
Desmond Saunders
- Known for
- Directing
- Born
- June 24, 1926
- Died
- April 2, 2018
- Birthplace
- Lewisham, London, England, UK
Desmond "Des" Saunders (24 June 1926– 21 April 2018) was a British television director and film editor. He had a long association with producer Gerry Anderson, having served as a director for the series Supercar (1961–62), Stingray (1964–65), Thunderbirds (1965–66), Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons (1967–68), Joe 90 (1968–69) and Terrahawks (1983–86). Saunders was also production controller for Joe 90 and co-wrote one of the episodes, "Lone-Handed 90". He briefly worked as a production supervisor for The Secret Service (1969). Elsewhere in television, Saunders had both production and post-production roles for The Protectors (1972–73). His film editing credits are: RX for Murder (1958), A Woman's Temptation (1959), Escort for Hire (1960), Compelled (1960), Tarnished Heroes and So Evil, So Young (both 1961) and Voyage of the Damned (1976). He was sound editor for Floods of Fear (1959). While working on puppet series for Anderson, the A.P. Films team received constant requests to make the puppets more real. Once, Saunders chose all of the male puppets and put little penises on them. When the girls came in during the morning, there was, as Saunders describes, "the most terrible uproar". In response, he said: "Well, you know, you gotta bring them to life somehow, haven't you?". He died on 21 April 2018 at the age of 91.
Filmography

Thunderbirds 4K Double Bill - Atlantic Inferno / Attack of the Alligators! 2026
Director

Target: Captain Black! 2026
Supervising Technical Director

Century 21 Revisited 2025
as Himself

Thunderbirds 55/GOGO 2022
Teleplay

HD21 The Worlds of Gerry Anderson in High Definition 2016
Director

Thunderbirds 1965: The Abominable Snowman 2015
Producer, Writer

Thunderbirds 1965: Introducing Thunderbirds 2015
Producer

This Is Supermarionation 2014
Director

Filmed in Supermarionation 2014
as Self

Inside the Labyrinth 1986
Director

Terrahawks: Expect the Unexpected 1983
Director

Countdown to Disaster 1982
Director

The Amazing Adventures Of Joe 90 1981
Director

Invaders from the Deep 1981
Director

Thunderbirds to the Rescue 1980
Director

Captain Scarlet vs. The Mysterons 1980
Director

Voyage of the Damned 1976
Editor

The Secret Service: More Haste, Less Speed 1969
Production Supervisor

The Secret Service: A Case For The Bishop 1969
Production Supervisor

Thunderbirds: Give or Take a Million 1966
Director

Thunderbirds: Alias Mr. Hackenbacker 1966
Director

Thunderbirds: Atlantic Inferno 1966
Director

Thunderbirds: Security Hazard 1966
Director

Thunderbirds: Danger at Ocean Deep 1966
Director

Thunderbirds: The Imposters 1966
Director

Thunderbirds: Operation Crash-Dive 1965
Director

Thunderbirds: The Uninvited 1965
Director

Thunderbirds: Edge of Impact 1965
Director

Thunderbirds: The Perils of Penelope 1965
Director

Thunderbirds: Pit of Peril 1965
Director

Stingray: Aquanaut of the Year 1965
Director

Stingray: Marineville Traitor 1965
Director

Stingray: Hostages of the Deep 1965
Director

Stingray: Eastern Eclipse 1965
Director

Stingray: Star of the East 1965
Director

Stingray: Rescue from the Skies 1965
Director

Stingray: In Search of the Tajmanon 1964
Director

Stingray: Raptures of the Deep 1964
Director

Stingray: Subterranean Sea 1964
Director

Stingray: The Ghost Ship 1964
Director

Tarnished Heroes 1961
Editor

So Evil, So Young 1961
Editor
- Date at Midnight
Date at Midnight 1960
Editor
- A Taste of Money
A Taste of Money 1960
Editor
- A Woman's Temptation
A Woman's Temptation 1959
Editor

Rx Murder 1958
Editor

The Crimson Pirate 1952
First Assistant Editor
Credits from TMDB.