Fireball XL-1

One of my favourite programmes on TV when I was a young lad was Fireball XL5.
Hang on, did you say this is Fireball XL-1 - Yes it is.
When I was downstairs with Marlane this morning I put 'Talking Pictures TV' on. I haven't watched any TV this week other than children's animation films, and not much of those.
While scrolling I noticed they were showing Fireball XL-5 but, you are quite right, this is XL-1, the ill fated XL-1.
During this take off scene she hurtles along the take off gantry, takes to the air, and moments later plunges into the ground exploding with all crew on board.
My recollection of watching this many years ago was that it was late 1950's but I've looked it up and it is from 1962. I remember building an Airfix model of XL-5.
This really was the forerunner of programmes like Star Trek, they did the same thing, flying through interplanetary space sorting out the baddies.
Fireball XL5 (TV Series 1962–1963) - IMDb
The fact that you could see the fishing line catgut strings that controlled the puppets didn't detract at all from the excitement.
Same with Flash Gordon, loved all of those sort of programmes, even when they were on the radio.
Talking Pictures TV shows these children's programmes on a Saturday morning 'matinee' which is where we mostly watched them at the cinema.

P.S. I've only just noticed that I caught this as it was changing from the outside of XL-5 into a cockpit scene.