so many ways that you don't think about."

The Memory Walk, which takes place in September, will help raise money to support some of the 800,000 people with dementia in the UK.

Jeremy Hughes, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, said: "We're so grateful to Gerry for supporting Memory Walk.

"By speaking out about his dementia he's spreading the message much further that it can happen to anyone."

By going public with details of his illness Mr Anderson follows the best-selling sci-fi author Terry Pratchett who revealed five years ago that he had a rare form of Alzheimer's.

Earlier this year Pratchett, 64, picked up a TV Bafta for his assisted suicide documentary Choosing To Die.

To register for Memory Walk 2012 visit memorywalk.org.uk.